tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85342178192484216482024-02-19T07:17:26.298-08:00Magick Keys For The Wicca BeginnerAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comBlogger2346125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-68541188506087685042015-03-16T22:05:00.000-07:002015-04-08T11:07:13.800-07:00Planting The Garden Of Your Soul A Message From Archangel Gabriel Channeled By Shanta Gabriel<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><span style="text-align:left;align:left;"><div style="float:left;text-align:left;align:left;width: 43%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><a href="http://master-of-tarot.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BYqTIhycgn4/VPqh1JIH2aI/AAAAAAAALW8/Hin7HKfvk4w/Dark%252520Moon%252520Enters%252520Aquarius%252520Sun%252520In%252520Aquarius.jpg" border="0" alt="Planting The Garden Of Your Soul A Message From Archangel Gabriel Channeled By Shanta Gabriel" title="Planting The Garden Of Your Soul A Message From Archangel Gabriel Channeled By Shanta Gabriel" /></a></div></span><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;"><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>PLANTING THE GARDEN OF YOUR SOUL</h4>a message from Archangel Gabriel channeled by Shanta Gabriel<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>A Message For Spring Equinox From Archangel Gabriel</h4><br/> Dear Ones,<br/><br/> Planting the Garden of your Soul invites the Grace of the Angels to work in your daily life. This focused activity demonstrates your desire to co-create what you need to harvest a more bountiful future.<br/><br/> THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE WILL EXPERIENCE THE SPRING EQUINOX ON MARCH 20, A SEASON OF NEW BIRTH AND RENEWAL. If you are in the southern hemisphere, planting your inner garden now will allow you to create a winter focus that will bloom in its proper time. Equinox is the optimum time to plant your personal garden of powerful intentions within your being. This timely action will bring great rewards as you till the rich and fertile soil of your soul, elevate your thoughts and activate new life within and around you.<br/><br/> THE EQUINOX IS ALWAYS A MOMENT OF PROFOUND BALANCE - A TIME TO REASSESS YOUR LIFE AND CHOOSE ANEW. On March 20 as a demonstration of perfect Alignment, you will also experience a Solar Eclipse. These two events will set forward into accelerated motion your new life experience for the remainder of the year. When you plant clear intentions for your most empowered future, the manifestation of your dreams will become your new reality. <br/><br/>What Does It Mean To Plant The Garden Of Your Soul?<br/><br/> IT IS REALLY VERY SIMPLE TO PLANT YOUR PERSONAL GARDEN. What are the qualities you most want to see manifest in your life? What are your goals and dreams for a joyous future? What needs have to be met so you can be happy? These are the seeds to plant within the garden of your being so you can create a new structure for your life.<br/><br/> WHEN YOU PLANT THE SEEDS OF GROWTH AND RENEWAL, IT CAN BE A FUN, CREATIVE AND POSITIVE WAY TO PROMOTE A JOYOUS, ABUNDANT LIFE. Consider those things you most want to have thriving in your interior garden. Maybe you would like to plant the fertile seeds that lead to Abundant Prosperity? Perhaps you want to empower the seeds of Harmony in all your relationships? What about planting the seeds for Health and Well-being deeply in your base chakra so they can grow with zest and vibrancy?<br/><br/> The soil of joyous potential exists within you and awaits your attention.<br/><br/>Are You Too Busy To Plant Your Soul's Garden?<br/><br/> THESE VAST EXALTED IDEAS SURPRISINGLY REQUIRE VERY LITTLE TIME DURING YOUR BUSY LIFE, FULL OF COMMITMENTS AND DEADLINES. In fact, the small amounts of time you give to planting and nurturing your interior garden will enhance every area of your life with a bountiful return. It is said that when a person takes one step towards the Divine, this Higher Power will take ten steps towards you.<br/><br/> LET YOUR IMAGINATION SOAR AS YOU BRING FORTH THOSE MAGICAL QUALITIES IN WHICH YOU WISH TO LIVE. Nothing is too large for you to dream to manifest a happier life. As you play with this process, you are co-creating a field of unlimited potential within and around you. When you dream big and feel the joy of it, your vibrational frequency will be uplifted and your energy field expands. This allows doors to open that you have not imagined possible. It is your open mind, and a heart unencumbered by doubt and self-criticism, that attracts new growth and evolution into your life.<br/><br/> PLANTING THE GARDEN OF YOUR SOUL INSPIRES GREAT SUPPORT FROM THE SEEN AND UNSEEN WORLD SO YOU CAN LIVE LIFE IN A MORE INSPIRED WAY. When you allow yourself to be a part of this co-creation, all your needs can be met with Grace and Ease.<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>How To Plant The Garden Of Your Soul</h4><br/> SINCE EVERY NEW PROJECT REQUIRES SOME THOUGHT AND PLANNING, WHEN YOU BEGIN YOUR INNER GARDEN, MAKE IT CREATIVE AND FUN. The visual images that you choose will greatly enhance your ability to manifest them. It could be a beautiful work of art with many colors, magazine pictures or a painting. The shape your interior garden takes might be a pattern, like a spiral, that inspires you. You could decide just to make a list of those qualities of consciousness you want to experience in your life. The action of writing will assist the energy of your garden by taking your dreams from the inner to the outer level.<br/><br/> THE ANGELS OF CREATIVITY ARE AVAILABLE TO WORK WITH YOU IN THIS PROJECT, AND CAN INSPIRE YOU SO IT WILL BE FUN. When your inner spirit is stimulated in this way, new life flows into your mind and heart, and you feel uplifted. This increased energy flow attracts more joy and you feel happier, which in turn, brings more creative ideas and a sense of Well-being. Your life will begin to change in surprising ways.<br/><br/> WHEN YOU SEE OLD PATTERNS OF THOUGHT AND ACTION MANIFESTING, and you begin to feel stuck in problematic energies, consider them to be compost for your new inner garden. Ask the Angels working in your life to help you pull these weeds and transmute old ways of behavior with Divine Light. This will help feed the garden of your soul with loving energy. Soon you will see the new sprouts of different ways of being.<br/><br/> REJOICE IN THIS VIBRANT GROWTH KNOWING THAT AS YOU RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO OLD SITUATIONS, you will receive fresh, positive results in every area of your life. By focusing a little bit every day on what you want to see manifest in your life, you provide a new structure so your interior garden will thrive. Remember that as you plant the seeds of new consciousness into your garden of Pure Potential, you are grounding the Creative Essence into the Earth. Through this action of bringing beautiful qualities of consciousness into your world, you become a bridge from Heaven to Earth.<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Bask In The Sunlight Of Divine Illumination</h4><br/> THE GARDEN OF YOUR SOUL HAS AMAZING POTENTIAL TO BRING YOU THE LIFE YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE. Even the willingness to open yourself to new thoughts and behaviors attracts assistance in ways you never knew existed. This beautiful garden thriving within you will become a magnet for your new soul community, as many people are attracted your inner balance and joy. In this way your new growth and the thriving space within you reach out to bless the world. As your garden comes into fruition, you will find your life nourished in bountiful ways.<br/><br/> THE COMPANY OF HEAVEN AWAITS YOU AS YOU BEGIN PLANTING THESE SEEDS FOR YOUR NEW LIFE. Bask in the sunlight of Divine Illumination. Breathe it in deeply and let it nurture the new growth within you. Know the Angels will joyously assist you in weeding out the old ways that no longer work so your garden will thrive with new life.<br/><br/> YOU ARE NEVER ALONE. You are being guided as you open to a new way of being. Let all the frantic activity in your life drop away as new Balance and divinely inspired action takes root within the garden of your life. This simple process will enrich your life's purpose, so your next steps become very clear.<br/><br/> THERE IS A FLOWERING OF NEW LIFE BEGINNING WITHIN YOUR HEART, AND NEW BALANCE FLOURISHING IN YOUR LIFE. Allow yourself to be inspired and nourished as you plant the Garden of your Soul. Remember that as you empower these exalted spiritual qualities and plant them into your consciousness, they become living fields of energy that will enhance every area of your life.<br/><br/> AS YOU LOOK AT THE FLOWERING OF NATURE AROUND YOU, it can remind you that the same beautiful new growth is taking place within your very being. You are a precious being, worthy of all you aspire to receive and so manifest. Know deep within your heart that all is well. And so it is.<br/><br/> Copyright (<u><b>c</b></u>) Shanta Gabriel. These messages can be shared as long as they are used in their entirety and proper credit is given for the work. I love people to be able to share the work with others. www.thegabrielmessages.com.<br></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-37356734060586249332015-03-15T00:19:00.000-07:002015-03-19T14:03:51.951-07:00Another Inspiring Rssb Why I Left Story<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;"> I love religious "<b><i>deconversion</i></b>" stories. Theyre more inspiring to me than conversion stories, because Ive come to realize that a meaningful life is far distant from religiosity. <br/><br/> So someone is making progress when he or she is able to get further away from rigid dogmas. Below is a story from one such "<b><i>someone.</i></b>" <br/><br/> After sending me an email, I encouraged this person to write a blog-sharable version of why a decision was made to leave the formalities of Radha Soami Satsang Beas, an India-based spiritual group organized around the teachings of a line of gurus who are considered to be God in Human Form. <br/><br/> This morning I read a passage in one of my favorite books, Raymond Smullyans "<b><i>The Tao is Silent,</i></b>" which is a good introduction to the following deconversion story. <br/><br/> I would make the statement "<b><i>everyone has the right to do what he wants</i></b>" only to people who I feel are overly moralistic. <br/><br/> ...All I am "<b><i>really</i></b>" trying to say to them is, "<b><i>I wish you would let yourself alone and stop beating yourself on the head; I believe you would be better off.</i></b>" Thats all I really mean by "<b><i>Everybody has the right to do whatever he wants.</i></b>" <br/><br/> Perhaps a still better way of conveying my real message is to say that if one believes he has the right to do what he wants, then he is more likely to want to do what is right. <br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> Heres the story:</h4><br/> Brian, <br/><br/> Thanks for offering to let me have an opportunity to share my experience with your readers. I have always enjoyed reading your blog; you are quite prolific and thought provoking. <br/><br/> Since I was a very young child I have felt deeply that someone or something was always with me. Perhaps it's just my own ego or personality, but I have never felt as if I were entirely alone. When I first started thinking about having a guru, I imagined "<b><i>this must be who has been with me all this time!</i></b>" This sense of companionship has always felt like a living presence. This is in contrast to my feelings about Jesus who in my childhood I tended to only see in black velvet paintings or nailed to a cross. <br/><br/> I was raised a southern Baptist and briefly attended Catholic Mass along with a boyfriend during the late 1970's. [<u><i>I didn't know until later that because I wasn't an official Catholic I am likely doomed to hell for drinking the wine and chewing the wafer following transubstantiation. I was never confirmed.</i></u>] <br/><br/> A few years later I was initiated into RSSB. And somewhat like you, I quit after nearly 30 years. <br/><br/> During the intervening years I had officially converted from Christianity to Judaism, as my husband was Jewish, and we had a huge "<b><i>religiously recognized</i></b>" wedding. It was the first gay wedding at our reform synagogue--one of the oldest in the United States. <br/><br/> During my active involvement, I was pretty much a closeted Satsangi. As you know, the RSSB books contain much of the typical fundamentalist preaching on the subject that I had heard from the Baptist church (<u><b>which I abandoned</b></u>) and a sort of "<b><i>gay-hate lite</i></b>" that I heard from the Catholic Church. Frankly, I had been so numbed to what religion had to say on the subject that I pretty much ignored it. I never in my life felt that God didn't love me because I was gay. I knew that I loved our creator, whatever entity that may be, and that was enough for me. <br/><br/> As far as I know I was the only openly gay Satsang speaker. There may have been others but having lived in the Baptist closet my entire childhood I just avoided discussing it. <br/><br/> Our local center has always been really great. People were nice and we didn't have any weird group dynamics that we always heard rumblings of happening across the country. Over the years I was even nominated for secretary. <br/><br/> This last time I was nominated, the local secretary was apparently asked to pry into my personal life with weird questions that I am sure they would never ask a straight person. Anyway, I was fine with it all but relieved that I didn't get the "<b><i>honor</i></b>" of all the extra work. <br/><br/> This spring I finally accepted the fact that the RSSB rose had started dying on the vine for me some time ago. It started several years earlier on a trip I took to Petaluma. It was during a Q and I thought shit, WHAT IF THE JOKE'S ON US? <br/><br/> I liked the fact that in RSSB we weren't pushed to give money. This was a huge change from all the years I spent among the evangelicals, although it felt much more up front in India during my visits there. <br/><br/> One day recently I was just sitting in the car when a feeling flooded over me like a giant wave. "<b><i>This is making you unhappy. Why don't you stop it?</i></b>" <br/><br/> And so I did, I tuned in to my inner self and dropped out. I decided to stop beating myself up for being gay. I decided that God probably doesn't care if there is a particle of an egg in a muffin or gelatin in a marshmallow. I decided that it doesn't make any sense to raise a ruckus with insurance companies over whether a prescription pill is available in a form other than a gel tab, and I don't give a flying flea whether there is rennet in my cheese. "<b><i>If this is what is required of perfection, we simply cannot attain it and we will always be unworthy.</i></b>" <br/><br/> It's sad to think of the number of times I refused or threw away food, sending it back to the kitchen and somehow feeling I was the victim in the situation. <br/><br/> Because it was also frowned upon to feed carnivorous pets meat products, I also had tried to feed my cats vegetarian kibble and related products over the years. One of my cats, with the personality of an angel from heaven, has all kinds of allergies. One of the things she is allergic to is yeast, which it turns out is in everything vegetarian. The poor dear ended up licking herself bare in numerous quarter-sized spots of her fur while I was trying to force her to eat vegetarian cat food. I wondered: "<b><i>did God really want me to have a hairless kitty?</i></b>" <br/><br/> Sant Mat also somehow makes you feel superior every time you eat with someone and they apologize for eating meat in front of you. We might say, "<b><i>No, go ahead and eat meat I dont care-really!</i></b>" but in the back of your mind you think "<b><i>God, youre just poisoning yourself with that stuff!</i></b>" Sant Mat makes you feel special, more valued. And then you feel guilty for feeling chosen, and then you feel sorry for the people who are less special because "<b><i>they will just have to live another lifetime to be as special as you.</i></b>" <br/><br/> I had even less to fear however, since in my case, having converted to Judaism in 2000, I am in fact, covered by a perfect soul-saving trifecta! <br/><br/> * Although I had forsaken Jesus when I became Jewish, it seems safe to say that if I turn out to be wrong, he'll be there to greet and forgive me<br/> * If my Guru is there to greet me when I die, no doubt he will forgive me for leaving RSSB as well. And then I'll probably come back for another life.<br/> * If neither Jesus nor the Guru is there, at least I will still be a part of the original chosen people. <br/><br/> Brian, while I may not be an official member of RSSB any longer [<u><i>although you can never actually leave since the guru never leaves you -- just like with Jesus!</i></u>], the benefits of meditation are clear according to various scientific studies. <br/><br/> Now however, instead of beating myself up for not meditating two and a half hours every day, I want to be able to feel great about myself if I meditate for even an hour! Hooray! Ten minutes? Hooray! Hooray! <br/><br/> What a different world I will be living in now... one where I can talk positively to myself instead of thinking that people who don't follow the path "<b><i>like me</i></b>" are missing the boat, and where I can be grateful for whatever moments of the day I am able to focus on living in the moment instead of worrying about the past, the future, or whether my guru approves of what I'm feeding my cats. <br/><br/> The bottom line is this:" Sant Mat has requirements of people that are virtually impossible to attain, and because you can never attain them, you are never perfect enough for god-realization. So you have only yourself to blame for not going within. " <br/><br/> After 30 years I am going to believe the opposite: "each of us is already perfect because we were created in God's image. "To me that means that together with God we are evolving. And just by being who we are, we are always automatically becoming our future higher selves. Read More @ Source <br></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-16137901104369379932015-03-06T22:21:00.000-08:002015-03-13T18:17:56.624-07:00Some Further Thoughts Oaths Secrecy And Secret Chiefs<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><span style="text-align:left;align:left;"><div style="float:left;text-align:left;align:left;width: 58%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IHP-FqiffFs/VG6vDXE-nQI/AAAAAAAAG2Q/wlL9_sczuiA/God%252520As%252520God%252520Leads%252520Us%252520To%252520Live%252520With%252520Integrity%252520And%252520Prayerfulness.jpg" border="0" alt="Some Further Thoughts Oaths Secrecy And Secret Chiefs" title="Some Further Thoughts Oaths Secrecy And Secret Chiefs" /></div></span><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;">Well, now, the discussion over Nick Farrell's blog article about the Golden Dawn oath of secrecy has gotten some interesting traction as of late. As an outsider, it mostly doesn't concern me, since I have not taken any of the Golden Dawn oaths. I am not a party to that discussion, just an outsider who is puzzling over it because it seems so simple to me. <br/><br/>I have already responded to this argument that pagans and witches take their oaths pretty seriously in a previous article, even if it is to protect confidences and materials (<u><b>like the Book of Shadows</b></u>) that everyone pretty much knows anyway. <br/><br/>Some like Fr. Peregrin have opined that secrecy and oaths are archaic and could even be considered idolatrous, since they mistake the symbols and tools for the real mysteries. You can find his blog here. I am sorry, but I find that argument kind of confusing and a bit off topic. The real issue here is whether or not oaths and secrecy have any relevance. Of course, I can talk about this from a theoretical perspective, but I can't freely violate the oaths that I took when I was initiated as a witch - it just isn't done. Why is that so? Well, for one thing it would undo my initiatory process, invalidating what I received and what I appear to continue to receive. Who wants to screw around with progress? Peregrin makes a really good point that the mysteries are inexplicable and can't be written down or shared with others, and I wholly agree. <br/><br/>This is one of the reasons why witches and many pagan are not "<b><i>people of the book.</i></b>" We have no sacred scriptures because the mysteries themselves provide those experiential mysteries in great abundance. What is secret is what I do in my personal magick (<u><b>at least the more subjective and personal stuff, in case I feel the need to share or teach others</b></u>), the personal names of the various Gods and Goddesses that I have experienced or received, the ritual lore that I use, and most importantly, the name of my Holy Guardian Angel. Does this mean that I am some kind of idolater? Well no, it really doesn't. I am an idolater because I'm a pagan and use statues of the gods in my magickal work, and I give them offerings and worship them, but that's another issue altogether.<br/><br/>Then there is the sticky issue of the secret chiefs, also known as those "<b><i>remarkable men and women</i></b>" who have achieved the highest level of being possible for a human. Do I believe that they are mythic and they don't really exist? Of course not. I don't believe in omniscient and immortal humans who live for centuries without aging and who have superhuman powers, but I do believe that a single human being can achieve complete and total enlightenment in a single life time. That's different than believing in "<b><i>ascended masters,</i></b>" but I won't argue or try to prove that such individuals don't exist to those who believe in them. I just don't share their beliefs, that's all. <br/><br/>Could it be possible that there is a Third Order of higher adepts in the Western Mystery tradition who reside in some location of the world, most likely Europe? Why not? Some have said that there couldn't possibly be such a group or even individuals. They even say that those who claim to have made contact with such a group and have materials for the Third Order are lying and being totally deceitful. How could that be? If someone claims that no such group or organization exists, then they should be required to prove that statement, just as those who claim that it is true. <br/><br/>However, due to oaths of secrecy and confidentially, providing proof that such a group exists might actually be impossible, if one actually obeys those oaths. This is definitely a Catch-22 situation. It's like the argument about the existence of God - some will propose proof that God exists, but that proof can be just as easily turned around and shown to be negative. In the end, the only proof is a person's good works and faith in God. The existence of God is determined by the fact that many believe in God, and they are powerfully and positively transformed by it. It can't be proven, but then again, it can't be disproved, either. The same paradox exists for the secret chiefs. If you have met them and know they exist, then you have been made to take oaths not to reveal their identities, which is part of the issue of keeping confidences (<u><b>and a real conundrum</b></u>). <br/><br/>What this means is that if one faction of the GD claims to have contact with the secret chiefs and has constituted the Third Order, then the only way to prove that claim one way or the other must require a person to undergo those initiations and teachings and find out for themselves. Otherwise, the arguments are all pointless. The proof of the pudding is in the eating - if you don't eat the pudding, then you can't know. It's very simple logic, even for an outsider. <br/><br/>Finally, to claim that there are no secret chiefs or any kind of advanced adepts in the world, or at least in the Western Mystery tradition, is to say that the only valid knowledge in the world is what is in books in a library or available on the internet. If it isn't in those various sources, then it doesn't exist. <br/><br/>Think about that for a moment. It sets up a terrible boundary or limitation on spiritual, magickal and esoteric knowledge. It says, in effect, that there is nothing greater out there than what we have already achieved. Everyone, no matter their personal gifts and abilities or how long they have studied, not to mention the breakthroughs that they might have made, are at the same level. Initiations, transformations, secret oaths - it's all just window dressing! Well, I for one would find that quite discouraging. It means that we are totally alone and there are no brothers or sisters out there who know more than we do, at least in any significant way. <br/><br/>Gee, if I were to believe that, then I may as well quit all of this mumble jumble occultism now while I am ahead and do something really constructive with my life, like making lots of money or discovering my happiness in the sandy beaches of Tahiti. Good thing for me that I still have hope that I will someday meet some remarkable men and women who might teach me something that I don't already know. I eagerly look forward to that day. <br/><br/>If someone claims to have contacts with the secret chiefs or remarkable men and women and that they have established a Third Order of higher adepts, who am I to deny them? If I want to prove them wrong, then I would need to be initiated into that organization. Otherwise, I can just nod my head and give them the benefit of the doubt, because who knows, what if that claim is legitimate? Who wants to spoil any future opportunities to achieve total enlightenment? I, for one, don't, so I will play by the rules and see what happens. That's the most that any of us can really do. To do otherwise is to spoil the game for ourselves and for others as well. <br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Frater Barrabbas</h4><br></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-73988759439252298602015-03-02T12:44:00.000-08:002015-03-31T11:14:01.168-07:00Algunos Rituales De Consagracin<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><span style="text-align:left;align:left;"><div style="float:left;text-align:left;align:left;width: 54%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><a href="http://healing-magic.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mOAYtH51VgI/VRrj5aV5m8I/AAAAAAAAMiY/AgRXg7porDs/Algunos%252520Rituales%252520De%252520Consagracin.jpg" border="0" alt="Algunos Rituales De Consagracin" title="Algunos Rituales De Consagracin" /></a></div></span><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;"><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Me lo v'ais preguntando as'i que los voy a poner aqu'i:</h4> CONSAGRACI'oN DE OBJETOS RITUALES<br/><br/> (De Raymond Buckland, wicca sajona)<br/><br/> Traducido por Dandelion<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> Levanta el objeto, sostenlo en alto como saludo y di:</h4><br/> "Dios y Diosa; Se~nor y Se~nora;<br/><br/> Padre y Madre de Toda la Vida.<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> Aqu'i os presento mi herramienta personal</h4><br/> Para vuestra aprobaci'on.<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> Con los materiales de la naturaleza</h4><br/> Ha sido moldeado;<br/><br/> Hecho en la forma que ahora veis.<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> Ojal'a que de ahora en adelante pueda servirme</h4><br/> Como una herramienta y arma, a mi servicio".<br/><br/> Ponlo en el altar y lev'antate, o arrod'illate, por un momento con la cabeza inclinada, recordando la construcci'on del objeto (<u><b>espada, talism'an o lo que sea</b></u>) y lo que hiciste para personalizarlo; lo que lo hizo realmente tuyo. Entonces moja tus dedos en el agua salada y salpica el objeto. G'iralo y salpica el otro lado. Ahora lev'antalo y sostenlo en el humo del incienso, gir'andolo para que todas sus partes queden incensadas completamente. Di:<br/><br/> "Pueda el Agua consagrada y el humo del Incienso Sagrado<br/><br/> expulsar cualquier impureza de este "que sea purificado y limpiado, listo para servirme a mi y<br/><br/> a mis dioses en cualquier tarea que desee. Qu'e as'i sea."<br/><br/> Sostenlo entre las palmas de tus manos y concentra todas tus energ'ias - tu "<b><i>poder</i></b>"-en el objeto. Entonces di:<br/><br/> "Yo cargo este "a trav'es de m'i, con la<br/><br/> sabidur'ia y poder del Dios y de la Diosa.<br/><br/> Que pueda servirnos bien, guard'andome del da~no<br/><br/> Y actuando en su servicio, en todas las cosas.<br/><br/> Qu'e as'i sea."<br/><br/> Si vas a consagrar otras cosas en este momento, repite lo de arriba con cada uno por turnos. Abre el c'irculo como sigue. Alza tu nuevo tu herramienta consagrada en tu mano derecha (<u><b>izquierda, si eres zurdo</b></u>) y di:<br/><br/> "Gracias a los dioses por su asistencia.<br/><br/> Que puedan ellos siempre vigilarme desde arriba,<br/><br/> Guard'andome y gui'andome en todo lo que hago.<br/><br/> El Amor es la Ley y el Amor es el Vinculo.<br/><br/> Qu'e as'i sea."<br/><br/> Lleva el objeto consagrado en tu persona, dondequiera que vayas, durante las veinticuatro horas siguientes a la consagraci'on. Entonces duerme con el bajo tu almohada durante tres noches consecutivas.<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>RITUAL PARA CONSAGRAR UN ATHAME O ESPADA</h4><br/> Si es posible el athame debe consagrarse en contacto con otro athame ya consagrado.<br/><br/> Se deja el athame sobre el pent'aculo (<u><b> si se puede con otro athame</b></u>). Se roc'ia con agua bendita, a continuaci'on se coge y se pasa por incienso y se vuelve a colocar sobre el pent'aculo. Se pone la mano derecha sobre el athame (<u><b>o athames</b></u>) presionando hacia abajo, y se dice:<br/><br/> "Yo re conjuro, oh athame, por los Nombres de Abrahach,<br/><br/> Abrach, Abracadabra, para que sirvas como fuerza y<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> Defensa en todas las operaciones m'agicas contra todos</h4><br/> Mis enemigos, visibles o invisibles. Yo te conjuro de nuevo<br/><br/> Por el Santo nombre de (<u><b>Diosa</b></u>) y por el Santo nombre<br/><br/> De (<u><b>Dios</b></u>); te conjuro, oh, athame, para que me sirvas de<br/><br/> Protecci'on en todas las adversidades; as'i pues ay'udame ahora."<br/><br/> Ahora roc'ia de nuevo el athame con agua bendita y p'asalo por incienso, ponla sobre el pent'aculo y di:<br/><br/> "Yo te conjuro, oh, athame de acero, por los Grandes Dioses<br/><br/> y Dulces Diosas, por la virtud de los cielos, de las estrellas y<br/><br/> de los esp'iritus que los presiden, para que recibas esa virtud<br/><br/> que me sirva para alcanzar el fin que persigo<br/><br/> en todas las cosas en las que te utilizar'e, por<br/><br/> el poder de (<u><b>Diosa</b></u>) y (<u><b>Dios</b></u>)."<br/><br/> Levanta el reci'en consagrado athame durante un momento como ofrenda silenciosa al se~nor y a la Se~nora. Ahora debes utilizar el athame inmediatamente para volver a trazar el c'irculo, pero sin palabras.<br/><br/> Si es posible se tendr'a un contacto muy directo con el nuevo athame durante un mes, teni'endolo lo m'as estrechamente posible unido a la piel, guard'andolo bajo la almohada, etc. No dejes que nadie toque o maneje ninguno de tus utensilios hasta que se encuentren por completo impregnados de tu aura, es decir, 6 meses o tan cerca de ese tiempo como sea posible.<br/><br/> Este ritual es de origen hebreo del libro La llave de Salom'on, pero reformado por Gerald Gardner.<br/><br/>DINSTINTOS RITUALES DE PARA LA CONSAGRACI'oN DE LA COMIDA EN UN RITUAL WICCANO<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> Estos los he reunido con el tiempo:</h4><br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> BANQUETE SIMPLE</h4><br/> De Scott Cunningham, Wicca una gu'ia para el practicante en solitario<br/><br/> Levantando al cielo una copa de vino o de otro l'iquido entre las manos, diga:<br/><br/> Agraciada Diosa de la abundancia,<br/><br/> Bendice este vino e inf'undele tu amor.<br/><br/> En tu nombre, diosa madre, y dios padre,<br/><br/> Yo bendigo este vino (<u><b>o cerveza, jugo, etc.</b></u>).<br/><br/> Levantado al cielo un plato de la torta (<u><b>pan, bizcocho</b></u>) con ambas manos y diga:<br/><br/> Potente Dios de la cosecha,<br/><br/> Bendice estos dulces e inf'undeles tu amor.<br/><br/> En vuestro nombre, Diosa Madre y Dios padre,<br/><br/> Yo Bendigo estos dulces (o este pan)"."<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> CONSAGRACI'oN DE LOS PANES. <br/><br/> Del LDS de Gerald Gardner:</h4><br/> " Oh! Reina tan secreta, bendice este alimento en nuestro cuerpo, prodiga la<br/><br/> salud, la riqueza, la fuerza, la alegr'ia, la paz y la realizaci'on del amor que<br/><br/> es perfecta felicidad."<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> PASTELES Y CERVEZA</h4><br/> DE RAYMOND BUCKLAND, BUCKLAND'S COMPLETE BOOK OF WITCHCRAFT, TRADUCIDO POR DANDELION.<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> Bruja:</h4><br/> "Ahora es mi momento de dar gracias a los dioses<br/><br/> por lo que me sustenta.<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> Que pueda siempre ser consciente de</h4><br/> De todo lo que debo a los dioses."<br/><br/> Coge la copa en su mano izquierda y su athame en su mano derecha y lentamente baja la punta del cuchillo introduci'endola en el vino, diciendo:<br/><br/> "De la misma forma que lo masculino se une a lo femenino,<br/><br/> para la felicidad de ambos.<br/><br/> Deja que la uni'on de los frutos promueva la vida.<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> Deja que todo sea f'ertil y permite que la riqueza</h4><br/> Se extienda por todos las tierras."<br/><br/> Ella retira el athame y bebe de la copa. Vuelve a colocarla en el altar, entonces toca los pasteles con la punta de su athame, diciendo:<br/><br/> "<b><i>Esta comida es la bendici'on de los dioses para mi cuerpo.<br/><br/> La consumo libremente. Dejadme recordarlo siempre<br/><br/> que hay que compartir con los que no tienen nada</i></b>".<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> Ella come un pastel, haciendo una pausa para decir:</h4><br/> "<b><i>!Como disfruto de estos regalos de los dioses,<br/><br/> no me deben nada. Qu'e as'i sea!</i></b>".<br/><br/> BENDICI'ON DE BIZCOCHOS Y VINO (DE STARHAWK)<br/><br/> La Sacerdotisa y el Sacerdote (<u><b>o los otros miembros</b></u>) sostienen un plato de comida y una copa y dicen una bendici'on sencilla y, a menudo, espont'anea:<br/><br/> Toda vida es tuya,<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> Todos los frutos de la tierra</h4><br/> Son los frutos de tu matriz,<br/><br/> Tu uni'on, tu danza.<br/><br/> Diosa (y Dios)<br/><br/> Te damos las gracias por tus bendiciones y por la abundancia.<br/><br/> !'Unete a nosotros, festeja con nosotros, disfruta con nosotros!<br/><br/> Benditos sean.<br/><br/> Una peque~na libaci'on puede ser vertida al fuego o la caldera. La copa se pasa por todo el c'irculo y cada miembro da las gracias por las cosas buenas que han ocurrido desde la reuni'on anterior. Mientras comen, todos se relajan, se r'ien, bromean y socializan, o hablan sobre el ritual y planean reuniones futuras.<br/><br/> Nota: si en vez de vino, prefieres otras bebidas naturales, como es mi caso, puedes optar por estas:<br/><br/> Sabbat: zumo de manzana, jugo de uva, jugo del pomelo, jugo naranja, jugo de pi~na, t'e negro, hidromiel ligero, n'ectar de guayaba, caf'e de canela, t'e al jengibre, t'e del hibisco.<br/><br/> Luna llena: limonada, n'ectar del albaricoque, n'ectar del mango, n'ectar de pera, n'ectar de papaya, n'ectar del melocot'on, t'e a la menta, t'e a la rosa, leche.<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>CONSAGRACI'oN DE UNA ESCOBA</h4><br/> De Edain McCoy, Magia y rituales de la Luna<br/><br/> Cuando la escoba ya est'a acabada, s'olo falta que la consagres a tus necesidades m'agicas. Debe hacerse en la fase de LUNA LLENA.<br/><br/> Toma la escoba y ponla contigo en el extremo del c'irculo. Debes llamar a los Guardianes de las Atalayas y a cualquier deidad con la que desees trabajar, ya sabes realiza tu ritual de costumbre antes de la consagraci'on. Presenta la escoba a la Luna, permite que su luz ba~ne la escoba, llen'andola de poder lunar. Si no puedes hacerlo al aire libre o en alg'un lugar donde divises la Luna, hazlo mentalmente, recordando que la m'agica influencia de la Luna puede penetrar el m'as grueso de los tejados.<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> Mientras ofreces la escoba a la Luna pronuncia:</h4><br/> "<b><i>Saludos, Madre Luna, bendice esta escoba m'agica, herramienta de mis antepasados, para que pueda usarla con 'exito en todos mis ritos</i></b>".<br/><br/> Toma la escoba y, caminando dentro del c'irculo en el sentido de las agujas del reloj (<u><b>deosil</b></u>), pres'entala a los Guardianes de las Atalayas, solicitando las bendiciones de cada uno de ellos. Las palabras deben salirte del coraz'on y reflejar lo que sientes por cada elemento. Por ejemplo:<br/><br/> "<b><i>Poderes del agua y de la brillante profundidad,<br/><br/> Reino que los secretos ps'iquicos guardas,<br/><br/> Bendice esta escoba con lluvias primaverales,<br/><br/> Bend'icela con los ocultos poderes del agua</i></b>".<br/><br/> "Poderes de la tierra, oscuros y frescos,<br/><br/> Bendecid esta escoba, m'agico elemento,<br/><br/> Bendecid esta escoba que aqu'i sostengo,<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> Bendecida la magia que tanto quiero"</h4><br/> "<b><i>Poderes del aire, del susurrante viento,<br/><br/> bendecid esta escoba que aqu'i os presento,<br/><br/> para que barra fuera el veneno y el apuro,<br/><br/> para que barra dentro el bendito conjuro</i></b>".<br/><br/> "<b><i>Poderes del fuego, de la luz y del calor,<br/><br/> bendecid esta noche mi escoba con vuestro ardor,<br/><br/> que siempre realice obras de caridad,<br/><br/> hasta que todas mis metas se hagan realidad</i></b>".<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> RITUAL PARA CONSAGRAR OTROS UTENSILIOS:</h4><br/> De la Biblia de las Brujas, volumen II. Janet y Stewart Farrar.<br/><br/> Este ritual es v'alido para consagrar cualquier utensilio m'agico excepto espadas y athames.<br/><br/> Coloca el utensilio sobre el pent'aculo, pon las mano dominante sobre 'el, di:<br/><br/> "(Diosa) y (<u><b>Dios</b></u>), dignaos a bendecir y consagrar este<br/><br/> (<u><b>nombre utensilio</b></u>) para que pueda recibir de vosotros la virtud<br/><br/> necesaria para celebrar todos los actos de amor y belleza."<br/><br/> Moja el utensilio con agua bendita, y p'asalo pro el humo del incienso y vu'elvelo a colocar sobre el pent'aculo, di:<br/><br/> "<b><i>(Diosa) y (<u><b>Dios</b></u>), bendecid este instrumento preparado en vuestro honor</i></b>".<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> A~nade:</h4><br/> "<b><i>Qu'e pueda servir para un buen uso y fin en vuestra gloria</i></b>".<br/><br/> Roc'ialo con agua bendita y p'asalo por incienso.<br/><br/> Alza el utensilio como ofrenda al Se~nor y la Se~nora. Ahora debes usarlo inmediatamente. Si son m'as de un utensilio los debes usar todos, cada vez que termines con cada uno haz un saludo con 'el en forma de tri'angulo invertido (<u><b>como el s'imbolo del primer grado</b></u>). Para utilizarlos:<br/><br/> Bolline: graba algo en una vela.<br/><br/> Pent'aculo, varas e incensarios: exh'ibelo a los 4 elementos (<u><b>el incensario quemando incienso</b></u>).<br/><br/>Origin: <a href='http://modern-wiccan.blogspot.com' target='_blank'>modern-wiccan.blogspot.com</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-83561155901647226392015-02-26T23:45:00.000-08:002015-03-31T11:13:43.689-07:00Shamanism And Brain Training<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><span style="text-align:left;align:left;"><div style="float:left;text-align:left;align:left;width: 53%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><a href="http://about-world-religions.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlezSpS3RuTyEgLlysbTprkQk6u_Phx7aySLDyDfdm7XzMKoz6qeGqluiY2QUNLUuX1_h5NWpu0zwAog7fKA8axUGnACRajMHU8tJmj1zxKQLt07YN91YGj3vorbr-QqGwaxcpsDUpO4k/" border="0" alt="Shamanism And Brain Training" title="Shamanism And Brain Training" /></a></div></span><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;"> Over the last few days the universe has been providing me with little reminders about the ways in which we can train our brains, or perhaps a better word is '<i>consciousness</i>' to help us find wholeness, self understanding and empowerment.<br/><br/> The idea of '<i>brain training</i>' has become popularised through the latest generation of techno-gadgets which, helpfully, remind us that buying more computer games is actually educational and therefore good for you I have to admit that jumping about with the Wii and playing Trivial Pursuit with the family on New Year's Eve was actually quite fun - but in moderation! Brain training works on the assumption that the brain is like any other organ in the body: it can be damaged through abuse and strengthened through a good work out. All of us who are seeking to develop and transform our lives and our environments for the better know that physical addictions damage the brain and moderation is key to a balanced and healthy mind and body. On the '<i>mental</i>' level the theory goes that the more we challenge our brains to use different types of thought process, the stronger and smarter our brains become.<br/><br/> When I was at university I was a member of the '<i>Thinking Society</i>' and we used to do tests looking at our individual strengths and weaknesses in lateral thinking, analytical thinking, creative thinking etc. There were about five of us and the tests we were doing were largely photocopied out of old Psychology manuals. Today '<i>brain training</i>' is big business with any number of self-help guides, on-line tests, brain training gurus and games; there is huge competition in the technology industry for the brain training pound.<br/><br/> The way we think about the brain has changed massively over the last ten to fifteen years and today it is recognised that physical, emotional and spiritual activity are just as important to brain training as performing great intellectual and analytical feats. A quick search on brain training brought me to My super-charged life which identifies meditation, sex, nutrition, singing from memory, and walking around blind-folded as just some of the '<i>20 ways to train your brain</i>'. In our super adult, super charged, super fast world we are being reminded that play is the single most effective method of keeping ourselves smart, effective and happy. Apart from the sex of course, the adventures of the Secret Seven, Famous Five and the Swallows and Amazons are perhaps the nearest I could get to '<i>brain training camp</i>'. Get some good tuck, run about a lot, play games, use your keen observational skills, do a bit of problem solving, help each other out of scrapes, have a good old group bonding session and then home for a well earned rest. The problem is that, to most of us, the activities of the Secret Seven would leave us knackered for days: we simply don't have the resources to solve crime before supper. The Western world seems designed specifically to drain us of our mental and physical resources; we no longer recognise our overall being as a self sustaining organism that is meant to be in balance. For me '<i>brain training</i>' does not go far enough, we need to recognise that we are more than a brain, indeed, we are more than just a body. <br/><br/> As adults we tend to see play as something which is usurped by responsibility. Anything that is worthwhile will require seriousness, effort, self-discipline, hard work, time, and probably money (<u><b>all the stuff that drains our physical and mental resources</b></u>). Play is relegated to the luxury of '<i>leisure time</i>' which, at most, gets a couple of hours a week lip-service if we're lucky. Of course, our brains and bodies still crave play, which is why alcohol, television, watching other people playing sport, and web-surfing all eat away at our lives: they are sanctioned, sterile and largely inactive past times which con our brains into thinking they are training when really they are being filled with crap.<br/><br/> From a shamanic perspective the brain is simply one part of our consciousness, indeed, the entire body is really one part of our overall '<i>self</i>'. For me there is really no limit to the self. We are not self contained little beings wandering round with a body and perhaps some form of spirit or energy body attached to it like a balloon. We are part of a web of being which includes the physical world that manifests us, the mental world that stimulates us to growth, and the spiritual/ imaginative/ dream world that "is "us. All of these different bits of us consume and produce '<i>energy</i>' which I'll describe for now as '<i>movement that effects change</i>'. Energy changes form all the time: food turns into fuel that turns into physical movement or mental process. Anyone who works with energy healing or magic will also tell you that, after a session they are famished; after all, they've been working hard channelling energy. A person who has received an energy healing may feel full of energy, or perhaps lighter if stagnant energy has been shifted to allow new energy to flow once more.<br/><br/> Shamanic practice is about working with energy. All shamanic practitioners work on themselves and some will also work on others. The most commonly recognised shamanic practice is called '<i>journeying</i>' where the consciousness of the practitioner is either said to leave their body and travel elsewhere or to expand outwards so that they are able to access other realms; in any case, the purpose of journeying is to seek wisdom and to retrieve power, soul essence, or energy that has been lost. In a world that drains us this is obviously a key skill to learn and develop and, luckily, the majority of us now seem to be born with an innate ability to journey once we are shown how. Perhaps this gift comes from the universe seeking to restore balance, or perhaps the sheer power we now have to change our world is opening our eyes and minds to the consequences.<br/><br/> Some people are just naturally able to journey, but most of us need some guidance to get us started. However, just because you can journey doesn't mean you have the clarity to see truth when it's in front of you, or the wisdom to act on that truth. I doubt that any shamanic practitioner out there can say with hand on heart that they have always immediately understood messages from spirit and acted upon them. This is where brain training comes in: learn to still your mind and find clarity; learn to support your process through self care; learn to differentiate between '<i>I should</i>' and '<i>I am</i>'; learn that obstacles are largely illusions; learn that play is work and work is play.<br/><br/> Sadly, a spiritual experience, even the most intense, is seldom enough to do more than give us the initial impotus for change. Our ability to then bring change into our lives is determined by the overall state of our consciousness. How much energy is available to you? What perspective do you have on your ability to make change? What support networks have you created for yourself? Does the thought of changing your life make you feel knackered already or are you bursting to grab some tuck, track down the baddies, save the day and be home in time for supper? If the answer is '<i>knackered</i>' then perhaps some brain training is in order before you start to tackle any serious life change and so deplete your already exhausted resources.<br/><br/> You can book a mentoring session with me in-person or via Skype to develop a personalised programme using techniques that promote clarity, boost your energy levels, identify blockages and get you on track. Mindfullness, meditation, stress management techniques and journeying form some of the methods we can work on together and your journey can also be supported by in-person or distance energy and shamanic healing.<br/><br/> <br></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-82803532965978223052015-02-24T18:23:00.000-08:002015-03-18T21:16:33.692-07:00La Naturaleza Es El Templo De Los Dioses<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><center><div style="float:none;text-align:center;align:center;width: 78%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7slXFlWU2TU/VQpNns0YKYI/AAAAAAAAMHc/AET-7Eoz_lg/La%252520Naturaleza%252520Es%252520El%252520Templo%252520De%252520Los%252520Dioses.jpg" border="0" alt="La Naturaleza Es El Templo De Los Dioses" title="La Naturaleza Es El Templo De Los Dioses" /></div></center><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;">Actualmente la Religi'on Wicca no dispone de un Gran Templo Central donde celebrar los ritos y las celebraciones sagradas. <br/><br/>Cuando los Paganos sentimos necesidad de conectarnos con el Dios, la Diosa o el Gran Esp'iritu, acudimos a la Naturaleza, pues es all'i donde podemos sentir la vibraci'on real de la existencia.<br/><br/>En este sentido los gentiles no tenemos Iglesias, ni Mezquitas, ni centros sociales que nos permitan expresar nuestra creencia. Cuando nuestro coraz'on nos pide conectar de verdad con el Esp'iritu, acudimos a la Naturaleza.<br/><br/>Entender esta ense~nanza puede resultarnos dif'icil de aceptar si estamos acostumbrados a rezar en los templos. Sin embargo esto era lo que pensaban los gentiles de la antig"uedad. <br/><br/>Para los sabios del mundo antiguo toda la Naturaleza era sagrada y cualquier lugar era bueno para alcanzar la trascendencia.<br/><br/>Las religiones basadas en la Gran Madre siempre han entendido esta verdad, y manten'ian la Omnipresencia del Esp'iritu. Con el paso de los siglos las cosas han cambiando y hemos llegamos a pensar que la Divinidad s'olo se encuentra en los Templos. <br/><br/>Si yo le digo a un Sacerdote Patriarcal que voy a rezar en la Naturaleza se va a extra~nar. Si le cuento a una monja que me conecto m'as con Dios en el monte que en la Iglesia, le va a sorprender. Aunque vea bien mi forma de trascender, siempre me va a dejar caer que acuda a la Iglesia de vez en cuando, porque no comprenden que la Divinidad est'a en todo. <br/><br/>Para los Wiccanos todo el Universo es sagrado, pues fue creado por la ordenaci'on divina. Las monta~nas, los valles, los r'ios, las cataratas, los 'arboles, las piedras y las plantas son divinas porque llevan el "<b><i>sello</i></b>" de la Divinidad. Llevan impresas la marca del Esp'iritu Creador, del Dios y de la Diosa, por eso decimos que el mejor Templo es la Naturaleza. <br/><br/>En este sentido los Wiccanos que viven cerca del campo tienen m'as suerte, pues a medio paso se pueden encontrar "<b><i>rastros</i></b>" de la Divinidad. Para los que vivimos en las ciudades nos resulta m'as dif'icil conectar, aunque siempre podemos encontrar un parque lleno de 'arboles o un jard'in bot'anico para visitar de vez en cuando. <br/><br/>Acudir a la Naturaleza es lo mejor que podemos hacer para sentir al Esp'iritu. Adem'as de ayudarnos a mantener el cuerpo el'astico y la mente fresca, nos sirve para recordar que no estamos s'olos en la tierra y que existen otras formas de vida adem'as de las nuestras. <br/><br/>Cuando un aspirante a Wiccano desea empezar a conectar con el Esp'iritu, yo le digo; ?porqu'e no te animas y empiezas a conectar con la Naturaleza....?. Puedes empezar por las zonas verdes de tu pueblo, por los campos m'as cercanos y conocidos y tratar de sentir al Esp'iritu de la Naturaleza. Esto puede parecer poco "<b><i>poderoso</i></b>", pero en realidad es lo mejor para sentir la Magia de los Dioses.<br/><br/>Aunque la gente prefiere hacer rituales y ceremonias con mucha liturgia, lo cierto es que visitar la Naturaleza con "<b><i>ojos Wicca</i></b>" es lo mejor que podemos hacer para empezar a potenciar nuestro interior (<u><b>f'ijate que he dicho "para empezar"</b></u>). <br/><br/>Recordar que la Tierra es Templo Santo nos hace ver el Planeta con otros ojos. Si te animas a frecuentarla pensando que todo lo que existe est'a cargado con la energ'ia del Esp'iritu, tal vez sientas su presencia y la verdad de su poder. <br/><br/>?Porqu'e no lo intentas?. Un paseo de bruja va fenomenal..., y lo 'unico que tienes que hacer es "<b><i>abrir</i></b>" tu percepci'on a lo divino. Eso lo puede hacer cualquier, y los beneficios son extraordinarios.<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Sabioy Bendito seas.<br/><br/> </h4><br/><br/>Origin: <a href='http://spellscasting.blogspot.com' target='_blank'>spellscasting.blogspot.com</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-60368971315953031272015-02-23T17:04:00.000-08:002015-03-14T11:09:24.404-07:00My Personal Challenges<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><center><div style="float:none;text-align:center;align:center;width: 76%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KvkTLNag79A/VLVH5gqP1QI/AAAAAAAAH2Y/StUeKk2Z06Q/Accursed%252520Is%252520Now%252520Available%252520In%252520Print.jpg" border="0" alt="My Personal Challenges" title="My Personal Challenges" /></div></center><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;"><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Dreams:</h4>All night long I dreamt of Addie. To some extent I relived the experiences of the past with her. I find that I have no compassion for her-I have no positive feelings for her, this rather frightens me. As a rule, I can find a part of myself that can try and understand where the other person is coming from. But right now, there is no part of me that can understand, truly understand her except intellectually. I saw the goddess's who "<b><i>overshadow</i></b>" her-she is Hera and Diana. I do not understand Hera -it is hard to see that in my psyche. The message to me is to try and write this out so I can understand her. Which is what I am doing. <br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Spell for a friend:</h4><br/>With a sapphire ring (<u><b>reference Silver Ravenwolf again</b></u>)-I used an old sapphire ring because sapphires are "<b><i>my stone</i></b>". <br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Moon shine for me</h4><br/>Gem do your work<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Find a kindred friend who is not a jerk</h4><br/>No one is perfect this I know<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Help us both to learn and grow</h4><br/>With love, joy and dignity<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>As I will, so mote it be.<br/><br/> Daily Corresponding event:</h4><br/>1) Read an article on happiness, happiness includes forgiveness and in my dream I can't seem to forgive. I did a spell for success. Apparently, you need to be happy BEFORE you can succeed. And I am having trouble with forgiveness which is part of happiness. I think happiness has to do with faith. <br/><br/>2) Tim and I are arguing, an unresolved related issue. <br/><br/>3) Am new in towne AGAIN, so I decided to try a spell for a kindred friend (<u><b>above spell</b></u>).<br/><br/>4) One thing I am "<b><i>jealous</i></b>" of Addie. To me, jealousy is a challenge in regards to what you wish for yourself. For example, if you are jealous of someone's beauty, then you need to look at why you don't feel beautiful and change what needs to be changed. Jealousy is a challenge and could be why I can't forgive her or understand her. <br/><br/>5) Addie is a "fighter"(the Diana in her psyche), my way of dealing with someone I do not like in my reality is to simply "<b><i>cut them out</i></b>" as much as possible-rid them from my life. Indeed, she "<b><i>gets off</i></b>" on fighting people. Addie is also very Machiavellian-she will do whatever it takes, no matter what the cost. I can fight, "<b><i>the good fight</i></b>", but my way is very different. Addie is "<b><i>not going away</i></b>". She is very present force in my life. The first thing I must do in my "<b><i>fight</i></b>", is to rid her from my life in my mind's eye. Forgive her, try to understand her, get over my jealousy, lessen her hold on me. Jealousy, anger etc give the other person too much power over me. The less emotion I feel about her, the less her power and the smarter my decisions and reactions in regards to her. <br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Philosophy:</h4><br/>One thing about spells is that they many times "<b><i>counter attack</i></b>". Whatever is happening in your life that is preventing you from having what you cast the spell for, "<b><i>comes out to play with you</i></b>". Suddenly, my trouble with forgiveness is in my dreams-all night long. And an unresolved issue with my significant other as well. Forgiveness is for you and not the other person. If you forgive them, then they lessen their power on your life. So, if you cast a spell for happiness, you are going to find out what is making you "<b><i>unhappy</i></b>", and face that down within your own psyche. Forgiving does not mean that you associate with the person again-although it can. Forgiving means that your anger or rage is gone towards them. <br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Philosophy on "<b><i>overshadowing</i></b>":</h4><br/>Based on the book, "<b><i>Goddess's in Every Woman</i></b>" by Jean Bolen, the idea is that we are essentially X amount of women in our society. This idea is based upon the Jungian idea of archetypes. For example, a woman who has a lot of Aphrodite in her, will date a lot of men, she is the personification of love and sex. Hera, the wife-but a betrayed wife, is a "<b><i>woman scorned</i></b>". Every God and Goddess has both "<b><i>good sides</i></b>" and "<b><i>challenges</i></b>" to overcome. Hera is the woman scorned challenge, the wife of Zues-he cheats on her all the time. There are Greek, Roman, Irish etc. god and goddess archetypes, most women (<u><b>and men</b></u>) are two. These are called pantheons. Our sense of fashion is part of that. What we were is reflective of which "<b><i>goddess</i></b>" we chose. For me this is one "<b><i>crucial</i></b>" part of a being wiccan, the different gods and goddess's that overshadow us. Wicca takes this into account, and most other religions do not. It is a useful way to try and understand someone and where they are coming from.<br></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-54978139633863533242015-02-22T15:28:00.000-08:002015-03-02T07:26:17.476-08:00Pisces And Pisces Romance Couple And Compatibility Hot Or Not<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><center><div style="float:none;text-align:center;align:center;width: 62%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RnuugRlnBe8/VO27frsgtbI/AAAAAAAAKuo/p1aYS1-2YBU/Is%252520The%252520Mass%252520Really%252520A%252520Sacrifice.jpg" border="0" alt="Pisces And Pisces Romance Couple And Compatibility Hot Or Not" title="Pisces And Pisces Romance Couple And Compatibility Hot Or Not" /></div></center><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;"><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>By Brock Thompson</h4> When two Pisceans join together in a love match, there is a union of two sensitive and emotional people. They share honest, efficient communication, a rich emotional bond and a deep spiritual connection. They both feel that their precious relationship is the most wonderful thing in the world, and it couldn't get any better. They share a love of beauty and peace unparalleled in the Zodiac, and both are equally committed to maintaining this ideal relationship.The passive Pisces nature affords this couple peaceful times. However, Pisces can be too easygoing, sometimes gullible, and is extremely sensitive to negative energy. Two Pisces together can become lethargic, lazy or bring out the best and worst in one another. They are often unable to set limits for themselves or others, and can wander off too far in a spiritual direction. Pisces tend to elude any conflicts with a disappearing act, either with unrealistic optimism or by hiding out in a life of fantasy.<br/><br/> It is this everyday Pisces versatility which makes each simple to speak to, adaptable to any situation and stellar close friends as well as lovers.Pisces is ruled by the Planets Jupiter and Neptune. Pisces give a stellar feeling of ethics and values and dwell life with a philosophical view as reflected by the Planet Jupiter. Neptune is in cost of Pisces's romantic relationship with pop culture, summary believed, imagination and secret. Pisces is a Signal of service.<br/><br/> Every spouse showers the various with affection and entirely adores any they receive in turn. The providing of lavish gifts, breakfast every day in bed and weekend getaways are typical occurrences in a Pisces-Pisces romantic relationship. Pisces is a Water Sign. Both partners are solely too satisfied to bend to the could and must of their loved ones. Pisces are well known for their adaptability, conforming their pursuits and desire to the circumstances at hand.<br/><br/> That can be risky for The Fish, even so, as their sense of self applied may slide off into the background. The astrological symbol of The Combine of Fishes symbolizes Pisces's dual nature, each swimming in a different advice simultaneously.Pisces have to genuinely focus and dedicate themselves to implementing personal goals. It is for the profit of the partnership that every single spouse need to do their finest to promote one another to succeed.<br/><br/> Pisces is a Mutable Indicator. Indirect and aloof, Pisces achieves well once motivated by a sturdy initiating force. It couple could commonly exist with puny or no conflict, and could tremendously benefit from placing their hearts and brains together. Fights are few and far between. Both are often there to improve one another by means of attempting times or to lend a side every time necessary.<br/><br/> Their laid-back dynamics is a welcome aspect for both partners, and it newlyweds feels a fantastic mental attraction to and deep admiration of one another. What's the ideal element of the Pisces-Pisces relationship? It's incredible alleviate with that they get together with one another. These folks are the envy of the Zodiac once it comes to a peaceful, straightforward partnership. They are very loyal, loving and chill and can always be there once their partner should them most. Together, their bond can exist unbreakable.<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> About the Author:</h4><br/> Pisces And Pisces Love Match And Compatibility? Hot Or Not? - pisces and pisces and pisces and pisces<br/><br/> <br></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-65066434302922414402015-02-22T05:42:00.000-08:002015-03-02T12:53:48.016-08:00Morning Roundup St Teresa Of Avila Virgin S Teresiae Virginis Missa Dilexisti October 15Th 2012<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;"> * "<b><i>A PRIEST LIFE (FR. KEVIN CUSICK)</i></b>" >> CARDINAL WUERL: YEAR OF FAITH TO "REFLECT ON THE CHURCH AS THE CONTINUING PRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE WORLD"<br/> * "<b><i>ACCEPTING ABUNDANCE (STACY TRASANCOS)</i></b>" >> WHY ARE CATHOLICS PRAISING THE NOBEL PRIZE STEM CELL TECHNOLOGY? <br/> * "<b><i>AD ALTARE DEI (FR. LARRY)</i></b>" >> NEW MASS SCHEDULE<br/> * "<b><i>ARCHDIOCESE OF WASHINGTON (MSGR. CHARLES POPE)</i></b>" >> WELCOME TO THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE LITURGY<br/> * "BY LOVE ALONE (<u><b>CHARITY MARTIN</b></u>) ">> ON THE CALENDAR: ST. TERESA OF 'AVILA<br/> * "<b><i>COURAGEOUS PRIEST</i></b>" >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE REAL WAR ON WOMEN<br/> * "<b><i>CRISIS MAGAZINE</i></b>" >> SUBMERGED IN THE OCEAN: CHALLENGES OFTEN ARISE AFTER CATHOLIC CONVERSION (DAVID PAUL DEAVEL)<br/> * "<b><i>CRISIS MAGAZINE</i></b>" >> THE DILEMMA OF PRO-LIFE DEMOCRATS (HOWARD KAINZ)<br/> * "<b><i>DEVOCI'oN CAT'oLICA</i></b>" >> SANTORAL CAT'oLICO 15 DE OCTUBRE <br/> * "DOMINE, DA MIHI HANC AQUAM! (<u><b>FR. PHILIP NERI POWELL, OP</b></u>) ">> UNNECESSARY SIGNS <br/> * "<b><i>EDWARD FESER</i></b>" >> SEPARATED AT BIRTH? <br/> * "<b><i>HOLY SOULS HERMITAGE - FR. GEORGE DAVID BYERS</i></b>" >> 50MM RIFLE ON HOLY SOULS MOUNTAIN<br/> * "INSIGHT SCOOP THE IGNATIUS PRESS BLOG ">> NO NEW OR DIFFERENT CHURCH<br/> * "JIMMY AKIN.ORG ">> WAS ST. PETER THE GREATEST DISCIPLE? <br/> * "NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE (<u><b>MARK STEYN</b></u>) ">> TEN THOUSAND THUMBS DOWN<br/> * "<b><i>SHIRT OF FLAME (HEATHER KING)</i></b>" >> THE NEW EVANGELIZATION<br/> * "<b><i>STREETS OF GOLD (OLIVIA)</i></b>" >> DO NOT SUBMIT AGAIN TO THE YOKE OF SLAVERY (<u><b>GALATIANS 5:1</b></u>) <br/> * "<b><i>THE CATHOLIC LEAGUE</i></b>" >> HOLLYWOOD BLASTED ON L.A. RADIO<br/> * "<b><i>THE CATHOLIC THING</i></b>" >> VATICAN II: THE YES AND THE NO (ROBERT ROYAL)<br/> * "<b><i>THE HERMENEUTIC OF CONTINUITY (FR. TIM FINIGAN)</i></b>" >> NEW EDITION OF RONALD KNOX BIBLE FROM BARONIUS PRESS <br/> * "THE LITURGICAL DAY (<u><b>JIMMY AKIN</b></u>) ">> OCT. 15, 2012<br/> * "<b><i>THE NEW THEOLOGICAL MOVEMENT (FATHER RYAN ERLENBUSH)</i></b>" >> ST. TERESA OF AVILA: WHY YOU CAN'T SEEM TO PROGRESS IN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE <br/> * "<b><i>THE TOF SPOT (MICHAEL FLYNN)</i></b>" >> A BLOGGER YCLEPT <br/> * "TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS PROPERS IN ENGLISH (<u><b>DEACON JOHN GIGLIO JR.</b></u>) ">> SAINT TERESA OF AVILA<br/> * "V FOR VICTORY! (<u><b>ANITA MOORE, O.P., ESQ.</b></u>) ">> I AM IN THE WRONG LINE OF WORK<br/> * "WHAT DOES THE PRAYER REALLY SAY? (<u><b>FR. JOHN ZUHLSDORF</b></u>) ">> BP. SAMPLE'S (<u><b>D. MARQUETTE</b></u>) SERMON FOR THE PONTIFICAL MASS OF THE CALL TO HOLINESS CONFERENCE<br/> * "<b><i>WHAT DOES THE PRAYER REALLY SAY? (FR. JOHN ZUHLSDORF)</i></b>" >> VIDEO INTERVIEW OF A BISHOP WHO ATTENDED ALL THE SESSIONS OF VATICAN II<br/> * "<b><i>WORD ON FIRE BLOG</i></b>" >> SPIRITUALITY: HEATHER KING ON "TRUE NORTH"<br></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-67537212257651176242015-02-19T23:56:00.000-08:002015-04-09T19:07:58.565-07:00Fortune Spells<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><center><div style="float:none;text-align:center;align:center;width: 67%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><a href="http://lilith-dark-moon.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-k3GCsQTwUic/VPZ-C5r3AaI/AAAAAAAALNo/rD9CoM5V2WU/She%252520Is%252520A%252520Witch.jpg" border="0" alt="Fortune Spells" title="Fortune Spells" /></a></div></center><center> The group of spells known as fortune spells can do two things. First they can perceive a future, and thus act as fortune telling tools. Secondly they can change and manipulate fortunes and futures.<br/><br/>The power of fortunes lays in the power of the magical forces which control all magic. The more powerful this magic force is within the caster the easier it is for the caster to manipulate fortunes and the more detailed fortuntelling can become.<br/><br/> CHARGE A PACK OF CARDS<br/><br/> This spell is to charge a pack of cards with the power to tell what will be on your future.<br/><br/>Items you will need<br/><br/> A pack of cards(casino,spanish etc)<br/><br/>A wand<br/><br/>Your own altar with a pentagram<br/><br/> CASTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ' CHARGE A PACK OF CARDS'<br/><br/> What the cards mean:<br/><br/>Casino Cards:<br/><br/>Hearts means love<br/><br/>Swords means strength<br/><br/>Flowers means growth<br/><br/>Diamonds means money<br/><br/>Kings,Queens and Jacks means leaderness and richness<br/><br/>Jokers mean friends <br/><br/> Spanish Cards:<br/><br/>Gold means money<br/><br/>Cups means food<br/><br/>Swords means strength<br/><br/>Sticks means nature<br/><br/>Fools means jobs<br/><br/>Kings means leaderness<br/><br/>Examples:<br/><br/>Casino cards: if the queen of hearts is pick up that means love and leaderness, richness<br/><br/>Spanish cards: if the kings of sticks is pick up that means nature and leaderness <br/><br/> Spell Casting:<br/><br/>Put the pack of cards on the pentagram in the altar and point the pack of cards with your wand and say: <br/><br/> 'Pack of cards, I need you to say my future and help me on my path of my life.So mote it be'<br/><br/> ELEMENTAL LUCK SPELL<br/><br/> (<u><b>Kudo's to Rabbitt</b></u>). Based on Rabbitt's Luck spell.<br/><br/>Items you will need<br/><br/> Pentagram and candles if you need them.<br/><br/> CASTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ' ELEMENTAL LUCK SPELL'<br/><br/> hant the Following outside or near a open window:<br/><br/>Oh Elements that be: By winds that cool and airs that cleanse, By earth that sustains us and brings good fortune, By fire that protects and warms our souls, By water that gives us drink and life, Elemental powers, open the doors of luck for: '<i>full name</i>' Bring to me that which I need, by the power of the Four elements! i ask by wind, by earth, by fire and by water! so mote it be.<br/><br/>X4 Repeat, feel free to modify as needed. Thanks again Rabbitt <br/><br/> LUCK TO LOVE<br/><br/> This spell is intended to take someone else's luck away for a certain period of time, and convert it to love for you. NOTE: I do not reccomend using this spell in cases of selfishness or revenge. It will backfire. If you decide to use this spell, be sure that you have a good reason.<br/><br/>Items you will need<br/><br/> concentration<br/><br/>strong voice<br/><br/>clear conscience<br/><br/>good-natured heart<br/><br/>two people<br/><br/> CASTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ' LUCK TO LOVE'<br/><br/> Close your eyes, standing back-to-back with the person you're casting this spell with, and focus on the person you intend to cast this spell at. Invision their face and the color of their personality and intensions. Chant this spell in sync with the other person: <br/><br/> Luck from one,<br/><br/>Multiply,<br/><br/>Onto two,<br/><br/>Then divide. <br/><br/> Don't take offense,<br/><br/>It's already done.<br/><br/>It won't last long,<br/><br/>Though it's just begun. <br/><br/> Soon yours will lessen,<br/><br/>And ours will rise,<br/><br/>But in the end,<br/><br/>It will compromise. <br/><br/> Turn luck to love,<br/><br/>Until he/she learns.<br/><br/>As a selfless being,<br/><br/>His/her luck shall return. <br/><br/> By the power of the(whatever element you favor most), let it be so! <br/><br/> In a couple of days, the spell should take action. WARNING: If your intensions were selfish, mean, hateful, or to avenge, the spell WILL backfire and instead both luck and love will fail you for a short time.<br/><br/> US AuctionsAustralian AuctionsAustrian AuctionsBelgian AuctionsCanadian AuctionsFrench AuctionsGerman AuctionsIndian AuctionsIrish AuctionsItalian AuctionsDutch AuctionsSpanish AuctionsSwiss AuctionsUK Auctions<br/><br/>PROSPERITY WICCAN SPELL RING MONEY WEALTH LUCK FORTUNE AMBITION GENEROSITY<br/><br/> US 19.51<br/><br/>RELATED POSTS:<br/><br/>Magic love spellsLove SpellsVoodoo DollsMarriage SpellsJealousy SpellsLOVE AND FRIENDSHIP SPELLS<br/><br/>Reference: <a href='http://my-spiritual-path.blogspot.com' target='_blank'>my-spiritual-path.blogspot.com</a></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-1393472970436972172015-02-18T17:21:00.000-08:002015-02-25T04:09:48.847-08:00Fearfully And Wonderfully Made<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><center><div style="float:none;text-align:center;align:center;width: 64%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Depkt45gDDg/VFw03sb7T4I/AAAAAAAAFvU/lnh5gySDqBs/Daily%252520Message%252520April%2525201%2525202013.jpg" border="0" alt="Fearfully And Wonderfully Made" title="Fearfully And Wonderfully Made" /></div></center><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;">When is a "<b><i>natural talent</i></b>" a spiritual gift? That isn't an easy question to answer. If you limit yourself to the Pauline lists, you quickly realize that you can't offer an either/or answer to the question. Could they be natural talents with a supernatural add? Could they be transformed natural talents, where once they were natural but if they are used for sacred purposes we should consider them to be spiritual gifts? It is probably best not to make a sharp distinction between gifts and talents and recognize the mystery of the Spirit's engagement with our lives. In the mystery of creation, we can recognize that what we call talents are in reality divine gifts of grace. We can use them for our own purposes, or in gratitude to the creator use them in the work of God's kingdom. A gift's usefulness to the community faith is rooted in our appreciation of the one who is the true source of all talents and abilities, the Creator. <br/><br/>The biblical discussions of creation witness to the mystery of human life. There is a strong sense that humanity is created for a relationship with God and gifted with abilities that relate to that calling. Hear the implications of the Psalmist's affirmation of God's attention to the details of our formation as individuals. <br/><br/>For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb.I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made (<u><b>Ps. 139:13-14</b></u>).We do not have to take this passage in a deterministic or literalist manner to appreciate our calling by God to stand before God as people who are "<b><i>fearfully and wonderfully made.</i></b>" This passage helps us affirm that each of us, no matter our backgrounds, skills, intelligence, social class, have something to offer to the world. Who we are and what we do does make a difference. No one else can do what I do like I do it and no one can do what you do quite like you do it. It's not just a matter of talent; it's also a matter of personality and temperament. Who we are is somewhat of a mystery, but the call to use our talents and abilities to create a community of faith that will witness to the love of our God, that is not a mystery. <br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Excerpted from "<b><i>Gifts of Love</i></b>" (unpublished mss.)</h4><br></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-5702618926795057232015-02-15T22:21:00.000-08:002015-04-09T18:26:03.087-07:00We Are Rarely Proud When We Are Alone<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><center><div style="float:none;text-align:center;align:center;width: 73%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><a href="http://magical-poetry.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f2_eTiYe6c8/VScmos65rMI/AAAAAAAAM2Q/m8gyhhteo9c/We%252520Are%252520Rarely%252520Proud%252520When%252520We%252520Are%252520Alone.jpg" border="0" alt="We Are Rarely Proud When We Are Alone" title="We Are Rarely Proud When We Are Alone" /></a></div></center><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;">"By DagoodS"<br/><br/>(Title by Voltaire)<br/><br/>Claiming that a person does not believe in God because of their Pride is a rotten argument. Do not be surprised if it fails to even nudge the skeptic.<br/><br/>It is often said, in the debate of why a person believes or not, that the non-believer failed to be humble, or thought too much of themselves, or was arrogant, and thus dismissed the concept of God. Since it is not true, the statement fails to compel.<br/><br/>If you are guilty of using this claim in a debate, you can save your breath and your fingers. <br/><br/>You see, in order to be persuasive, we must talk in concepts and ideas that the OTHER person can relate to, not simply push out some platitude and assume that it is effective. I may find it extremely persuasive that a Chevrolet Corvette can go from 0-60 mph in less than 5 seconds. That may be the impetus by which I am persuaded to purchase the vehicle. Can you imagine my using this selling feature to a mother with three children? While she may be thrilled to hear how fast she can escape reality, upon looking at the two-seater, and the luggage space only large enough for a briefcase, she would be less than impressed with my sales technique. She wants space, not speed.<br/><br/>The people that are the most persuasive are the ones that first determine what motivates their target. If money, the salesman puts it in terms of economics. If power, in terms of might. If love, in terms of romance. <br/><br/>As pride had nothing to do with my transformation of beliefs, a person telling me that "<b><i>It is because you were too proud</i></b>" is amazingly ineffective. Place the shoe on the other foot. If I told you that the only reason you believe in a God, is because you have been brainwashed, does this impel you to question why you believe? Of course not! You are very aware you were not brainwashed, so my stating such does not motivate you, and it actually harms my argument, since you know my initial premise is incorrect.<br/><br/>"You have been brainwashed to believe in a God. If you would only stop being brainwashed, you would see that there is no God."<br/><br/>Not very convincing, is it? Then why use the same, unconvincing tactic on others?<br/><br/>Have you ever thought about how many people you are throwing into this label of "pride"? Billions and Billions. There are only a few million (<u><b>if that</b></u>) persons that believe in your particular God. I am not talking about Jesus to the Christian, or Allah to the Muslim or YHWH to the Jew, I am talking about your specific God, with all of its nuances, flavors, and idiosyncrasies. If you are a protestant, that particular "<b><i>God</i></b>" did not appear before the 16th Century. A Calvinist, not until Calvin. If you reject some Holy book and writings, but accept others, how many other persons have you met that fully aligned with every word and phrase that you do?<br/><br/>Very few believe exactly as you do regarding infants, baptism, salvation, marriage, election, etc. But even then, that will always leave Billions of persons both before, now and later, that do not believe in your particular God. Are every single one of them too proud to buy into your particular god?<br/><br/>As we go through life, our views of our God can change. Is it true that every time this view changed, and we no longer believed our former God, the change came about from pride? If a Christian converted a Jew, would that change of belief be from Pride? What about a Jew that converts a Christian? Is that Pride? How can we be so arrogant to state that when a person modifies their belief to our belief, it is proper, but when they modify their belief to something that is not, it is pride?<br/><br/>When I was growing up, God didn't like Movie Theaters. They were places of sin, iniquity, evil and bad popcorn. My parents didn't go to Movies, my siblings did not go to Movies, my friends did not, my church mates did not, my school mates did not. I knew no one that was upright, moral, or pure that would ever even THINK of going to a movie.<br/><br/>My brother and I snuck into "Cannonball Run "and thought we had gotten away with murder! Then came the Video Cassette Recorder......<br/><br/>Between 1980 and 1984, our community saw a transformation. All of a sudden, God liked Movies! Was this change in belief in what God liked/dis-liked have anything to do with pride? Did it have to do with intellectual change? Nope, it was a cultural change. When movies became so readily available, to prohibit them appeared ridiculous.<br/><br/>Now that we know Billions of people are suffering from similar bouts of pride in their refusal to believe a particular god, the next step, beyond stating it, is to proof it out.<br/><br/>At first blush, "<b><i>you have pride, therefore do not believe in my god</i></b>" appears to be poisoning the well. You know, when you taint the water so bad, no one dares drink it to be made a fool. If I protest and say, "<b><i>It is not pride</i></b>" the first response is, "<b><i>Sad. Too proud to see his pride.</i></b>" If I fail to protest, it confirms the statement.<br/><br/>At second blush, the statement, "<b><i>you have pride and therefore do not believe in my god</i></b>" is preaching to the choir. The only ones buying it are the ones that agree with that particular God.<br/><br/>On occasion, I heard preachers talk about how good it is people sacrifice their Sunday to attend their church that morning. Think about it. The ONLY persons hearing that are....People attending church! "<b><i>You guys are great for doing what you are doing. Those guys (<u><b>who aren't here and can't hear me</b></u>) are bad for not being here.</i></b>" Makes the audience so happy (<u><b>dare I say "proud"?</b></u>) to pat themselves on the back for being so holy. And no harm, because the unholy ones didn't even hear it.<br/><br/>The only people that agree we non-believers are too proud to believe in your God, are the select few that believe with you. No body else. You are selling to an audience that has already bought the product. Is that the intention of this statement?<br/><br/>Simply stating it is not enough. You must proof out the assertion; prove that people are deliberately refusing to acquiesce to your God because of pride. <br/><br/>Yes, I know. You have the proof; because God told you. Are you forgetting those Billions of other people? Billions of OTHER gods told Billions of OTHER people that YOU have too much pride to buy into their individual belief. I am being told by conflicting God-beliefs that I have too much pride to believe in their God. No matter how we turn, you and I are doomed. There is some God-belief out there that we are both being too proud to believe.<br/><br/>Yes, I know. But your God-belief is the correct one. After which I immediately hear Billions of voices shouting, "<b><i>No, MY belief is the correct one.</i></b>" We have to do better than merely assertion. We have to do better than merely, "God says so."<br/><br/>A question that always pops in my head is, "<b><i>Proud of what? My thinking? My humanity?</i></b>" We hear the phrase, "<b><i>Atheists think they know more than God,</i></b>" or "<b><i>You worship your mind,</i></b>" or "<b><i>You have faith in your brain,</i></b>" none of which is accurate.<br/><br/>Am I proud of my thinking? I am well-aware that in some areas I think better than some people, and worse than others. In other areas, I think worse them some and better than others. Even a super-genius can be wrong, and a 2-year-old can be right. <br/><br/>Thinking is on a scale. Some of us are numbers people, some are visual, some artistic, and some can write poetry to beat the band. For every reason I have to be proud of my ability to think, I have just as many, if not more, to be humble. I can process out arguments. I cannot paint much better than stick figures. I can problem-resolve quite well. I cannot do two things at once.<br/><br/>Most atheists that I converse with are humanitarians. I do not run across "<b><i>I think better than you, so I AM better than you</i></b>" any more than I do with theists. Or any other -ists. We all seem to be pretty equal on the playing field in this regard.<br/><br/>Are there proud atheists? Sure. Are there proud theists? Just as much. I see neither group having a corner on the market on pride OR thinking. We all have some pride and some humility.<br/><br/>Do I think I know more than God? This is laughable. Simply because I am an atheist, doesn't mean I have no clue about the concept of God. I understand very well, that part of being a God, and certainly part of being a creator, would necessitate that God would have to be smarter than I am. He would know more. To even remotely think that I could be smarter than an entity that has the ability to make a star is ludicrous.<br/><br/>The problem is not thinking I am smarter, it is the lack of ability to compare. Sure, IF there is a God, it would be smarter. Just like IF there were leprechauns, they would have more gold than I do. I am not "<b><i>proud</i></b>" that I have more gold than leprechauns. I simply have no basis by which to compare. If someone could present one, it wouldn't take much to beat me in the gold-comparison.<br/><br/>Do I require God, in some way, to show me that He is smarter? Again, no. Since I, a less intelligent creature, can see the numerous conflicting gods, all of which claim that not believing in them is due to pride, certainly the more intelligent creature can see that as well. As I cannot, with my limited thinking ability, determine which God is correct, than even God can see that He must do something if he wants to correct the situation.<br/><br/>I know. He already has. Hear those Billions of voices behind you, disagreeing with your particular dispensation of God? Since I am not smarter than God, I cannot tell which voice could possibly be correct, since they all conflict with each other.<br/><br/>Am I proud of my humanity? I see a miscommunication here. Often theists (<u><b>and I was certainly taught this way</b></u>) believe there is a scale of some sort. That the most important entity in the universe is God. The second most important are humans, because they can have a relationship with God. The Third are animals, the fourth the earth, the fifth the rest of the universe we cannot explore. While this scale is not laid out so explicitly, it certainly is effectively demonstrated. Even within each level, there can be varying degrees. Sadly, some theism teaches Man is more important than Woman. Saved are more important than unsaved. Sinner of 100 sins is more important than Sinner of 1000 sins.<br/><br/>I wonder if the theist that claims I am using Pride to usurp God is using this scale. You see, if there WAS such a scale, by eliminating God, guess who becomes number one? Most metaphysical naturalists (<u><b>as near as I can tell</b></u>) and certainly one atheist (<u><b>that I can confirm</b></u>) do not see the world this way. <br/><br/>There is no scale. A human just happens to be the current state of this evolved being. I'll let you in on a secret. If you hear the claim "<b><i>The human is the greatest evolved creature</i></b>" it is most likely from a creationist. Not an evolutionist. In "<b><i>some</i></b>" areas we have evolved more advanced than other species. But I would prefer the eyes of a cat, frankly. And certainly the lifespan of tortoises. <br/><br/>Can humans process thought better than most creatures? It would appear so. Doesn't make us "<b><i>better.</i></b>" We are not even adequate at swimming and stink at flying. We cannot predict weather, nor can communicate over long distances. We are just one of many creatures that live on earth. In another million years or so, the next evolved creatures will wonder how we made it at all.<br/><br/>Further, I realize how insignificant I am in the vast universe. My flavor of theism taught that God cared about the very hairs on my head, and whether I stubbed my toe. My flavor of atheism says the universe doesn't give a damn if I live, die or explode. I can assure you which flavor is more humbling.<br/><br/>There is no pride in eliminating one's "<b><i>grand significance.</i></b>" <br/><br/>So why is "<b><i>pride</i></b>" a reason to not believe in God? What is the person proud of? What act of humility is required that God will demonstrate himself to that person? Is asking once enough? A thousand times? Never at all?<br/><br/>Finally, on a personal note, I was happy as a Christian. I liked God, and I figured God would (<u><b>hopefully</b></u>) understand I was doing the best I could with the abilities I had. Sure, I screwed up, but that was inherent in the nature of humanity, and I did my best to screw up as little as possible.<br/><br/>I came across some intriguing questions about God, and figured I could do some research, learn some, quash those questions, and then go merrily on my way. Instead I became embroiled in the fight of my life, attempting to learn enough about God to make those questions abate. I thought, and studied, and read and prayed and agonized over the complexities presented. I did not have time to be proud, because I was too immersed in study. <br/><br/>When I realized that I was losing my belief in God, I became despondent and depressed. I tried everything any human could ever do to hold onto that belief. And yes, I "<b><i>let go and let God.</i></b>" Unfortunately, your god chose to not wipe those pounding questions from my brain. It is difficult for me to state the cost of the inevitable change of belief in my relationships and within my family.<br/><br/>Pride? With a wry smile, I shake my head at that argument. You would be better served arguing that I deliberately dis-believe in God because I like Ham sandwiches. It is more compelling with more depth of thought.<br/><br/>Credit: <a href='http://alchemy-and-alchemists.blogspot.com' target='_blank'>alchemy-and-alchemists.blogspot.com</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-38752174942191333082015-02-13T18:19:00.000-08:002015-02-19T12:06:36.717-08:00Comparison Of Bn Vs Buddhism Dream Yoga<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><center><div style="float:none;text-align:center;align:center;width: 75%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8fjaAvwb5DE/VOZCSezqXTI/AAAAAAAAKhY/bsoHVOcRxI0/Comparison%252520Of%252520Bn%252520Vs%252520Buddhism%252520Dream%252520Yoga.jpg" border="0" alt="Comparison Of Bn Vs Buddhism Dream Yoga" title="Comparison Of Bn Vs Buddhism Dream Yoga" /></div></center><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;"><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> Get The Best Yoga Guidelines At Yoga Divinity</h4> The nation of Tibet were convinced by a tradition of shamanism, magic and fortune-telling. Buddhism showed up in Tibet from India in the 7th century and became the record faith of the narrative. The native traditions were dejected, but became referred to as Bn. Every one religions began to sketch some commonalities in their valued texts and practices. They each suffer strategies to turn over greater picture, along with the practice of dream yoga. <br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>The Bon Practice</h4><br/> The traditional nation of Tibet were beached in animistic and shamanistic practices that revered a well hovering difference together with the human race and smooth. They revered the elements, appears, spirits and gods. They looked for acquit from devils and industrious in initiation resources that included divine psychosis and sanctuary stylish the desert. Commonly viewed as an sovereign virtuous beliefs by outsiders, by the 10th century the custom was respected as Bn, a ancestry tree simultaneous to Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche. <br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Buddhism In Tibet</h4><br/> Buddha Shakyamuni transferred trainings in Tibet that formed the Nyingma, Kagyu, Dzogchen and Gelug schools. Specialists of each group use impress, chanting and dullness to find unadorned picture. Essential to Tibetan Buddhism is esteem for Padmasambhava, the Buddha of softness. In the overdue 20th century, the 14th Dalai Lama, spiritual move of the Tibetan nation, in conclusion respected Bn as the 5th school of Tibetan Buddhism. <br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Suppose Yoga</h4><br/> Buddha Shakyamuni told his disciples to regard all ambiance as dreams. The perfect world comes up and dissolves ardor a nightmare. Tibetan Bn tradition advises us not to run through the dear time we have an account undeveloped and dreaming for example we've the would-be to agreement with our restrictions. This is the living being of the spiritual path. Suppose yoga is a set of practices that step our undeveloped hours to bring waking picture stylish undeveloped picture. <br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Earn Dreaming</h4><br/> Bn shamans use dreams as a type of divination. They encouragement to guardians and union answers. Earn dreaming facilitate a precise as picture establishes trendy the dream feel. There's a crush to frontage concerns and step a horrid image stylish a improving one- a thick pet chasing you can be pictured as a agreeable Buddha. Earn dreaming enables us to lay self that aid us advance through a spiritual path. <br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>The Accomplished Completness</h4><br/> Dzogchen Buddhism embodies the living being of the Bn tradition. '<i>"Mindnature"</i>' is every one the starting tapering off and the entity of practice. Mindnature is always commit in all beings regardless of '<i>"samsara,"</i>' the epoch of ineptness and delight naked in spoken life. The practice of Suppose Yoga helps us to make this knowledge ardently surplus to all humans. <br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Mesh Clever</h4><br/> Thoughts aren't translated and assessed. To a certain extent, we sketch to stop dream messages to an feel of comprehensiveness and first-class light.' Tibetan Bn and Buddhism practices open the mind to '<i>"rigpa,"</i>' a approve of unadorned picture, likewise described as first-class light. The MotherTantra is the vital of wisdom who reminds us that picture and just leisure pursuit in life allow us to roost commit direct the temporary absent administrate. <br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Correspondence Of Bn Vs. Buddhism Suppose Yoga</h4><br></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-70578127083850672782015-02-06T08:39:00.000-08:002015-03-18T21:16:25.464-07:00Letters From The Elf Church<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><center><div style="float:none;text-align:center;align:center;width: 62%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LANmSNMGC4f2UkO1xdcMT__JKHJ2QPo4a6XKd67-EplHtF7bsekig7J3NGm18pAoNKiOMBv_Qn9gFWj8LZLZto4eqWFtKOBE0_XriHGIlgjZj6Aao4O-VMpr6rHcuFtuX9FEzXvM9T8/" border="0" alt="Letters From The Elf Church" title="Letters From The Elf Church" /></div></center><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;">"All photographs in this article were taken by Ragnhildur J'onsd'ottir, who also provided the captions. She has kindly allowed me to use them on The Norse Mythology Blog."<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> Sunrise seen from inside the elf church</h4><br/>Last December 22, the Associated Press posted a story titled "<b><i>Iceland's Hidden Elves Delay Road Project.</i></b>" It discussed how protests in Iceland had temporarily halted construction of a road through the G'algahraun lava field on the 'Alftanes peninsula - an area that was declared officially protected in 2009 - until the country's supreme court could rule on the case. The story downplayed the fact that environmentalists had been publicly battling the project since its inception. Instead, it focused almost exclusively on the idea that "<b><i>elf advocates</i></b>" was leading the protests because the construction was invading an area inhabited by elves and containing an elf church.<br/><br/>The Associated Press item was picked up and reposted by news agencies around the world, with unfortunate results. Here in Chicago, WGN-TV News used images of the cartoon Keebler Elves to illustrate their giggly coverage of the story. National Public Radio's website repackaged the AP article as "<b><i>Highway In Iceland May Be Sidetracked By Elves</i></b>" (<u><b>it seems that we're now capitalizing prepositions</b></u>) and illustrated it with an image of Liv Tyler as Arwen from "<b><i>The Lord of the Rings</i></b>". Apparently, they're following the lead of Public Radio International, who used a photo of someone dressed up as Marvel's movie version of Thor to illustrate a story on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs finally allowing Thor's hammer as a religious symbol on government grave markers.<br/><br/>For news agencies the world over, the AP item was just too cute to pass up. Who wouldn't want to tell the story of a simple island folk and their quaint belief in invisible beings? It's much easier than doing nasty time-consuming things like researching and interviewing sources. It's also much easier than the bothersome chore of learning about minority faith traditions and treating them with the same respect as popular religions.<br/><br/> "<b><i><br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> Altar of the holy place of the elves</h4><br/>Icelandic media immediately challenged the reporting of Jenna Gottlieb, the author of the Associated Press news item. The Reykjav'ik Grapevine</i></b>" ran a story declaring "<b><i>Environmentalists Not Elf Lobby,</i></b>" pointing out that they and other Icelandic news outlets had been covering the environmental protests for months - and that Ms. Gottlieb had created an article by "<b><i>cobbling together quotes from notable figures.</i></b>" Colleagues of mine in Iceland told me that, for instance, Gottlieb's quotes from University of Iceland's Prof. Terry Gunnell were "<b><i>old and taken out of context.</i></b>" In the United States, "<b><i>The Wire</i></b>" ran a story summarizing the response: "Iceland's '<i>Elf Lobby</i>' Isn't Real, According to Icelanders."<br/><br/>The AP story quoted two sentences about elves from Iceland's Ragnhildur J'onsd'ottir and referred to her as "<b><i>a self-proclaimed 'seer.'</i></b>" This was pounced on by writers who struck out against Gottlieb's article. "<b><i>Icelandic Review Online</i></b>" called Ragnhildur her a "<b><i>self-confessed elf believer</i></b>" in an article asking "<b><i>How Stupid are the Icelandic People? The Wire</i></b>" singled her out for ridicule in their coverage without bothering to mention her name; they simply and nastily wrote of "loony elf '<i>seers</i>' trying to stop construction of a road being built."<br/><br/>All of this is a bit strange. The fundamental premise of the original AP story is that "<b><i>elf advocates have joined forces with environmentalists to urge the Icelandic Road and Coastal Commission and local authorities to abandon a highway project building a direct route from the Alftanes peninsula.</i></b>" However, Gottlieb does not quote any "<b><i>elf advocate</i></b>" involved in the protest - except for the two sentences from Ragnhildur.<br/><br/>In its response, "<b><i>Icelandic Review Online</i></b>" simply states, "<b><i>The story is false</i></b>" - but didn't seem to have bothered contacting Ragnhildur for her input. "<b><i>The Wire</i></b>", while criticizing Gottlieb's journalistic methods, shows no sign that it conducted a single interview of its own; the piece was written by "<b><i>cobbling together quotes</i></b>" just as much as the AP story was. "<b><i>The Reykjav'ik Grapevine</i></b>" - the originator of the "<b><i>cobbling together</i></b>" accusation - likewise created its response by sticking together existing quotes (<u><b>including a Facebook status update</b></u>) instead of doing any original interviews.<br/><br/>Where are Gottlieb's interviews with others in the supposed group of "elf advocates"? Was the entire premise of the story built on a two-sentence interview with Ragnhildur? Why didn't any of the writers criticizing the AP piece bother to interview Ragnhildur for their own stories? Would the Associated Press have identified a Catholic priest involved in the protest as "a self-proclaimed 'holy man'"? Would "<b><i>Icelandic Review Online</i></b>" refer to a Jewish demonstrator as a "self-confessed Yahweh believer"? Would "<b><i>The Wire</i></b>" refer to a Muslim protestor as "<b><i>loony</i></b>" and put "<b><i>imam</i></b>" in sarcastic quotation marks?<br/><br/> "<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> A light-elf in the G'algahraun lava field</h4><br/>I have corresponded with Ragnhildur for several years, and I met her in at Thingvellir in Iceland after participating in the sumars'olst"odubl'ot" (<u><b>summer solstice ceremony</b></u>) of the 'Asatr'uarf'elagid (<u><b>"AEsir Faith Fellowship"</b></u>) in 2010. As Iceland's leading elf specialist, she leads elf walks through 'Alfagardurinn (<u><b>"elf garden"</b></u>) in Hafnarfj"ordur and creates original art based on her contact with the elves. I wrote about her public work when covering a 2012 "<b><i>Elf Kerfuffle in Iceland</i></b>" that also involved road construction and elf habitats.<br/><br/>Back in December, I thought that it might be a good idea if someone actually asked Raghnhildur what she thought of the coverage. I emailed her a link to the Associated Press story and congratulated her on the successful halting of the construction project. Here is her reply:<br/><br/>December 25, 2013<br/><br/>Hello and thank you, Karl Erik.<br/><br/>Yes, it is a wonderful story, but I am so sorry to say that it is not completely true. The Road Administration is still working on the road. They are halfway through the lava field with the road, but the elf church and their holy area is still in place.<br/><br/>The elves (<u><b>with me as their speaker in the human world</b></u>) have come to an agreement with the Road Administration and Gardabaer's mayor to move a known elf church called 'Ofeigskirkja a few meters out of the way of the road into a safe place next to a very sacred place to the elves. The humans will make sure nothing of this will be damaged and it will be marked as an elf holy area.<br/><br/>I know it will be too hard for the humans in charge to stop the road from being made, but they are at least willing to help the elves now as they can, to make the best of the situation as it is. I am very happy that the mayor and the Road Administration are willing to do this now; it is a good step. This project of moving the 'Ofeigskirkja is a very large project, plus making sure the whole area is safe and protected from then on. I am sure you will hear about that when it happens.<br/><br/>Best elf wishes to you and thank your interest. Thank you for all you are doing.<br/><br/>- RagnhildurI told her that I would like to post her letter, and she was gracious enough to agree. The next day, however, she wrote: <br/><br/>December 26, 2013 Dear Karl, I will have to ask you something. I am so sorry, but something came up, and it would be better to wait a little bit before announcing it. I need some time before I can talk about the protection of the elf church. I am really sorry. But I can say, "I have a good reason to believe the holy place of the elves will be saved and protected."Six weeks later, Ragnhildur wrote again:<br/><br/>February 7, 2014Hello Karl, I promised to tell you about the protection in the G'algahraun lava field. I have now met again with Magn'us from the Road Administration and some of the men working on the road. They showed me drawings with changes of the road where it goes by the side of the elf church (<u><b>holy place</b></u>). They are going to move one known elf church (<u><b>more like a chapel</b></u>) out of the way of the road. It will be placed a few meters away, right beside the main holy place that we call Elf Church. One more elf rock called Graenh'oll (<u><b>Green Hill</b></u>) is also being saved.<br/><br/>The road is going to be four meters narrower while passing this area of three rocks. It will be fenced off from the road, and pathways will be leading to the area from another direction. The road being narrower means that the road itself is the same width but the area beside the road [<u><i>i.e., the shoulder</i></u>] is made narrower.<br/><br/>Anyway, wanted to tell you this. Thank you for your interest in this, Karl.<br/><br/>Best wishes,<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>RagnhildurShe sent another update this week:</h4><br/>February 25, 2014<br/><br/>I have heard from the man Magn'us at Vegagerdi (<u><b>Road Administration</b></u>). They are going to move the 'Ofeigskirkja in the middle of March. This rock called 'Ofeigskirkja - a kind of an elf chapel - is in the middle of the road they are making. They will move it out of the way to a nearby, almost flat lava. It is right next to the main elf church or holy place.<br/><br/>That means the two holy places - high energy places - will both be saved and protected there, next to each other. There is the third rock, known as Graenh'oll; it is very close also.Finally, she was kind enough to send additional photographs of the area with detailed explanations. <br/><br/>February 26, 2014 Hello Karl, I am sending you two photos from the sacred place in G'algahraun lava field.<br/><br/>This first one shows the new road. In front to the left is 'Ofeigskirkja. It is an "<b><i>elf chapel,</i></b>" so to speak. The elves told me humans and elves said a prayer there before or while going through the rough lava field. This big rock is in the middle of the new road, but the Road Administration and the mayor of Gardabaer are making changes. They will move this rock over the road where you see the dog. The main elf church is in the back to the right, with a flag on top.The second photo shows the main elf church or holy place. This beautiful place is so very special and has great, very high energy. The beings there tell me it has been a holy place for them for thousands of years, since long before humans arrived here - and they will protect it. 'Ofeigskirkja will be put down right next to this one. The road is narrower where it goes past this area. They will fence it off from the road and put up signs to say what it is. If the elves had done nothing, this whole area would have been destroyed.I hope this helps. Next month they will move 'Ofeigskirkja and we will probably have something in the news then, at least. I will let you know and I will post about it on Facebook. Best wishes for you and thank you for your interest.<br/><br/>- RagnhildurThere you have it, gentle readers. Make up your own minds about the original story, the critiques, the letters and the photographs. I simply thought that the professional journalists on both sides of the issue could use a bit of reminding about original research, speaking to sources and following up on a story as it develops "<b><i>after</i></b>" the initial AP report. My faith in modern journalism keeps getting lower as, for example, I repeatedly catch reporters in the mainstream media who are writing articles by literally cutting and pasting from Wikipedia articles.<br/><br/>I'm not sure if this is a problem that saturates all areas of journalism today, or if it's localized to religion reporting. Journalists who cover the religion beat seem particularly perplexed when confronted with any belief systems outside the Abrahamic mainstream. I would love to see (<u><b>to use a tired but apt phrase</b></u>) fair and balanced coverage of minority faith traditions, but it's sometimes hard to keep my hopes up - especially when we have shoddy reporting like that surrounding this particular story.<br></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-48047475201937201412015-02-05T17:17:00.000-08:002015-03-30T02:11:11.389-07:00A Lutheran Pastor Shows The Need For The Catholic Church<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><span style="text-align:left;align:left;"><div style="float:left;text-align:left;align:left;width: 51%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><a href="http://wiccancommunity.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WeTNPsLwicg/VRkTIwIpj6I/AAAAAAAAMg0/DQ9r4o2-g9A/A%252520Lutheran%252520Pastor%252520Shows%252520The%252520Need%252520For%252520The%252520Catholic%252520Church.jpg" border="0" alt="A Lutheran Pastor Shows The Need For The Catholic Church" title="A Lutheran Pastor Shows The Need For The Catholic Church" /></a></div></span><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;">Steve Martin (<u><b>the Lutheran blogger known as "<b><i>Old Adam,</i></b>" not the actor/comedian</b></u>) has been talking with a motley crew of us Catholics in the comments here about how Lutherans can know which Books are in Scripture. Steve directed me to a talk his pastor, Mark Anderson, gave on the subject. <br/><br/>I listened to it last night, and was pleased to say that I agree with probably 80-90% of what Anderson had to say. First off, he recognized that the importance of understanding the question of authority:<br/><br/>THE QUESTION OF AUTHORITY, WHICH IS REALLY "<b><i>THE</i></b>" QUESTION, THAT'S WHERE IT ALL STARTS. And that's where it has been percolating since the Reformation. The question of authority has not been resolved in the Christian church. That's the question that's wide open, and that accounts for a lot of the diversity and the multiplicity of churches, and denominations, and so forth. This is the problem that has not been solved. It continues to fester, and be chronically part of our life as Christians.The question of authority isn't important so we can know who has "<b><i>power</i></b>" or who gets to be "<b><i>boss.</i></b>" Instead, Pastor Anderson defines the question of authority like this: "<b><i>WHERE DO WE GO FINALLY FOR RESOLUTION OF DOCTRINAL PROBLEMS? WHERE DO WE GO FINALLY FOR RESOLUTION OF THEOLOGICAL QUESTIONS? WHO DETERMINES WHAT THE MEANING OF JESUS CHRIST IS?</i></b>" As Anderson noted, we see this appeal to ecclesiastical authority in the New Testament, whenever Paul opens his letters by declaring himself an Apostle (<u><b>which was constantly: Romans 1:1, 1 Cor. 1:1, 2 Cor 1:1, Galatians 1:1, Ephesians 1:1, Colossians 1:1, 1 Timothy 1:1, 2 Timothy 1:1, and Titus 1:1</b></u>). Paul begins by reminding everyone he's an Apostle, because it means that they have to listen to his message. They can't just say, "<b><i>I don't interpret the Old Testament that way,</i></b>" or "when I heard Jesus say that, that's not the interpretation "<b><i>I</i></b>" took." Personal interpretation of Scripture and of the words of Jesus must submit to Paul's Apostolic authority.<br/><br/>So the question of who has valid authority today is "<b><i>the</i></b>" question. Before you can know whether you're living in accordance with "<b><i>the Gospel,</i></b>" you need to know what the Gospel "<b><i>is.</i></b>" And Christians will gives you probably thousands of different contradictory answers, from "<b><i>just be a good person,</i></b>" to "<b><i>believe in Jesus, and how you live doesn't matter</i></b>" to everything in between. We're told that we need to be a part of the visible Church to be saved, or (<u><b>as Harold Camping has been teaching</b></u>) that membership in the visible Church is a mark of your damnation.. So those wanting to live out the Gospel need to know, "<b><i>Who can I trust?</i></b>" And as Pastor Anderson notes, Protestantism still can't answer that simple question, five hundred years on. We'll get to why that is in a bit.<br/><br/>I. HOW THE EARLY CHURCH HANDLED THE QUESTION OF AUTHORITY<br/><br/>Anderson noted that the early Church faced this problem as well. Here's how he described the fourth-century Church, and its similarity to Protestantism today:<br/><br/>The Church Fathers sat down and said: 'We've got to do something about this. We've got "<b><i>orthodoxies</i></b>" which are heretics all over the map. Nobody knows how to talk about Jesus. Nobody knows exactly what the Gospel is.' And it's hard for us maybe to appreciate that completely, but all we have to do is look to the current state of affairs in the Christian Church, the multiplicity of congregations and denominations, points of view, to realize it is up for grab. And it doesn't help to just stand up and assert more loudly what you believe to be the Truth. I mean, hollering - the proclamation of the Gospel is not a shouting match. The loudest voice isn't necessary the one that's gonna win - or should.And Pastor Anderson even conceded that this problem was solved by the very episcopacy which he rejects, saying:<br/><br/>I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN ANYONE WHO'S BEEN MORE CRITICAL OF THE MOVE TOWARDS EPISCOPACY THAN I HAVE. BUT ANYONE WOULD BE A FOOL TO LOOK OVER TWO THOUSAND YEARS OF CHRISTIAN HISTORY, AND NOT RECOGNIZE THAT MANY OF THE BISHOPS OF THE ANCIENT CHURCH PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN SEEING TO IT THAT THE DOCTRINE OF THE WORD OF GOD WAS ADEQUATELY PROTECTED, AND FAITHFULLY PROCLAIMED. IN FACT, IT WAS LARGELY DUE TO MANY OF THEIR MINISTRIES THAT WE HAVE WHAT WE HAVE TODAY IN TERMS OF CHRISTIAN ORTHODOXY AND SCRIPTURE.SO THE EARLY CHURCH WAS FACED WITH THIS PROBLEM, BUT HAD A SOLUTION. THE CHURCH AUTHORITIES (<u><b>THE EPISCOPACY</b></u>) SETTLED THE DISPUTE. ANDERSON EVEN GOES FURTHER, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT "<b><i>THE PAPAL SEE BECOMES A LOGICAL EXTENSION OF APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY TAKEN ABOUT AS GRAND OF HEIGHTS AS YOU CAN GET.</i></b>" NOW, I'D DISPUTE THIS CHARACTERIZATION SOMEWHAT (<u><b>THE POPE'S AUTHORITY IS ACTUALLY FAR" LESS" THAN THAT OF THE APOSTLES, AND LESS THAN WHAT MORMONISM'S LEADERSHIP CLAIMS FOR ITSELF</b></u>), BUT HIS CORE POINT, THAT APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION WAS VIEWED IN THE EARLY CHURCH AS CONTINUING THROUGH ALL THE BISHOPS, BUT PARTICULARLY THE POPE, IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE. AND THIS SOLVED THE QUESTION OF AUTHORITY, AND THIS PRESERVED THE GOSPEL INTACT. AND YET PROTESTANTS TODAY, INCLUDING ANDERSON HIMSELF, REFUSE TO ACCEPT THIS SOLUTION. SO INSTEAD, THEY'RE LEFT WITH NO ANSWER, AND NO AGREEMENT ON WHAT THE GOSPEL EVEN "<b><i>IS</i></b>".<br/><br/>This becomes remarkably clear with the canon of Scripture. Pastor Anderson praises the early bishops for settling the canon: BUT HE REJECTS THEIR CANON. You wouldn't know this from his talk -- he talks about them settling "<b><i>the New Testament canon</i></b>" -- but the Church didn't settle "<b><i>the New Testament canon,</i></b>" it settled the ENTIRE canon of Scripture, period. Old "and "New. In fact, the early Church was quite adamantly opposed to the heretics who dreamed that there was one God of the Old Testament and one of the New, and were fervently insistent that there was one God, and one Deposit of Faith.<br/><br/>So with the New Testament, as Pastor Anderson notes, we have the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, but there were other contenders as well: Anderson lists: the "<b><i>'Gospel' of Peter, we have the '<i>Gospel</i>' of Thomas, what's called the Protoevangelium (<u><b>the 'first Gospel'</b></u>) there are other '<i>Gospels</i>': the '<i>Gospel</i>' of Barnabas, the '<i>Gospel</i>' of James, that were not included in the New Testament.</i></b>" It's upon the authority of these Catholic bishops, at the Council of Carthage, that we trust that which Books are Biblical, and which are not.<br/><br/>Yet look at what the Council actually decided. You can find Canon 24 of the Council of Carthage RIGHT HERE (<u><b>that's Calvin College's version</b></u>). In the same breath, it establishes the Old and New Testament. They're not even separate canons. You can't say, "<b><i>I think the Book of Hebrews is Scripture because Canon 24 of the Council of Carthage says so,</i></b>" but then say, "<b><i>I don't care what Canon 24 of the Council of Carthage says, I don't think 1 Maccabees is Scripture.</i></b>" (<u><b>Luther was at least consistent, and felt comfortable rejecting both 1 Maccabees "<b><i>and</i></b>" Hebrews, James, Revelation, etc.</b></u>). So if you care about believing what the early Church believes, then start using a Catholic Bible. Start giving the episcopacy and particularly the papacy which the early Church gave. Conversely, if you "<b><i>don't</i></b>" care about believing what the early Church believes, or think you know more about the Gospel then they do, then don't pretend otherwise.<br/><br/>So what Pastor Anderson is "<b><i>saying</i></b>" is mostly all true: we "<b><i>should</i></b>" look to the early Church, we should let the Church authorities settle theological disputes, etc. But where he goes wrong is that he doesn't practice what he preaches, or he'd be Catholic. To understand how he goes wrong, look to Luther.<br/><br/>II. THE ROLE OF LUTHER<br/><br/>Pastor Anderson's description of Martin Luther is remarkably revealing. There were three comments he made which are worth drawing out. First:<br/><br/>[Luther] never assumed that the Roman Catholic Church wasn't Christian. That's what you hear today. That's what you get from radical Protestants, the non-denominational sectarians who just wipe everybody out with one swoop. Luther was part of the tradition: it's the tradition that nurtured him, he was baptized as a Roman Catholic, he was brought up in the traditions of the church, it was in that Church that he heard the Gospel, that he wanted to be a follower of Christ, that he wanted to give his life in service, in the monastic life.So Luther doesn't begin by saying that the Church is the "<b><i>Whore of Babylon</i></b>" or "<b><i>Synagogue of Satan.</i></b>" That craziness all comes later. At the start, the Reformation was genuinely intended to be a Reform, not a Revolt. Luther started out trying to help the Church as best he knew, out of a genuine love for the Catholic Church. On this point, we agree 100%. But then what happens? Pastor Anderson says:<br/><br/>AS THE GAP WIDENS [<u><i>BETWEEN LUTHER AND THE CHURCH</i></u>], AS LUTHER FINDS THAT THE PAPAL SEE IS NOT VERY RESPONSIVE, DOES NOT WANT TO BE RESPONSIVE TO HIM, THEY'RE MORE INTERESTED IN, AS HE SAID, "<b><i>FLEECING THE HIDE OF THE GERMAN SHEEP</i></b>" THAN THEY ARE IN DEALING WITH THESE IMPORTANT THEOLOGICAL MATTERS, LUTHER MOVES AWAY, MORE AND MORE, FROM TRADITION, HE MOVES TOWARDS SCRIPTURE. HE FINDS HIMSELF HAVING TO DEFEND HIMSELF, MORE AND MORE, NOT SO MUCH BASED UPON CHURCH FATHERS, BUT UPON SCRIPTURE ALONE, AND HE DISCOVERS THAT - THAT WORKS. THERE'S PLENTY OF AMMUNITION WITHOUT HAVING TO GO ANYWHERE ELSE. AND THIS IS WHERE THE VARIOUS PROTESTANT GROUPS WITHIN THE REFORMATION BEGIN TO CATCH FIRE.SO DESPITE A WELL-MEANING START, LUTHER'S HIT TWO BUMPS IN THE ROAD. FIRST, THE REFORMS HE SUGGESTS AREN'T IMMEDIATELY ACCEPTED, AND HIS OWN IDEAS DON'T SEEM AS BRILLIANT TO THE POPE AS THEY DO TO HIM, AND LUTHER GETS IMPATIENT, AND THEN EMBITTERED (<u><b>HENCE THE HURLING OF INSULTS ABOUT FLEECING THE GERMAN SHEEP, AND MANY MORE FAR WORSE</b></u>). EVENTUALLY, OF COURSE, THE CHURCH MULLS OVER MANY OF LUTHER'S PROPOSED REFORMS, AND ACCEPTS A NUMBER OF THEM. BUT SOME OF THEM "<b><i>WERE</i></b>" LEGITIMATELY BAD IDEAS, AND SOME WERE UNFAITHFUL TO THE GOSPEL THAT THIS VERY CATHOLIC CHURCH was pledged to protect. This second point is a bigger bump: Catholics begin telling him that many of his ideas are contrary to clear Church teachings, commemorated in specific Councils.<br/><br/>So what's Luther's response? Besides hurling insults, it's too look for what Anderson calls "<b><i>ammunition.</i></b>" When he finds that while he can't defend some of his ideas from Christian Tradition, he can use certain verses of the Bible to make it sound like he's right. And "<b><i>ammunition</i></b>" is the perfect word here, because Luther used Bible verses "<b><i>as weapons</i></b>", as do the various other Reformers and Radical Reformers championing a thousand contradictory views (<u><b>until they eventually picked up actual weapons</b></u>). So Luther turned to "<b><i>sola Scriptura</i></b>" not because Scripture says so (<u><b>It doesn't</b></u>), but because it means he doesn't have to concede he's wrong, when he doesn't "<b><i>feel</i></b>" like he's wrong. <br/><br/>But despite his growing animosity towards Catholicism, Pastor Anderson reminds us that Luther still wanted to come to peace, but on his own terms. He describes Luther's position as this:<br/><br/>"The authority of the papal see is not sufficient because popes have erred, Councils have erred in the past. Let's all agree, we can have a pope, we can have bishops, but let's all sit under the authority of Scripture, so that we're not taking the opinions of men, and making them binding on the consciences of people."That seems pretty accurate to me. But here's the problem: the pope didn't (<u><b>and doesn't</b></u>) view himself as "above "Scripture. He simply understood the Gospel to mean something different than Luther did. And if Luther disagrees with the bishops, and with the pope, on the meaning of Scripture, you "<b><i>have</i></b>" to side with the episcopacy/papacy if Church authority means anything. If the Church is only in charge if you happen to agree, She's completely powerless. If a shepherd only gets to decide where the sheep go if the sheep happen to agree, the shepherd is worthless.<br/><br/>So if Church authority means "<b><i>anything</i></b>", faithful Christians have to side with the Church's view of the Bible over Luther's. If they don't, then they can't complain when Rob Bell comes along as the newest Luther, proposing a view of the Gospel rejected by the Church.<br/><br/>But subjecting the Church to the Bible is even more troubling from a Lutheran perspective. Anderson said of the Lutheran view of Scripture:<br/><br/>LUTHERANS, AS I SAY, HAVE ELEVATED SCRIPTURE, AND WE SAY IT IS TO THE POINT OF SAYING, "IT IS THE FINAL WORD IN ALL MATTERS OF FAITH AND LIFE. IT IS THE FINAL AUTHORITY IN ALL MATTERS OF FAITH AND LIFE."BUT IT'S PRECISELY "BECAUSE "LUTHER REJECTS THE AUTHORITY OF THE POPES AND COUNCILS THAT THERE'S NO BASIS ON WHICH TO SAY WHAT THE PROPER CANON OF SCRIPTURE IS. If you can't agree on which Books are in the Bible, how can the Bible be your rule of faith? So instead of solidifying the basis of Scripture, Luther ironically undermines Scripture completely.<br/><br/>III. THE SITUATION TODAY<br/><br/>Pastor Anderson notes that the result of the Reformation and the advent of sola Scriptura is perpetual schism, with each person becoming their own pope, saying that the Bible means x, and being accountable to no one:<br/><br/>BUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS RADICAL PROTESTANTISM OF THE REFORMATION? THE FLESHLY POPE WAS REPLACED WITH A PAPER POPE. WHY? BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT "<b><i>IF WE'RE GONNA DUMP THE WHOLE SYSTEM OF ECCLESIASTICAL STRUCTURE, THEN WHAT DO WE USE TO ORDER OUR LIFE? WE USE THE BIBLE.</i></b>" OKAY, THAT WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING OF LUTHER. HAS IT BEEN TRIED? OH YEAH, LOOK AROUND. WE ARE AT THE POINT IN THE SPLINTERING OF PROTESTANTISM, PARTICULARLY RADICAL PROTESTANTISM, WHERE VIRTUALLY EVERY CONGREGATION, AND EVERY PREACHER up front with his Bible, or her Bible, BECOMES AN AUTHORITY ON THE WORD OF GOD UNTO ITSELF. It is radical congregationalism, splintered congregationalism. There is no helpful witness there, in terms of the great scope of the Church's life and thought across the generations.I agree, except that rather than a misunderstanding of Luther, it's the unavoidable result of his thought. We see this in every Protestant denomination that's taken "sola Scriptura "as its mantra: "<b><i>every single one</i></b>". At some point, it's like those defenders of Communism who kept just imagining that it was being implemented wrong: the problem isn't the implementation, the problem is the idea itself. Even Pastor Anderson's own local church is evidence of this, as Steve informs me that they're thinking about splitting away from the ELCA. Constant schism and a drive towards congregationalism is the end result of Protestantism wherever it's tried.<br/><br/>Now, Pastor Anderson is rightly disgusted with those preachers who take a posture of:<br/><br/>"Don't you dare question what's being taught today, because it's coming right out of the Bible. You might have a question, but don't bring it up, because after all, I'm teaching the Bible, this is no theology, there's no doctrine being taught here, I'm just teaching straight out of the Bible. You've got a problem, you've got a problem of God."He actually goes much, "<b><i>much</i></b>" further than I would, and declares this "<b><i>Christofascism,</i></b>" and compares these Christians to bin Laden and the Taliban. But again, while I agree with him, I don't see how he can pretend that Lutherans are immune from this. The comment that began the dialogue with Steve Martin was his claim in the comments here that Lutheranism "<b><i>proclaims the [G]ospel in its purity,</i></b>" and that now "<b><i>that I am free from all the spiritual navel gazing and Christian progressivism, I don't think I could ever return to Rome or go to an Evangelical church where there theology is basically the same as Rome's (<u><b>a lot of God and a little of me</b></u>).</i></b>" And so it's gone: he's resisted any distinction between "<b><i>the Gospel</i></b>" and "<b><i>Lutheran theology.</i></b>" In this way, Luther himself "<b><i>becomes an authority on the word of God unto</i></b>" himself. <br/><br/>So while I think Anderson correctly diagnosed the problem, he doesn't see the depth of it. He still imagines this can be cured if only people became Lutheran, or understood Luther's message better. There were two heartening things which Anderson said towards the end of his talk, in talking about his encounter going to a the Catholic Cathedral in Milan:<br/><br/> * He went in dripping with anti-Catholic prejudice.<br/> * He was surprised to discover that the beautiful artwork was Biblical scenes, and that it was possible that these peasants were actually expressing a faith in Jesus Christ. He concluded, "I could see how this arena of worship could be a powerful statement of Biblical faith."<br/><br/>One of the major things that we have to get over in this debate is the unseen anti-Catholicism. The particular form it generally takes is an assumption by non-Catholics (<u><b>and ex-Catholics</b></u>) that they knew what the Catholic Church "<b><i>really</i></b>" teaches, either based upon a parish they used to attend, or some books they've read "<b><i>about</i></b>" (<u><b>not "by"</b></u>) Catholics. Acknowledging this bias, and then allowing one's self to be open to having it corrected is beautiful, and should inspire us with hope.<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>CONCLUSION</h4><br/>Let me leave you with what I think are two of Pastor Anderson's stronger points. First, that Scripture should never "<b><i>be read apart from the common life of the Church.</i></b>" That's a simple argument for Tradition. Second, he said, "How dare we write off 1500 years of Christian witness, because it does not suit our narrow interpretation of the word of God? And that is what is dividing the Christian Church as we speak."<br/><br/>Of course, as I've said before, anyone taking seriously what Pastor Anderson (<u><b>or, for that matter, Luther</b></u>) says about the dependence of Scriptural interpretation upon the Church will find that they'll have a very hard time defending such common Protestant doctrines as:<br/><br/> * BAPTISM IS JUST SYMBOLIC (<u><b>that is, it's not regenerative, and the Holy Spirit doesn't actually cleanse us through it</b></u>);<br/> * THE EUCHARIST IS JUST SYMBOLIC (<u><b>it's not actually the Body and Blood of Christ</b></u>); <br/> * JUSTIFICATION IS JUST FORENSIC (<u><b>we're "declared "righteous by God, but we're not actually made righteous through the Holy Spirit</b></u>); and <br/> * THE BIBLE IS COMPOSED OF THE 66-BOOK PROTESTANT CANON.<br/><br/>So the hurdle isn't that Anderson doesn't understand the problem, or even that he can't speak to what Christianity ought to be doing. The problem is simply that he's just "<b><i>NOT DOING IT</i></b>". <br></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-39258709784317244762015-02-04T23:53:00.000-08:002015-02-11T14:46:20.076-08:00Wing And A Prayer Baby<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><center><div style="float:none;text-align:center;align:center;width: 72%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OuQ9pN2hv50/VNvbttQxOgI/AAAAAAAAKII/a0Paaw1Vcl8/Wing%252520And%252520A%252520Prayer%252520Baby.jpg" border="0" alt="Wing And A Prayer Baby" title="Wing And A Prayer Baby" /></div></center><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;">Gosh and greetings, my proud and precious KitKats... one of those strange lightning storms last night... a few of the white-hot bright flashes were so close to the ground around the house, it was scary freaky... and then, there are the vortexes that appear and seem to form the bursting sheet of lightning... not to mention those thunder sounds which really remind this Big Cat of machines... there wasn't that much actual rain, and the storm lasted for about an hour or so... afterwards, around four in the morning, the sky was so bright it looked like there should be two full moons... of course, the moon is past the last quarter and could not even be seen in that part of the sky... so, really, what is going on? <br/><br/>Wing and a prayer, baby... the Kougaress saw this phrase on the Just Another Paranormal Monday chat loop ~ groups.yahoo.com/group/ParanormalMonday ~ and was struck by how '<i>absolutely, positively, perfectly</i>' it describes her life, and most likely the lives of many of us during these times. <br/><br/>In her morning hello to all of us, extraordinary author and poet, K.A. M'Lady ~ kamlady.net ~ wrote: "<b><i>Wing and a prayer, baby - sometimes that's all we've got.</i></b>" <br/><br/>Ain't that the truth? <br/><br/>Big Cat by-the-numbers ~ <br/><br/>2:12 am... 11:11 am... 3:33 pm... 4:44 pm... 11:11 pm... <br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Weekly Angelic Forecast from Volcano </h4><br/>Straight from the Carnal Cherub himself...<br/><br/>Angelic Forecast ~ #147 <br/><br/>This week will be one that lives in the history books as a marker for the year 2012. Both for GOOD and for BAD. <br/><br/>From this point forward a return to the divine feminine and, thus, the divine masculine will become apparent to those who are attuned to the universal energies. This is the time to look at your relationship with gender, and to discover more of who you are. <br/><br/>Notice also, that '<i>truth</i>' will continue rising like the phoenix -- all spectacular color and fiery brilliance. Like ash from colossal volcanic eruptions, truth now spreads across the globe and settles on everyone. <br/><br/>Behind the scenes, hidden to most of us, and kept hidden by the art and blackness of deception, a civil war rages. This is between those who have mastered the higher technologies and now battle each other for ultimate control. It is X-Files for real. <br/><br/>This hidden war will be exposed incrementally, and the plan is to keep it covered up by a world war. However, divine intervention to stop this level of war is being bolstered by the wildfire Awakening of humanity. <br/><br/>On the good side, those who would be the dark tyrannical kings of Earth are being thwarted at nearly every turn. In an attempt to win the endgame, these soulless ones are becoming out-in-the-open bold with their corruption and evil acts. <br/><br/>On a personal level, this week is perfect to look for and find what truly frees your soul. This week is also about freeing your mind to think beyond what you have been taught, beyond what you currently believe. It's a new world for those who seize it. For those who want it. For those who will treasure what this '<i>new way of life</i>' offers. <br/><br/>Trendwise, all hell breaks loose. More and more, there will be massive resistance to the trends the establishment has coopted, and those trends they attempt to force on us. The Big Boys in this industry are losing ground, and now their power will be ripped from beneath them like a tablecloth from beneath the dinner dishes. This means that individual creativity will shine bright as the noon sun. To win in the days ahead, take your place in the sun. <br/><br/>Angelic blessings from Volcano color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><br/><br/>MORE...Volcano's Angelic Forecast for this week ~ sirenbookstrand.blogspot.com ~ <br/><br/>BIG CAT SEVERE WEATHER and LAND CHANGES ROUNDUP ~ <br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Worst Floods in North Dakota History</h4><br/>ContributorNetwork-2 hours, 24 minutes ago<br/><br/>ContributorNetwork - As the Souris River in Minot, N.D., reached historically high levels Sunday, some parts of the city have been saved by emergency levees. North Dakota's fourth-largest city has seen 3,000 homes damaged and nearly 12,000 residents evacuated as heavy rains, combined with record snowmelt, have left dams stressed and over-burdened. <br/><br/>NOTE: It is *not* good at the nuclear power plant. Another horror scenario is developing. <br/><br/>Fire threatens top US research center AFP - Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:27:04 PDT<br/><br/>AFP - The US government's top Los Alamos research center was closed Monday due to the threat from approaching wildfires, officials said, stressing that all nuclear and other materials were safe. <br/><br/>NOTE: Radiation is being released due to burn off where nuclear bombs were tested. <br/><br/>Also, there's a biblical plague of mice in Australia. <br/><br/>Authoress news and mews ~ <br/><br/>Okay, Kittens, the Kougar has been '<i>officially</i>' approved as an author at The Romance Reviews... so, now she needs to muster up enough time and energy to go create her book page. It was rather odd to be '<i>approved</i>' since in this Big Cat's mind she's already an author... just one of those twisty mind moments. <br/><br/>Also, the Kougar esent her prize to the Summer Solstice Blog Hop winner designated for SHAPESHIFTER SEDUCTIONS. Thank you, Rebecca E. for joining in, and happy snappy reading. <br/><br/>Featured at SHAPESHIFTER SEDUCTIONS ~ <br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Operation Infiltration</h4><br/>by Pat Cunningham <br/><br/>Jordy's teeth chattered the whole way up the long gravel drive to the backwoods bar. "<b><i>Seriously, Ray,</i></b>" he said. "This has got to be your worse idea ever."<br/><br/>Ray cackled and slapped his brother on the arm. "Don't be such a wuss. These are she-wolves, bro! Hot as hell and ready to rumble!"<br/><br/>"How would you know? Have you ever, uh - "<br/><br/>"Okay, not personally, but you heard about Willis, right?"<br/><br/>"I heard he's still in the hospital." <br/><br/>BIG CAT SNARL AND SNARK ~ <br/><br/>Today this Big Cat heard this term *worthless human debris* used to describe the TSA... yep, except she'd leave out the word '<i>human</i>'. So sorry, but these creepazoids just can't be human, not by her definition. No human being would patdown a leukemia-ailing, 95 year old woman in a wheelchair, who is going home to die... and is wearing a Depends diaper. No human being would expect this woman not to soil herself in the circumstances. What kind of '<i>inhuman</i>' monsters are these '<i>things</i>' that call themselves employees of the TSA? Why are they taking these kind of unlawful orders? Haven't they ever heard of the Nuremberg trials? But hey, Hitler would be so proud of them. <br/><br/>The most powerful weapon is the human soul on fire. ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE! <br/><br/>~ Happy Summer-Cruisin' June ~ <br/><br/>~ MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH ~ <br/><br/>And, May you live the dreams of your heart, not in interesting times... <br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>Wing and a prayer kisses from the Kougar... </h4><br></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-73738745980224176702015-02-04T23:35:00.000-08:002015-03-11T20:18:10.175-07:00The End Of Evangelicalism Or The Failure Of Anabaptism To Take Over Evangelicalism Part Ii<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><span style="text-align:left;align:left;"><div style="float:left;text-align:left;align:left;width: 55%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9iYkotCBukM/VLVIIwMSQqI/AAAAAAAAH3Q/Ut_WuB-N-XY/Blogs%252520On%252520Sufism%252520And%252520More.jpg" border="0" alt="The End Of Evangelicalism Or The Failure Of Anabaptism To Take Over Evangelicalism Part Ii" title="The End Of Evangelicalism Or The Failure Of Anabaptism To Take Over Evangelicalism Part Ii" /></div></span><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;">Is isolationism and withdrawal better? Do the Amish have it right? <br/><br/>I ask because Fitch puts forward a neo-anabaptist alternative to conservative politics as the better way for Evangelicals in chapter 6.<br/><br/>Sometimes Catholics say that Evangelicals have no ecclesiology and by that they mean that Evangelicals do not believe that God's grace is mediated to the world via the institutional church centered in a sacramental priesthood and ruled by a hierarchy. Fitch's neo-anabaptism amounts to a protestant version of the Catholic concept of the Church as the extension of Christ's incarnation. He writes:<br/><br/>"The church, then, becomes an extension of the Trinity into the world as a participant in this sending, the missio Dei. By articulating the evangelical belief in Scripture in the terms set forth above - our one true story of God for the whole world, infallible in and through Jesus Christ our Lord - we in essence have the basis for becoming the church Bosch speaks about.... The politic of the church is shaped by Scripture as the very real incarnational presence of Christ extended by the Spirit into the world - a politic of fulness in the world. (p. 141)In this chapter (<u><b>chapter 6</b></u>) Fitch argues for replacing an inerrant Bible with a divine Church. It is not a hierarchical church that he envisions and it has the priesthood of all believers instead of a sacramental priesthood. But it is a view of the Church as the mode of Christ's presence in the world. (Maybe his language is just loose here - maybe he does not really mean that the Church is a continuation of the incarnation. That is the impression I got from one quick read and it could be wrong. I'll argue against the idea anyway though because the idea is wrong no matter who proposes it in whatever context.)<br/><br/>Evangelicalism must resist this theological proposal because the role of the Church is not to be an extension of the incarnation or the presence of God in mission in the world. The role of the Church is to be a witness to the coming kingdom by preaching salvation through the King - Jesus Christ. The Church points away from itself to something greater and better. The mission of the Church is to bear the message of the Gospel to a world in need of the good news of salvation. If we were to accept (<u><b>what I think I understand to be</b></u>) Fitch's proposal we would be abandoning the valid insights of the Reformers of the 16th century. This presumably would not bother Fitch as a neo-anabaptist, but it ought bother Evangelicals who wish to keep faith with their heritage of Biblical doctrine.<br/><br/>Next, Fitch recommends N. T. Wright's challenge to the Reformation doctrine of justification as the way to avoid cheap grace. He writes:<br/><br/>"Wright's reformulation in essence makes justification impossible for the believer apart from his/her wider participation in the work of God in Christ by the Spirit to set the world right. I cannot possess this salvation as my own. I am justified only as I am a participant '<i>in Christ,</i>' in the righteousness God is working in the world. There can be no distancing of myself from Christ in accepting God's pardon from sin made possible in Christ.... We enter into salvation by entering into the entire work of God in Christ by the Spirit for the mission of God in the world." (p. 144)I find it difficult to believe that anyone could believe that Evangelical theology has never heard of the clear teaching in the book of James. We know that justification by faith is true, but we also know that true saving faith results in good works being done by the person who is truly regenerated by the Spirit of God. So what is Fitch driving at here with his call to move away from the Reformation doctrine of forensic justification?<br/><br/>It seems that he is again moving in a Catholic direction and embracing synergism instead of monergism thus turning salvation into a joint effort in which God and man cooperate. Maybe he does not mean this. But why advocate a New Perspective view on justification instead of using the many resources within Evangelical theology that can be deployed to fight anti-nomianism? It is not like this is a new problem. Monergism is fully capable of resisting anti-nomianism and has done so for five centuries. This is why Evangelicalism needs the Gospel Coalition and more good, sound, biblical teaching. But it is not like we had no reply to anti-nomianism until the New Perspective came along.<br/><br/>In the third section of chapter six, Fitch makes his Catholic theological direction clearer. Here he makes use of the Catholic theologians De Lubac and Cavanaugh to argue for a doctrine of the visible Church as the body of Christ. He writes:<br/><br/>"A politic is thus born. Christ's reign becomes visible as we embody the infinite gifting of forgiveness, faithfulness, and love. Yet this way of being together births the Kingdom not only among '<i>us.</i>' It enables us to resist alternatives politics of violence and isolation, to subvert them, and indeed to draw the world into the restoration of all things, i.e. the Kingdom of God." (p. 157)Here we see an over-realized eschatology in which the Kingdom is here in the corporate life of the church and is visible for all to see. It is Roman Catholic ecclesiology radicalized. I remember David Burrell saying once that if he was not going to continue to be a Catholic he would become a Mennonite, which makes a lot of sense. In place of the sacramental priesthood mediating God's grace to humankind we have the "<b><i>community of character</i></b>" (<u><b>Hauerwas</b></u>), the incipient kingdom of God made visible in the quality of moral relationships between members of the church.<br/><br/>What direction is Fitch pushing Evangelicalism? It is obvious to me, having read this book, why he has such a strong animus toward Reformed theology. It embodies everything he finds distasteful: justification by faith alone, expository preaching, mission as evangelism, and personal repentance and faith as the lynch pin of salvation. He has clearly detached himself emotionally from Evangelicalism as a tradition and from the theology that undergirds it in both its Reformed and Arminian branches. <br/><br/>He wants a liberal form of Roman Catholicism: the church as divine presence in the world, salvation as synergism, and mission as moral action in and by the faith community. <br/><br/>Fitch never considers the possibility that Evangelicals might have a political theology in which the mission of the church is evangelizing the lost and nurturing its members, while individual church members might be responsible to engage in politics in a fallen world as part of their own Christian discipleship rather than as part of the church's mission per se. Christians are pilgrims in this world; our true home is heaven. But while we are here we should be good neighbors and good citizens, recognize signs of common grace when we see them and co-operate with all those of good will in making the world a little less violent, a little less unjust and a little less disrespectful of human life, family and the weak among us. (It might even mean voting for a Mormon as president!)<br/><br/>Such a politics has no grandiose goals of turning a fallen world into the kingdom of God; that is the work of Jesus and he has promised to complete it when he returns. Such a politics has no grandiose visions of the mission of the Church; she exists to preach the Gospel, bear a witness to Jesus, enfold the lost, comfort the dying and build up the body of Christ. The Church is not here to make America into the kingdom of God. On this point, Fitch is right to criticize Evangelical rhetoric because the goal is not a Christian nation in the sense of a nation that is transformed into a church. But, you know, I have actually met one or two Evangelicals who understand this and who would insist that the rhetoric of civil religion not be over-interpreted. A Christian nation can be understood as a nation that (<u><b>1</b></u>) does not persecute the church, (<u><b>2</b></u>) upholds natural law as the basis of positive law and (<u><b>3</b></u>) protects the religious freedom of all religions.<br/><br/>Christian Smith, the Notre Dame sociologist who has studied the Religious Right in depth, came to the conclusion that the real goals of the Religious Right was to get America back to the situation of the 1950s (<u><b>with the exception of the civil rights gains made since</b></u>). Now that may not be a very ambitious goal because the 1950s were far from perfect. But that is exactly my point; conservative politics does not aim for perfection. The Christian Right doesn't ask for much. Stop killing babies, teach abstinence to school children, respect the flag, don't impose socialism on the nation. Only in the fevered imaginations of over-wrought leftists (<u><b>who I suspect are not sincere</b></u>), does this add up to theocracy. If you want to see a real theocracy don't look at 1950s America, look at post 1979 Iran. Check out Saudi Arabia. Feminists who call Jerry Falwell a theocrat should have to go live in Iran or Saudi Arabia for a while. Did you know that women in 1950s America were allowed to drive cars? Really. And did you know that there is no record of any adulteresses being stoned to death in America in the 1950s? Seriously. Maybe the America of the 1950s might not look like the Gulag after the experience of living in a real theocracy.<br/><br/>Politics is not the mission of the church and it is of secondary importance. Preaching the Gospel is the mission of the Church and it is of ultimate importance. Turning the preaching of the Gospel into a form of politics is to demean it. On this fundamental point Fitch and Evangelicalism will remain at odds. <br/><br/>For neo-anabaptism, the goal is to evolve beyond the Reformation, but the historic mission of Evangelicalism in the West is to revive the church when it falls into dead orthodoxy. The Trinitarian and Christological dogmas of the first five centuries and the solas of the Reformation are not the problem. Evangelicalism presupposes them. Evangelicalism is not doctrinally innovative at its best; its real contribution to the church catholic is to call it back to the truth and power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. <br/><br/>Politics is a matter for Christians who must live in the world while we await a Saviour from heaven. Politics is a matter of prudence, discernment and compromise. It is always messy and often dirty. It is part of living in a fallen world. But politics is not the Gospel. The Gospel is Christ crucified to save sinners.<br></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-76110882864766278512015-02-04T08:03:00.000-08:002015-02-14T23:32:03.778-08:00Doomsdays Of Yesteryear Harold Camping Rapture In September 1994<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><span style="text-align:left;align:left;"><div style="float:left;text-align:left;align:left;width: 51%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pNH7zBgJeR4/VOBLcHdHoXI/AAAAAAAAKbc/l3AKRHenFz8/Doomsdays%252520Of%252520Yesteryear%252520Harold%252520Camping%252520Rapture%252520In%252520September%2525201994.jpg" border="0" alt="Doomsdays Of Yesteryear Harold Camping Rapture In September 1994" title="Doomsdays Of Yesteryear Harold Camping Rapture In September 1994" /></div></span><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;">From my column "<b><i>Psychic Vibrations</i></b>" in "<b><i>The Skeptical Inquirer</i></b>", March/April, 1995:<br/><br/>1994 was a great year for the world ending. Indeed, the world ended more times in 1994 than in any other year in recent memory. Harold Camping, president and general manager of a 39-station network of religious radio broadcasters, proclaimed that before the end of September, 1994, the dead would be arising from their graves for their final judgment. Camping explained to the "<b><i>San Jose Mercury News</i></b>" (<u><b>Sept. 4, 1994</b></u>) that he had arrived at his prediction by a laborious and careful process of counting off significant dates in the Bible. Furthermore, his math has been checked by a nuclear physicist and "<b><i>a number of scientists at the Lawrence Livermore lab,</i></b>" as if errors in arithmetic were the only way such a prediction might go awry. Mainstream religious scholars, of course, suggested Camping was seriously mistaken. Fortunately, Camping exhorted his listeners, "<b><i>Don't do anything bizarre. Just live the way you should have been living all the time.</i></b>" His stations are still on the air, and seem to have found something else to talk about.<br/><br/> "<br/><br/> A current Harold Camping billboard in Stockton, CA. Photo by Michael Fitzgerald<br/><br/> June 9, 1994 was another date on which the world ended. Various fundamentalist prognosticators somehow settled upon that date, and started warning ominously that "<b><i>June ninth is coming,</i></b>" the day on which God would supposedly "<b><i>rip sin out of the world.</i></b>" Warnings were issued for a major destructive earthquake somewhere along the Pacific "<b><i>ring of fire,</i></b>" supposedly only the first event in an eschatological progression. So widespread was the expectation that it was even mentioned on the 700 Club [<u><i>evangelist Pat Robertson's popular TV program</i></u>], although with the clear disclaimer that it would not be the start of the Rapture. When a large underground earthquake, which caused little or no damage or casualties, struck on this date, it was hailed as fulfillment of the prophecy. The last we checked, the world still had plenty of sin. But don't give up on the eschaton merely because the world has survived into 1995. Dr. Leland Jensen of Missoula, Montana says that he is the Second Coming, and that during 1995 the earth will suffer great meteor impacts, earthquakes, and major planetary changes. Those lucky enough to survive all this will enjoy Heaven on Earth. And according to a story in the Washington Post" (<u><b>March 12, 1994</b></u>), followers of the Institute of Divine Metaphysical Research expect the world to end in an instant, by 1996. So the end may come while you are reading this page. Fortunately, even if these people are right, they won't be in a position to gloat about it!<br/><br/>Reference: <a href='http://i-love-witchcraft.blogspot.com' target='_blank'>i-love-witchcraft.blogspot.com</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-74691459835234026302015-01-27T21:41:00.000-08:002015-02-04T13:38:39.442-08:00Pastor Indicted For Tax Evasion<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><center><div style="float:none;text-align:center;align:center;width: 79%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Sp7XbFV-cQY/VKSDD6fWKII/AAAAAAAAHf4/w80cqmmJ3EE/Demonology%252520Interview%252520With%252520The%252520Exorcist.jpg" border="0" alt="Pastor Indicted For Tax Evasion" title="Pastor Indicted For Tax Evasion" /></div></center><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;"> How much do pastors make? Bishop Anthony L. Jinwright apparently rolls around in the greenbacks just to take a bath. <br/><br/> "<b><i> The 16-page indictment says Jinwright failed to report 875,000 in taxable income for him and his wife, Harriet Porter-Jinwright. She is listed on the church Web site as a co-pastor, but is not charged. </i></b>" <br/><br/> "<b><i>The indictment alleges Jinwright owes from 200,000 to 400,000 in unpaid federal and state income taxes. </i></b>" <br/><br/> "<b><i>The indictment also details salary and reimbursements of 3.1 million for Jinwright from the church from 2001-2006. It also lists more than 400,000 in income from speaking engagements and book sales.</i></b>" <br/><br/> SOURCE: News 14 Charlotte Local pastor indicted for tax evasion <br/><br/> The "<b><i>Bishop</i></b>" likes his cars. He drives a Bentley, a BMW 530i, a Mercedes-Benz S550V, five Lexus vehicles and a Maybach 57. I'm willing to bet Jinwright preaches Prosperity theology. <br/><br/> You can watch Bishop Jinwright give his trademark performance here. Get that man a Bentley. Technorati tags: Prosperity Theology, Religion, Taxes<br></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-64674591874893669712015-01-27T12:06:00.000-08:002015-01-31T19:27:51.971-08:00Resurrection Insurrection<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><span style="text-align:left;align:left;"><div style="float:left;text-align:left;align:left;width: 46%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U51qz83KqeY/VM2dMmM6GzI/AAAAAAAAJUc/8Y-Jol35YhA/Resurrection%252520Insurrection.jpg" border="0" alt="Resurrection Insurrection" title="Resurrection Insurrection" /></div></span><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;">Today is Bunny Day, AKA Easter Sunday. <br/><br/>For interested readers, the definition of Easter is here<br/><br/>So let's deflate our respective senses of wonder, and take a good, hard look at the Resurrection Myth.<br/><br/>It's a central tenet of Christianity. If you don't believe in it, you're either, <br/><br/>A. A pagan<br/><br/>B. An atheist<br/><br/>C. A Gnostic,<br/><br/>D. Supply your choice of noun here. <br/><br/>While resurrection myths abound in most folklore, from Osiris to Hercules, the xtian version is quite different, inasmuch as all human beings are promised a "<b><i>physical</i></b>" reunion with their spiritual bodies.<br/><br/>I'll give that an eight, it's got a good beat, but I can't dance to it. <br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'>In the words of the Great Agnostic:</h4><br/>"Does anybody believe that, who has the courage to think for himself? Here is a man, for instance, that weighs 200 pounds and gets sick and dies weighing 120; how much will he weigh in the morning of the resurrection? Here is a cannibal, who eats another man; and we know that the atoms you eat go into your body and become a part of you. After the cannibal has eaten the missionary, and appropriated his atoms to himself, he then dies, to whom will the atoms belong in the morning of the resurrection? Could the missionary maintain an action of replevin, and if so, what would the cannibal do for a body? It has been demonstrated, in so far as logic can demonstrate anything, that there is no creation and no destruction in Nature. It has been demonstrated, again and again, that the atoms in us have been in millions of other beings; have grown in the forests and in the grass, have blossomed in flowers, and been in the metals. In other words, there are atoms in each one of us that have been in millions of others; and when we die, these atoms return to the earth, again appear in grass and trees, are again eaten by animals, and again devoured by countless vegetable mouths and turned into wood; and yet this church, in the nineteenth century, in a council composed of and presided over by professors and presidents of colleges and theologians, solemnly tells us that it believes in the literal resurrection of the body. This is almost enough to make one despair of the future--almost enough to convince a man of the immortality of the absurd. They know better. There is not one so ignorant but knows better."<br/><br/>- Ingersoll, "Orthodoxy"<br/><br/>I for one would love to believe in life after death, become a hereafterian. But alas, all facts point elsewhere.Or, in the words of John Adams: "Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclination, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence. "<br/><br/>We have accounts two millennia old. Accounts which differ, not in the matter of minutiae, such as whether the weather was inclement or not, or what variety of sandal fashion was in vogue, but varying "<b><i>widely</i></b>" in crucial, key points in each '<i>testimony</i>'. The most ridiculous of which, is that fumbling, bumbling incompetent Matthew (<u><b>if that was his name, in lieu of no signed original document</b></u>), who made much of the fact that, in Matthew 27:50<br/><br/>50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.<br/><br/> 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;<br/><br/> 52 And the graves were opened; and MANY BODIES OF THE SAINTS WHICH SLEPT AROSE,<br/><br/> 53 And came out of the graves AFTER his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. <br/><br/>Which I find most...amusing. Because<br/><br/>A. The graves were opened and the saints resurrected at the '<i>death</i>', but<br/><br/>B. They had to WAIT until the three day cycle was at an end.<br/><br/>"Hey guys? We're a, ahem, a"little" ahead of schedule here. Is it okay if you all just wait a couple of more days until the Big Guy comes back? You can? Cool!"<br/><br/>And who were these fellows? These others that arose from the dead? Only one apostle mentions this, of the three. No names, no witnesses, obviously an apocryphal story which should be discarded. <br/><br/>And no outside corroboration whatsoever. This is all OVER the place in the beloved '<i>gospels</i>'. In this instance, it's not mentioned in Mark, or John, or even Luke (<u><b>who was supposed to be a '<i>superlative</i>' historian </b></u>).<br/><br/>As should all of it. The resurrection concept reeks of syncretism. Dionysius, Osiris, Hercules, Adonis, Tammuz: the list does go on, into the dim recesses of history.<br/><br/>The saddest part of the story is not that it was told: it's a hell of a story. The saddest part, is that so many accept it as truth, fight for it tooth and nail, to the detriment of their fellow man.<br/><br/>An end to fairy tales that guide our lives, I say. These belong to the venue of children. Not adults. We should put these childish things away.<br/><br/>Otherwise, it's the blind leading the blind: both fall into the ditch. <br/><br/>See, the book of fables has the occasional use, after all.<br/><br/>Let the dead sleep. Let not their ghostly hands manipulate us across the centuries, let not their words and deeds influence the minutiae of our lives. There is no hereafter: there is no conscious immortality. It is a dream only, a lovely one, but one that needs fade with the light of day, the light of reason, the light of life.<br/><br/>Origin: <a href='http://thelema-and-faith.blogspot.com' target='_blank'>thelema-and-faith.blogspot.com</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-59368780222372158612015-01-27T02:55:00.000-08:002015-02-13T07:39:13.988-08:00How Often Should I Pray<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><center><div style="float:none;text-align:center;align:center;width: 75%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UlBdzpHMQ8k/VGh38pzm85I/AAAAAAAAGcc/bRM35OM3ZI0/Liber%252520Al%252520Vel%252520Legis%252520And%252520The%252520Illuminati%252520Cipher.jpg" border="0" alt="How Often Should I Pray" title="How Often Should I Pray" /></div></center><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;"><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> </h4> What to pray for? How to pray? Have you ever heard the phrase, "when all else fails, pray"? Is that good advice or bad?<br/><br/> How often do you pray? What circumstances in life cause you to start praying? <br/><br/> Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: '<i>Return to me,</i>' declares the LORD Almighty, '<i>and I will return to you,</i>' says the LORD Almighty. (Zechariah 1:3)<br/><br/> Come near to God and he will come near to you. (James 4:8)<br/><br/> We should be abiding in the Lord at all times. We should pray to Jesus like he's our best friend, and we should be seeking his advice about everything we do. Now, before you email me, am I suggesting that we need to pray to God about whether to order the hamburger or the chicken sandwich at the fast food restaurant? No, because God already said, "For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:4-5)<br/><br/> But we should turn to God every time we have an opportunity to rely upon him and to let him guide our path through life.<br/><br/> "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. (John 15:1-2)<br/><br/> Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. (John 15:4-9)<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> Today, what can I pray for you about?<br/><br/> </h4><br/><br/>Reference: <a href='http://goddesses-and-gods.blogspot.com' target='_blank'>goddesses-and-gods.blogspot.com</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-25270422552391685832015-01-26T18:13:00.000-08:002015-04-12T20:21:53.816-07:00Frankincense 2 What It Known For<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><center><div style="float:none;text-align:center;align:center;width: 63%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><a href="http://new-generation-witch.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GH1a9OQKX9U/VSs2TiM_GLI/AAAAAAAAM48/XiTyg1cKtPs/Frankincense%2525202%252520What%252520It%252520Known%252520For.jpg" border="0" alt="Frankincense 2 What It Known For" title="Frankincense 2 What It Known For" /></a></div></center><center>Frankincense is known for being useful for breaking down mucous, fighting anxiety, cancer, infections, depression, inflammation, and stimulating the immune system.<br/><br/>Here is the breakdown of how it works it's magic:<br/><br/>Skin:<br/><br/> * Traditionally Frankincense has been used for skincare. It's known for helping promote healthy skin, reduce scars/wounds/stretch marks and reducing wrinkles<br/> * Can be used in treatments for warts, moles and skin infections<br/><br/> Image Source<br/><br/>Stomach:<br/><br/> * Used for digestion and digestion related issues such as ulcers, vomit. <br/> * Used to be ingested. If ingested, chew it like a gum and only pure forms should be used (please note that I am not advocating that you eat Frankincense!)<br/> * Also used for dysentery, fevers, leprosy<br/><br/>Lungs:<br/><br/> * Inhaling incense or burning oils is said to help with bronchitis, laryngitis and asthma<br/> * Cleans respiratory tract<br/> * Sedating or cooling on lungs, thus helps with coughs<br/> * Helps with voice loss (see above)<br/> * Enhances immunity prevention in body<br/><br/> iStock image<br/><br/>Mental Health:<br/><br/> * Helps relieve depression<br/> * Reduces stress/nervousness<br/> * Dispels fears<br/> * Relaxing/Rejuvenating<br/><br/>Spiritual:<br/><br/> * Known as being sacred, used to communicate with the Divine<br/> * Promotes spiritual awareness<br/><br/>Other:<br/><br/> * Has been used in compresses for hemorrhoids<br/> * Ayurvedic system uses it for strengthening female hormone system (not quite sure what that means though)<br/> * Helps with urinary tract infections<br/> * Oil pulling with Frankincense helps reduce gum disease<br/> * Relieves headaches and restless leg syndrome<br/> * Reduces aches and pains in muscles, bones and joints<br></center>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-3893964272082728012015-01-23T22:55:00.000-08:002015-03-30T02:10:30.248-07:00Morning Roundup St Nicholas Bishop And Confessor Missa Statuit Or Jesus Christ The High Priest Missa Juravit Dminus December 6Th 2012<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;"> * "ARCHDIOCESE OF WASHINGTON (<u><b>MSGR. CHARLES POPE</b></u>) ">> THE REAL ST. NICHOLAS - NOT FAT AND NOT VERY JOLLY EITHER.<br/> * "<b><i>CATHOLICSEEKING (HELEN GONSALVES)</i></b>" >> SAINT NICHOLAS<br/> * "CHANTBLOG ">> "THE SARUM COMPLINE FOR THE ADVENT SEASON"<br/> * "<b><i>CHRONICLES: A MAGAZINE OF AMERICAN CULTURE</i></b>" >> RICE: THE EVIL OF TWO LESSERS (THOMAS FLEMING)<br/> * "CREATIVE MINORITY REPORT ">> DUDE. RODENT ON MARS! I KNEW IT!<br/> * "<b><i>CRISIS MAGAZINE</i></b>" >> A CHRISTMAS CAROL BY CHARLES DICKENS (SEAN FITZPATRICK)<br/> * "<b><i>CRISIS MAGAZINE</i></b>" >> THE AWKWARDNESS OF ADVENT (REV. GEORGE W. RUTLER)<br/> * "DOMINE, DA MIHI HANC AQUAM! (<u><b>FR. PHILIP NERI POWELL, OP</b></u>) ">> CONSECRATION OF THE U.S. TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY<br/> * "FIRST THINGS: ON THE SQUARE ">> POWER GAINED, ARGUMENT WEAKENED FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE (MATTHEW J. FRANCK )<br/> * "<b><i>FIRST THOUGHTS</i></b>" >> DISABILITIES TREATY COMING BACK? (AUSTIN RUSE)<br/> * "<b><i>GRACE BEFORE MEALS (FR. LEO)</i></b>" >> DINNER DISCUSSION: SANTA IS REAL!<br/> * "<b><i>HOLY SOULS HERMITAGE - FR. GEORGE DAVID BYERS</i></b>" >> SEEING THE CROSS IN ALL THINGS. HOLY SOULS HERMITAGE AND THE POOR CLARES OF PERPETUAL ADORATION<br/> * "<b><i>HOLY SOULS HERMITAGE - FR. GEORGE DAVID BYERS</i></b>" >> FISKING CARDINAL GEORGE PELL'S EFFECTIVELY EXCOMMUNICATING MERELY ACCUSED PRIESTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR GUILT OR INNOCENCE. SAINT FRANCIS TO THE RESCUE.<br/> * "JIMMY AKIN.ORG ">> 8 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION<br/> * "<b><i>LES FEMMES - THE TRUTH (MARY ANN KREITZER)</i></b>" >> LET ALL MORTAL FLESH KEEP SILENCE <br/> * "<b><i>NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE (MARK STEYN)</i></b>" >> DRACULA STIRS...<br/> * "<b><i>NEW LITURGICAL MOVEMENT</i></b>" >> SINTERKLAAS: THE FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS<br/> * "PUNDIT ">"ROMA LOCUTA EST ">> THE JARRING SECULAR SANTA<br/> * "RORATE CAELI ">> MODERNISM IS IDEOLOGICAL - TRADITION IS REALISTIC, BUT MUST BE LIVED IN SIMPLICITY <br/> * "<b><i>STREETS OF GOLD (OLIVIA)</i></b>" >> ONLY THE ONE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN (<u><b>MATTHEW 7:21</b></u>) <br/> * "<b><i>THE CATHOLIC THING</i></b>" >> THE STRANGE CLERICALISM OF WOMEN'S ORDINATION<br/> * "THE CHANT CAF'e ">> FIRST RECORDING OF THE REQUIEM OF OCKEGHEM<br/> * "<b><i>THE CHANT CAF'e</i></b>" >> TWO RECORDINGS OF ST. GALL NOTATION<br/> * "<b><i>THE LITURGICAL DAY (JIMMY AKIN)</i></b>" >> DEC. 6, 2012<br/> * "WHAT DOES THE PRAYER REALLY SAY? (<u><b>FR. JOHN ZUHLSDORF</b></u>) ">> ADVENTCAZT 05: THURSDAY OF THE 1ST WEEK OF ADVENT<br/> * "WHAT DOES THE PRAYER REALLY SAY? (<u><b>FR. JOHN ZUHLSDORF</b></u>) ">> QUAERITUR: WINTER SOLSTICE MASS?<br/> * "WORD ON FIRE BLOG ">> SPIRITUALITY: ST. NICHOLAS, SANTA AND THE ELF ON THE SHELF<br></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-50979070425365329502015-01-22T22:30:00.000-08:002015-02-02T13:58:58.154-08:00Jn 1316 20 Imagine<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><span style="text-align:left;align:left;"><div style="float:left;text-align:left;align:left;width: 59%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bYwgkjgljIY/VM_zHSULDZI/AAAAAAAAJbQ/0iZ5bziTQmk/Jn%2525201316%25252020%252520Imagine.jpg" border="0" alt="Jn 1316 20 Imagine" title="Jn 1316 20 Imagine" /></div></span><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;">Jn 13:16-20 IMAGINE<br/><br/> "(Click here for readings)"<br/><br/> "Whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me...No slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it."<br/><br/> There it is! You read it yourself. We are called to be "<b><i>authentic</i></b>" ambassadors of the Lord. We are called - actually sent - to represent the Lord wherever he wants, whenever he wants, throughout the world and throughout our life. Imagine for just a moment what that would mean. Imagine for a moment if I never said "<b><i>No</i></b>" to the Lord or if my life was a constant "<b><i>Yes</i></b>" to Christ. What would that mean? A new world! A new world order where loves reins supreme, forgiveness is ordinary and mercy is expected.<br/><br/> Instead of imaging "<b><i>no religion</i></b>", let us imagine the religion of Jesus Christ, the religion of love. It's easy if you try, and it's perfectly fine because it is the perfect religion! Who said God is Love? Answer: St. John the Apostle. And it is striking that only Christians refer to God as being Love. Muslims have ninety-nine names for God, but not one of them is "God is Love "<b><i>or even</i></b>" God is Father. "I'm not here to bash anyone. I am here to bathe in God's Almighty revelation, a revelation that is far superior to all other revelations. Regardless of my upbringing or background or faults and failures, I can believe "<b><i>God is Love</i></b>" and I can believe that "<b><i>God is Father.</i></b>" Who couldn't believe that? Who wouldn't believe that? Who shouldn't believe that?<br/><br/> God is love and his love is best expressed by His Word: Jesus Christ! God's tolerance towards man is best described by one act: His crucifixion. Instead of condemning the world, he died for it! Instead of blasting and cursing to smithereens sinners the Lord embraced them, welcomed them and healed them. He taught us to never ever give up on anyone and to never ever spread hatred and revenge upon our enemies. It's okay to pray for the soul of Usama Bin Laden and the safety of our soldiers. It's okay to pray for the soul of Margaret Sanger, abortion providers and the children who have been aborted. It's perfectly fine to pray for those who have been abused and those who abused. It's even okay to pray for Professor Peter Singer and those who advocate infanticide! But what is not okay is to cheer the death of the sinner. Rather, it is to cheer for their conversion! This is the scandal of the Christian faith. It is no longer an eye for an eye; a face for a face, or a tooth for a tooth. This is the greatest scandal of our faith. It is how we love.<br/><br/> Just recently the Iranian government, under pressure from human rights organizations, postponed the retribution punishment of a criminal with drops of acid. I was appalled by the reaction of so many Americans to the postponement. It would appear as though the war on terror has hardened many American hearts. We cannot let that happen. The World loves Americans because of our generous hearts and because of our love for others. We need to fight the war on terror with tenacity, but we cannot be a part of it.<br/><br/> The Lord picked Twelve Apostles, not because they were perfect and not because they were gods. He picked them because he could work with them, through them and in them. <br/><br/> If we claim to be Catholic, then we must live like Catholics. The Lord has given us a beautiful faith and calling. He has given us everything - all the means - to become holy. This means, we must live to the fullest extent the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Otherwise people may not believe in Christ because of us, and that is a cause of great concern. <br/><br/> "Imagine being Catholic! Try loving rather than insulting; forgiving rather than judging, and giving rather than resenting. It's easy if you try."<br/><br/>Reference: <a href='http://master-of-pentagram.blogspot.com' target='_blank'>master-of-pentagram.blogspot.com</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8534217819248421648.post-74270420583048738612015-01-21T04:09:00.000-08:002015-03-30T02:10:23.345-07:00New To Goetia A Few Important Questions Please Help<div style="width:200px;margin: 7px auto;"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_16x16_style"><a class="addthis_button_preferred_1"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_2"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_3"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_4"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_5"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_6"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_7"></a><a class="addthis_button_preferred_8"></a><a class="addthis_button_compact"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/250/addthis_widget.js"></script><!-- AddThis Button END --></div><center><div style="float:none;text-align:center;align:center;width: 73%;margin:0px 20px 10px 0px; max-width:350px;"><a href="http://i-love-witchcraft.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img style="border-style:none; border-width:0; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:100%; max-width:350px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pcxknGMTMOM/VL_O8XFGyFI/AAAAAAAAIgw/Gw1cwGLfaQ4/It%252520War%252520Put%252520On%252520Your%252520Armor.jpg" border="0" alt="New To Goetia A Few Important Questions Please Help" title="New To Goetia A Few Important Questions Please Help" /></a></div></center><span style="text-align:justify !important;align:left;">I've been reading the golden dawn and basic qabalah books for a while now, and recently i started looking at Crowley's LEsser key of solomon. I have a few questions regarding the nature of the conjurations. Any input would be greatly appreciated.<br/><br/>1. I've heard alot of people talk about setting ceremonial dates, as to call forth the entities in their proper "<b><i>house</i></b>" or degree of zodiac. I am confused as to whether these are specific days, or Zodiac signs attributed to the demon's element. If the demon I wish to evoke is of air, is any time within the zodiac of Aquarius, Libra, Gemini? etc. If not, how do I find the specific day?<br/><br/>2. I know for the most part evoking is external and crowley talks about physical incarnations of these demons, but I've heard some people say the images are just symbolic of their nature. Yet I have I also heard people talking about SEEING these demons, having EXTERNAL conversations with them. I believe magick is subconcious affecting at will, so are these things REALLY incarnating physically? Have you ever SEEN one, not with your third eye, but personally felt the breath of the demon?<br/><br/>3. What is the difference between the 72 demons and the 2nd goetia book containing the Aerial spirits?<br/><br/><h4 style='font-style: italic;'> posted in<br/> Goetia<br/> - 96 replies<br/> </h4><br></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16964444720085076261noreply@blogger.com