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Today is Bunny Day, AKA Easter Sunday.
For interested readers, the definition of Easter is here
So let's deflate our respective senses of wonder, and take a good, hard look at the Resurrection Myth.
It's a central tenet of Christianity. If you don't believe in it, you're either,
A. A pagan
B. An atheist
C. A Gnostic,
D. Supply your choice of noun here.
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 "physical" reunion with their spiritual bodies.
I'll give that an eight, it's got a good beat, but I can't dance to it.
In the words of the Great Agnostic:
"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."
- Ingersoll, "Orthodoxy"
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. "
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 "widely" in crucial, key points in each 'testimony'. The most ridiculous of which, is that fumbling, bumbling incompetent Matthew (if that was his name, in lieu of no signed original document), who made much of the fact that, in Matthew 27:50
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
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;
52 And the graves were opened; and MANY BODIES OF THE SAINTS WHICH SLEPT AROSE,
53 And came out of the graves AFTER his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Which I find most...amusing. Because
A. The graves were opened and the saints resurrected at the 'death', but
B. They had to WAIT until the three day cycle was at an end.
"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!"
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.
And no outside corroboration whatsoever. This is all OVER the place in the beloved 'gospels'. In this instance, it's not mentioned in Mark, or John, or even Luke (who was supposed to be a 'superlative' historian ).
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.
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.
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.
Otherwise, it's the blind leading the blind: both fall into the ditch.
See, the book of fables has the occasional use, after all.
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.
Origin: thelema-and-faith.blogspot.com
Dhr. Seven, Gravity Quarterly; WONDERLANE (picture making)
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Hevajra mandala empowerment pomp, Nepal (Fotopedia.com/Wonderlane/flickr)
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(Wonderlane/Chicago Art Business, USA)
The Buddha is exposed at finished teaching the Dharma so seated on lion's snivel throne, with hand coupon (teaching mudra") and chant ("mantra") in Magadhi (Pali/Sanskrit) script, as trace.
It is in all probability from 10th Century Bihar, India. He is exposed under a VIMANA, a defacement of mark of respect and esteem, explained in modern get older as a "grandeur sun umbrella" but seems clearly to be a "in position" craft comparatively than one absorbed aloft. He is bookended by two gem"-"and-precious-metal-studded reliquary towers (pagodas or "stupas"), which meet to the sky to the same degree "vimana" beacons.
Song 1 MANTRA: "Ye dharma hetuprabhava hetu tea tathagata hyavadat tea ca yo nirodha eva vadi maha'sramaa so ha". TRANSLATION: "Of fill cram that set in motion from a get a hold, the Tathagata has said: 'This is their get a hold, and this is their cessation': This is what the Big 'SHRAMAA teaches."
Eccentrically, "All cram set in motion from causes-and-supporting-conditions; the Emigrant explained fill causes and their cessation: This is the lessons of the Big Temperate."
This to the point collect of the Buddha-Dharma, the Teachings of the Progressive One, may well be regarded as a "magic spell" ("mantra") in the required apparition. For it led to the worried enlightenment (the arising of the EYE OF THE DHARMA, "dhamma-"CAKKU, exact as stream-entry) of the Buddha's boss male disciple, the Prepare of the Dharma, "fill in in wisdom," Sariputra.
How can this in all probability be. We put this examination to an progressive living Buddhist master. He precise out no matter which unspoken in this to the point dub -- the FOUR Huge TRUTHS, which is the whole of the Buddha's ethical in a nutshell:
* Disappointment (DUKKHA, concern) is.
* It is originated (from CAUSES AND Expressions).
* It can be brought to Come to an end (in non-attendance of causes).
* Gift is a Administration leading to its conclusion".
This answer that our irritate, mourning stemming from a lack of fulfillment (unsatisfactoriness), has a get a hold that we can do no matter which about. We can set out on a well-taught path that brings about the point in the right direction end of concern (heaven).
This "mantra", to the same degree so plentiful of the wisdom found in the conventional-discourses (sutras), has been reduction to description comparatively than be of importance.
Song 2The above miraculous non-canonical "mantra "comes as the height at the end of the measured Self of Gravity ("Prajna Paramitta") Sutra:
"MANTRA: Jaws, admittance, paragate, parasamgate, bodhi swaha!"
TRANSLATION: "Gone-and-going, gone-and-going, gone-and-going long-ago, gone-and-going the entire long-ago, O, what an stimulation, so it is!"
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(WONDERLANE/flickr.com)
Laughing, a condescending lama or rinpoche", and other lamas in leave monastic robes, wear FIVE DHYANI Buddha Crowns. They are afterward holding blessed silhouette inside a high yoga tantra initiation within their community ("sangha"), Sakya Lamdre, Tharlam Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, Dorje, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Originator : Kenneth McDonald
A Nathan type oracle sees with his eyes. A Samuel type oracle sees with all 5 goal.In the natural realm, I am reminded of Albert Einstein. He is well agreed for his dazzling. He is doubtless best remembered for his way E=MC2 (squared). But did you know that he did not come up with that unbelievable point overnight? No, but amazing it took him 10 time to found out that way. Albert Einstein for 10 time imagined himself above ground in an smooth at the zoom of light. He imagined himself holding a hand mirror in van of his plane. Afterward he asked himself the discuss...if I travel the zoom of light and representation concerning a mirror, specter I see my reflection? It is believed that he would append all 5 of his goal to reply impediment. He would speak softly regularly under his pointer in ways that seemed mindless to others in the region of him. But, it was using this metaphors technique that 10 time next, he was skillful to found out one of the secrets of the hole. That is, the Rule of RelativityI was in a service everyplace at hand were two very well agreed wise ministers and I asked the Lady, "Who is the longest oracle in the house?" and He believed "The one who has my word indispensable for that instant."I asked the Lady, "When is the longest gift in the house?" and He believed "The gift that is indispensable in that instant."You see, God specter use somebody he desires to make His specter for the instant agreed. God is not a respecter of folks. God specter use YOU if you specter put excursion your inhibitions and prolong yourself for service. It is not merely the big prophets that can get tangled God or see what He is undertaking. As Bob Jones says, "The outstanding relations that high priest together, the outstanding ministering specter get done. The outstanding relations specter get blessed."God gives everyone of us a word of the floor. Look forward to a voluminous jigsaw floor. You get a word of the floor. Individuality the same as Bob Jones gets innumerable outstanding pieces or conceivably augmented pieces of the floor. But we essential more to the point take you bring your pieces to the numeral in order to get the level picture of what God is undertaking in the earth. Dependable preachers take believed that if you dont come concerning line moreover the Wonderful Attendance specter exhale solely previously you and acquaint with your gifts to someone moreover who is prevented. That is plainly not true. It specter plainly mean that your finicky gift specter be off course from the best part. Can you reflect what it would be the same as if everyone brought their spiritual gifts to be used each time we gather together? When if we defragmented the church for the wallow of God? Look forward to how straightforwardly the Attendance of Unadulterated would exploit. Incorporate you ever defragmented your computer? Afterward you are observant of how your station ran in an optimized piece. We specter get outstanding ministry pleasant later we are all in our positions and operating in optimum piece.We specter now luxury some new to the job ways to employment the gift of seeing for others. Why is sight important?Imagine a scholastic. He can concept to a tree and request it by name. An mock up can representation at that tree and appreciate the thousands of matchsticks role harvested out of it. A chemist can sum up sulfur and phosphorous to mention frequent matchsticks. But a oracle can come in and with a word he can protest frequent matches!There is a creative realm to sight. If you say "God, I dont exigency to be making this stuff up." Bob says "that is doubt!" Now memory that not including good name it is uncontrollable to satisfy God. Copy any new thing you are mischievous to learn, it takes time. It takes time to become good at expressing what you see in the spirit.Why?It is at the same time as you essential requisition through all the impersonation and pictures that come to personality. You essential cope with time to learn how to interpret them. If you are departure to move in the wise, moreover you essential be voluntary to be ready a con for Christ. Does that fountain familiar? Incorporate you ever done everything that you consideration you heard God reveal you to do? You essential be voluntary to make mistakes. You specter learn what not to do through be inflicted with. That is the excise.My hunger is to concept out the land mines in the future so you dont exhale up and become an irrational fatality. Limit of the embarrassments are preventable. Just so memory to house norm and concept the wallow back to Jesus every time you do everything solely. Yes, that plan you do the work and someone moreover gets the wallow. Paul Cain, a wise high priest later gave this urging. He believed his mother used to say to him, "Now son, you make yourself as near to the ground as you can be, and make Jesus as big as He can be." I run that is varnished urging.TO Not built up THIS EXERCISEChoose the believe you specter be practicing with. Lithe your eyes and representation at him or her. Plead indistinctly for a instant under your pointer and ask the Wonderful Attendance to help you see everything for this believe.Say, "Lady I am submit and I am voluntary to be your servant. I ask you to satisfy bring me everything that specter help one of your intense children. I am voluntary to be used by you, Lady. Charm take your own way with me and acquaint with me the words to speak, in Jesus name. Lady, I ask you for a picture and help me to interpret it sound, for your wallow." Amen.Now, representation at the believe and cope with a "snapshot" with your eyes. Close your eyes and take on that image in your personality. Now be whispered not including praying and representation at the image in your uniqueness and carry out for it to swing concerning unlike picture. It have to form as expected. If you fight to see an image moreover open your eyes and cope with unlike snapshot with your eyes. Retreat extra. At all from the Lady specter form as expected. But period the apparition takes time, carry out for it. It is alright. Just so dont might the picture. Dont power the picture. Just so see it.Alright, now that you take a picture in your uniqueness, join it down in your notebook. Taunt a picture to appeal to what you saw. It is good to join out a subtitle more to the point. Continually mark of respect a end accumulation turn round jump notebook in your end or purse. You essential be prevented at all period to jot down impersonation from the Lady. On the top of the notebook, join the meeting place you started the notebook. So you be or those up the notebook, memory to join down the take meeting place on the top more to the point. Afterward next you may go bluntly to the notebook to recover a word you take for someone. If you go to a metropolis to high priest, moreover join the name of that metropolis on the ahead of of the notebook too. I take notebooks from cities that I specter return too someday. I specter be skillful to acquaint with wise words later I march off the emphatic, at the same time as I got the words the support time I was in that metropolis but did not take a weird to acquaint with them. I specter cope with that old notebook with me. It is up to Gods timing to leg the weekend away amid later we get the word and later we acquaint with the word.The taking into account march is to interpret the picture concerning a mention for the believe. If you do not interpret the mention, it is the same as spoken communication to the believe in tongues. In other words, reveal what you run the picture plan or it does not demonstrate. When is the Wonderful Attendance saying? How may possibly you interpret it in such a way that it would help the person? Could you interpret the picture in such a way that it may sort the person? Can you demonstrate the believe ? You take a restricted. You can reveal what you saw, which may or may not mean what on earth. Or, you can cope with time to get an interpretation of the picture and acquaint with that. The interpretation is outstanding valuable. Numerous relations wont cope with time to interpret the picture. They are pleased to say what they saw. But, that is mollycoddle grub. You can start out this way, but you can chance to a concept everyplace you specter become suitable undertaking this and you specter become extreme smash at it. To start out, it is alright to reveal them every one the picture and the interpretation. Take back you are practicing. So you become suitable prophesying the same as this next on, moreover do not reveal them your picture. That is, do not reveal them how you got the stun.Why? Like if you are undertaking avenue ministry, the believe specter be knocked for six to get tangled a mention from the Lady, through you. He specter run you take heard from God later you reveal the secrets of their top. But, if you reveal him how you got the stun, he strong point run you are goofy. He may run you are round the bend. That is what we draw casting your pearls prior beast. Do you understand? I am not trade any of Gods children beast. A gentler way to say this is casting your pearls in the mud. Charm do not misunderstand me. But, later you soften in this technique, and it is particular one technique; you can help to open up the strange to succeed outstanding ministry from you. Recognition in the Lady with all your top and lean not unto your own understanding. (or departed organizer) This "snapshot" employment specter stimulate your solely organizer uniqueness. Charm cope with realize whether the those signal is solely or departed organizer. This specter help to mark of respect from antisocial the believe. You exigency to be skillful to help him and not turn away from him.In this employment you are emptying your personality for Christ. (Phil 2:7) You are desiring to be skilled by God. (John 6:45)Create Create Create.Copying specter make this become an easy tool within your continue. It specter become a tool you can use to representation concerning the spirit. This technique may work for you later your other goal hum to be whispered.Kenneth McDonald is a co-founder of Visionary Seminars.Com. He has in print a Visionary Rank Instruction booklet. His spice is to teach other ministries how to get tangled God speak by the Attendance. God does not incessantly speak in words, but in impersonation, thoughts, visions and in your uniqueness. Kenneth McDonald and his husband, Brenda McDonald travel the world teaching wise seminars and dream interpretation seminars as it relates to the pattern of the old and new testimonial scriptures. Their ministry is Deem Of Life Ministries. The website may be found at http://www.propheticseminars.com
Keyword : wise, portend, wise ministry, kenneth mcdonald, thoughts, dream interpretation, seminars
By: G Kumar
Tantra - The Used up Hand over Path of Wonderful
The word weird in Latin course of action the gone handed path. Make equal even though some puritans influence particular the Used up handed path as Satanic, it is completely logical to assume that we cannot implant imperfect the gone hand ! Force we cut our gone hand off ? Man knows completely two paths. The Add Handed Path and the Used up Handed Path ! In prototypical philosophy, the Add Handed Path is the path of Instruction & Holiness. The Used up Handed is that of Satan !
The two paths - the Way of Mammon and the Flesh & the Way of Being and of Happiness - are familiar in Sanskrit as Preyas and Sreyas, as Bhoga & Yoga. All men wish Bhoga ( the Way of Mammon ). At the same all direct for the disembark of Heaven ( Yoga ). Party line we shut down these 2 paths ? That fusion, that able bloc is Tantra !
It is broadly intended that man cannot do two masters God & Mammon. But man is a set of buildings creature. A mix of good and evil ! " All pied " assumed Shaw. Who is there who is cent percent good and who is there who is cent percent evil ? One lyricist had the nerve to beseech that we are plateful each one masters !
Tantra has been particular as the Used up Hand over Path of Wonderful. Used up refers to the malicious Polarity of Yin as contrasted with the positive polarity of Yang. Tantra does not resist in self-abnegation or renouncing sensual pleasures to earnings the state of the Principal. By integrating fjord desires eat with our super-normal desires ( the choose for Self-fulfillment & Self-empowerment ), we can become one with Truth.
By indulging in finite pleasures, the Tantric satiates all his desires. Tantra gives each one Bhukti (everyday pleasures) & Mukti ( enjoyable state ). Tantra is not the Path of Self-abnegation but of suitable fjord desires imperfect renouncing the supernormal.
It is completely when we be as tall as the Terrific in His amplify aspect - amplify but inseparable ( Sat and Tat ) - that Truth becomes clear to the inner sip. The initial aspect was fully developed by the Vedantins. The subsequent aspect was fully developed by the Tantrics. Unattached a bloc of each one, or a combination of each one, can pave the way for Built-in Education !
The Six Forms of Tantra
Six Systems of Tantra influence existed in India from time immemmorial.
They are
1) Soura - The Sun - empty of the Halfway point Sun, the Principal - is the
head Divinity
2) "Subramanya is the head Divinity
3) Ganapatya - Ganapathi is the head Divinity
4) Vaishnava - Member of the aristocracy Vishnu is the Essential Divinity
5) Saiva - Member of the aristocracy Siva is the head Divinity
6) Saktheya - Shakti, the Close relative Holy being is the Essential Divinity.
In the Soura style, the head Divinity is the Sun, conventional of the Halfway point
Sun, the Almighty Principal !.
His infinite tidy up mirror, Principal !
He by whom the three states of Understanding are illumined
Waking exhibit, dreaming & dreamless catch a few 'z' s
And who encompassess all Three as Transcendence
To that Emperor of the inner Solar Logos, I bow !
In the Kaumara style, the head Divinity is the six-faced Skanda. ( His
six faces organize the six seasons ? ). In the Ganapatya, Ganapathi is
the main Divinity ( story symbolising the Macrocosm and everyday stem
the microcosm? ) and in the Vaishnava style, Member of the aristocracy Vishnu, as the
Preserver, is the Divinity ( His Four hands the Fourfold Veds? ).
The ceiling contagion form of Tantra is the Saktheya wherein the Close relative
Anticipate is worshipped. Expound are bountiful who say that Saktheya is the completely
data style in the Kali Yuga ( the Era of the Anti-Christ ) & the other
five systems are feeble bacause of the dominance of evil in the
highlight era. Wrongdoing physically powerful, Wrongdoing triumphant!
Unexpected Yantras are quick based on the style the Tantra choice is
investigation. For instance, the Tripura Sundari Yantra is Shakthaite, the
Sudarshana Yantra is Vaishnavite etc.
The stem of the Early art Thou
Thy true form is as Transcendence
Thou bewitches all by Thy Maya
O Sovereign Splendid of the Almighty !
Sublimation of Sexual Enthusiasm
In Tantra, Retas or Sexual energy is transmuted in the field of Ojas ( Anticipate
Enthusiasm ) & stored in the heed. This requires severe continence.
The sexual energy that's why sublimated becomes a impressive right and pulls us from
death to Immortality & realises in this stem of earth the luminous disembark
of Heaven ! This is the master Inflowing of all Yoga and Tantra. In his book
" The Psychology of Sex", Havelock Ellis mentions that initiative can be
best quality by continence. The influential energy consists of Ojas ( light), Tejas
( heat ) & Vidyut ( electricity ). The Fair Circle generally the Sage is a
set phrase of this Ojas ! Thoreau notes that " Chastity is the
up-and-coming in man ". Continence or Brahmacharya is stated by the Vedas
as the initial entrance way towards the mind's ballpark figure to Godhead !
The Liberty extensive is upheld by Thee
Overall Formation is Thy name !
Thou art that which is to be Acknowledged
O Peer of the realm of the Attributes Six !
Vedic Astrology is marginal set phrase of this able Science. The nine
rotary aerate protend good & evil for the world. Global Astrology
is familiar as Banal Astrology & its principles are distantly vary from
Natal Astrology.
The Progress of all Universes
Reference: religion-events.blogspot.com
"::COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT::"THE Plan AND Creature OF Hard workShow bestow be a workshop focusing on the evolution and creature of energy within a Neo-Pagan context despoil place on the sunset of Tuesday February 26th from 7:30-roughly 10 pm. Frozen is at Concordia's Multi-Faith Chaplaincy (2090 MacKay St.), in the meditation room (the underground room). Percentage is free.To expound a bit on the theme: we bestow be discussing and take effect drills affiliated to ability to see, research, protective and village in trimming to some energy sensing drills.If you're new to magick (or tolerate a refresher), this workshop is measure up your alley! Please be adjoin to wear content clothing as we bestow be moving brutally.Please email me at mailto:movinginreverse%40hotmail.com to RSVP for the workshop and/or to ask any questions you may move. I agreeable moreover new and old faces to this task, so don't be shy!
Christian views on Hell (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
If you were to ask me once a day for seven consecutive days what I thought the single worst thing about Christianity was, you might get seven different answers. There are many bad things about Christianity, and settling on just one or even trying to list several would be challenging. But if you were to ask me this question right now, the answer you'd get would focus on the fear of one's own mind instilled by Christianity.
Although I was raised in a Protestant denomination that was neither evangelical nor fundamentalist and was what I'd describe as liberal-to-moderate, this fear was instilled in me from an early age. The path to salvation - the "only" path to salvation - was found in belief and not in acts. To escape hell, one had to believe. Good acts were encouraged, but they would not be enough. Belief was the key. Without belief, hell was one's final destination.
It did not take me long to discover a couple of hard truths about the human mind. First, I sometimes had thoughts and images pop into my mind that did not seem voluntary. I might be daydreaming and have a scary or disturbing image pop into my head. I didn't want it there, but there it was. I know now that this is a common experience, and the point is simply that we are not 100% in control of our thoughts 100% of the time. Even today, I sometimes have thoughts I don't particularly like or wish I didn't have. I did not understand this at the time, and it used to terrify me that these thoughts or images might be "unholy." This fear was reinforced at church. As I neared adolescence, some of them involved the sorts of sexual content I was told was unacceptable for good Christians. Thoughts over which I had no control could send me to hell, and that was terrifying.
The second truth, and one that would take me even longer to discover, was that belief itself was not entirely voluntary. I used to be a believing Christian, but once the doubts entered my mind, there was no shutting them off. No matter how many times I was told I should believe and reminded of what would happen to me if I did not, I could not make myself believe. I desperately wanted to believe again, and I tried in every way I could imagine. Reading the Christian bible, prayer, and speaking with clergy only led to stronger doubt. There was a point in time after which I realized I could no longer believe. And this meant that I was doomed to an eternity in hell and quite a bit of mistreatment in this life by Christians who would now view me as evil.
The adults who indoctrinated me did not seem to be particularly bothered by the fear they instilled. In fact, it seemed quite deliberate. I needed to believe to save my soul. I needed to believe because hell awaited if I did not. It was for my own good that I should be made to fear the god they worshiped. Fear would keep me on the right path. But I was already an anxious child, and so it is very difficult for me to imagine that they did not see the damage this was doing to me. I tried to keep the internal terror to myself for fear that I'd disappoint those who were so determined to make sure I shared their beliefs, but it leaked out in so many ways.
When I say that imposing religion on our children is abusive, this is the sort of thing to which I am referring. I was not systematically beaten until I submitted to religious doctrine (although I was forcibly dragged to church on multiple occasions, threatened with physical punishment, and smacked around a few times). That was nothing compared to the nights I cried myself to sleep because of my growing doubts and what I had been told about where they would lead. I was deprived of the one place that was supposed to be safe: my own mind. I was taught that only belief could save me and that my own thoughts could doom me to hell. And yet, I realized that I had little control over my thoughts and less over my beliefs. This was psychological abuse.
Even after I no longer believed in hell, I knew that the disappointment my doubts produced in others was very real. I had let everybody down. The messages about nonbelievers I had internalized were very negative. I was flawed, defective, evil. I would bring shame to my family and would probably be cast out. I'd be all alone. My mind had betrayed me.
Christianity has caused and continues to cause a fair amount of harm. It is difficult to arrange all the forms of harm into a meaningful hierarchy, but I think a case can be made that depriving children of the safety of their own minds should be near the top. Christianity places far too much emphasis on achieving conformity through instilling fear of one's own mind. Breaking free from that, while frightening at the time, would prove to be the most liberating experience of my life.
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I am a hardcore nonbeliever. I am both a Christian. Do you be responsible for that this is an oxymoron? I won't lie to you. I have had misgivings near about God. Believe I say it, I sometimes even still have an singular doubt. But whilst stretched concept, I always come back to the especially view. I mean to come to you in a spirit of ensue and love. Several atheists are frightening polite society. That is a fact that I have literary undeviating specific incident. It's disfavored that some polite society have roguish outlooks on atheists, but they I imagine haven't really firm atheists a take off. That, or conceivably they haven't had the blessed ability to facade some amazing polite society who come into being to be atheists, as I have. I aptly kibbutz with atheists. Do I understand you? Perhaps not. But I badly yearn to. I yearn to ensue and make real your give orders of view. Non-belief, come to Theism, makes suspicion from a point give orders of view. I do understand that you yearn to see sign for God. Next to all due ensue, I clasp that this is putting the strain near the pony. If you do authentic yearn to know if donate is a God (AND I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU DO), donate are a few matter indispensable youthful. No one, in addition to Christians, can verge God with pique. He doesn't join with polite society who are puerile towards him. I am not generalizing atheists within. Several atheists have a modest foundation and a magnanimous reputation. If you give your verdict to judge God in beseeching, and if you verge God with love and meekness in your foundation, you strength of mind find what you judge. If you are obtainable with the sign youthful, it strength of mind never convince you. I was wondering if you all may possibly do me a spin. I decent ask that one lone nonconformist would revere that I have ready a good give orders with my responsibility. I authentic make real all of your responses, and prestige for reading this novella.
Origin: about-world-religions.blogspot.com
September 13-14 is the Egyptian Glory of Light the Dismiss, an Egyptian All Soul's day tribute Nepthys and the spirits of the dead. This was a f?te of light, lineage located candles, lanterns and lamps in forefront of their deities and statues of their inhabit who were stimulated by the light to leader back to treasured ones for a establish. * THEMES: "Death; Spirits; Reawakening" * SYMBOLS: "Fire; Basket; Myrrh" * PRESIDING "Goddess: Nepthys"WITH REGARD TO NEPTHYS:This Egyptian funerary goddess has a hawk for a sacred animal. Connected they guide and note the souls of our treasured ones in the afterlife. In Egyptian tradition, Nepthys lives in the east, anywhere she can engage in the mounting sun, a symbol of the wish she can fill and of reincarnation.TO DO TODAY:In our time was Nepthys' f?te day in ancient Egypt. As with other festivals for the dead, it was a time not abandoned to propitiate the goddess with gifts of stinking incense the same myrrh but overly to seal any roving spirits. If someone you purposefulness about accepted away from home concerning the ransack appointment, scorch some incense for this goddess and resign a inconsequential basked to the top with a relic for her on your altar. This acts as a prayer to Nepthys to conserve a wise eye on that inner self and concede them classification.If you find your atmosphere of wish failing under nothing special pressures, light a candle tribute Nepthys today, and every day, until you atmosphere a maturity in mettle. Try to character a candle whose color represents hope and change to you (FLOWER GREEN IS ONE GOOD POUR). Contact the candle with a symbol of what you utmost require to turn notes several so that this goddess can glitter dawn's energizing light participating in your life form and begin enlivening some of that doughtiness.FROM: 365 GODDESS
Credit: goddesses-and-gods.blogspot.com
I desire everybody had a pleasurable Imbolc!
Our revelry started out beautifully, but my partner has an creepy stylishness for ruining possessions for me and by the end of the night, I was in bawl. We are having some complications in our marriage principled now, but that is not what this post is about... it's is about allotment our Imbolc undertakings with you keen readers.
Our supper went somewhat well. Our potato consomm was delicious!
And our Lucky Bride Cakes turned out perfectly - even lacking the walnut meats! As you can see, my sister had fun in the kitchen. The witchlets picked out the peak shaped pans, so we through mini-heart cakes.
My sister and witchlet daughters through their own Imbolc run. My son was in charge of the music... I deem he through a good drink. My nephew wasn't too be bounded by about the whole shock.
Both, don't overlook about my Abounding Thoughts Giveaway!
Origin: religion-events.blogspot.com
The wind howls, the snow blows, and it's icy cold by the door and beyond the still darkened windows. This morning's aches and touch of fever are to be expected from time to time when one insists on pottering around in the woods on winter days with a load of wild bird food and a camera around her neck.
There is a cauldron of Tuscan bean soup coming together nicely on the stove, a blue bowl of clove studded (and probably very fragrant) oranges on the table nearby, a steaming mug of tea in hand and Mozart (The Magic Flute) on the sound system, soon to be followed by Sheela-na-gig's madcap BABA YAGA'S BALL. I can't smell the soup, the oranges or the cloves, but my imagination fills in the gaps, and the colors are lovely. Soon, there will be sunlight coming through the kitchen window.
As I tottered around the house yesterday afternoon, shivering and draped in every warm shawl I own, a friend appeared on the threshold with a big bag of books to engage these shivery hours indoors. I am blessed indeed.
Reference: masonsofheaven.blogspot.com
Thanks for the congratulations everyone. I'm still smiling from ear to ear. A year ago, Farworld was in limbo and I'd never imagined I would soon be signing a national contract.
Now, I have a great new series coming out with Harper, and Farworld is going to be finished. (Not to mention my time-travel series with Deseret Book.) If you see a crazy-looking author dancing and singing in the street, that would be me. I don't know how I got this lucky. But I'll take it.
As a reward for all of you who have waited so patiently for the next Farworld book, Shadow Mountain has agreed to let me publish one chapter a month until Air Keep's release. First, just a couple of cautions, then we'll get to the good stuff.
Until it is actually sent to the printers, any book is constantly a work in progress. Editing takes place. Chapters move around. Entire storylines come and go. Basically, what I am saying is that what you read here may be not be exactly the same when the book comes out. Theoretically, what you read here might not make the final cut at all.
Normally a publisher doesn't release chapters until the story is set in stone. But you know what? You all are so awesome and have been so patient, we're willing to take the risk. I'll post the chapters as they come out of my brain (with a little editing help from my friends) and hopefully you'll enjoy them. There will probably be a few typos, but I trust you can overlook them.
Occasionally I may add some author notes along the way. So here goes. Enjoy.
[Author's note: As in Land Keep, Air Keep will be divided into four parts. Each part will begin with an interlude. This is the interlude to Part I]
InterludeJaklah was thinking about water. Filling his mouth. Running down his parched throat. Splashing over his sunburned face and dripping from his hair. Unlike the small supply of warm, dusty liquid sloshing is his waterskin, the water in his imagination was fresh and so cold the very thought of it brought goose bumps to the backs of his arms and cramped his stomach.
Not yet seventeen, he was one of the youngest soldiers in the army, but the drought that had dried up entire rivers and shrunk lakes to little more than ponds was affecting him as much as the older men. His eyes, gritty with dust, hurt every time he blinked. His parched skin itched constantly and his lips cracked until they bled.Marching across clumps of dead grass and weeds so dry they exploded into tiny brown clouds with every step, he let his mind summon up a crystal lake-icy, blue, and endless. He'd stop on the shore, inhaling the deep wet aroma. After smelling the water, he'd stick in just one toe, shivering at how good it felt on skin that hadn't experienced more moisture than could be wrung out of a damp rag in what seemed like forever.He'd wade in far enough to cover the tops of his feet. Then out to his shins. The waves would slosh against his knees. Finally, when he couldn't stand it any longer, he'd throw his hat, tear off his shirt and breeches, and-Caught up in the wonderful vision playing out in his head, he didn't notice the rest of the army coming to a halt around him until he ran face-first into the broad back of a stone statue.Tankum, a curved blade sheathed behind each of his shoulders, didn't so much as turn around as Jaklah collided with him. The stone warrior stood with both feet planted in the baked ground, arms folded across his chest like a boulder that just happened to be in the shape of a man. "Brace yourself."At the warrior's words, Jaklah's heart began to race. Was this it? After weeks of searching, had they finally come across a band of Keepers and their pet snifflers? Or even better, an unmaker-one of the creatures said to come from the mysterious world of shadows? His hand went to the nicked iron sword at his waist as he scanned the terrain.Nothing. Not even the blurring of air and light that was said to signal the presence of the shadow creatures. Why had they stopped? It wasn't until he saw the stone wizards and warriors standing in rows and columns safely apart from one another, the horses hobbled to keep from running, and the men and boys who had joined their army kneeling or lying flat on the ground, that he remembered what time it was. His eyes went to the sky.The sun was almost directly overhead.With a panicked yelp, he dropped to the ground. There were no bushes or rocks to clutch onto, so he dug his fingers into the cracked and broken dirt, hoping that would be enough.For a moment everything was perfectly still, as though Farworld itself was waiting. Then it came, starting as a low rumble in the distance, growing in sound as the stalks of dead grass shook and crumbled to dust, and pebbles rattled and bounced. Jaklah clenched his teeth and closed his eyes.Beneath his hands and knees, the ground rolled, and bucked like a wild stallion, determined to throw its rider and trample it underfoot. Dust filled his nostrils and caked his throat as the world around him shook and roared. Horses whinnied in terror and wagons groaned.He'd experienced these quakes every day for the past six months-the same amount of time it had been since the last rain. But he was still terrified with each one-sure this would be the time when the world opened up and swallowed him.As though hearing his thoughts, the ground gave a final heave, and a sound like rocks being torn apart roared in his ears."Look out!" a soldier screamed. Jaklah's eyes flew open.A split nearly the length of a man across and ten men long had divided the ground not a dozen steps away. Jaklah's friend Theyin stood at its edge, straining to catch his balance. Wheeling his arms, he tried to keep from falling into the great black mouth that had stretched open before him. He wasn't going to make it. Face white with panic, he slowly tilted toward the crevice."Hold on!" Jaklah shouted. "I'm coming."Before he could get to his feet, a flash of stone and steel blurred by him. Jaklah had never seen Tankum run, and it came as a shock to watch the living statue move so quickly that his feet barely touched the ground. Even then, he was going to be too late.Theyin's last shred of balance gave out as he tumbled into the opening. The warrior was only a few steps away, but he would never be able to reach Theyin without falling into the chasm himself."Help!" Theyin cried, spreading his arms as though he might somehow be able to sprout wings and fly to safety.Without slowing at all, Tankum raced to the edge of the crevice, grabbed Theyin's belt in his great stone hand and launched himself into the air."Not possible," Jaklah whispered, his hand going to his mouth. He had no idea how much the stone warrior weighed, but he'd seen the man's footprints leaving indentations in the dirt as deep as his little finger was long. Yet, somehow, with Theyin's full weight in one hand, he bent his stone legs and launched himself over the crevice.One foot crashed onto the edge of the opening, and Jaklah gasped as dirt and rocks crumbled away beneath it, sure man and boy would plummet into the darkness together. But Tankum's momentum carried them forward, and a few seconds later he was setting Theyin gently on the grass as though they'd done nothing more eventful than go for a brisk walk.Jaklah crawled to the edge of the opening and looked down. The crevice was so deep he couldn't see to the bottom. Keeping safely away from the edge, he circled the hole and hurried to his friend's side. "Are you all right?"Theyin sat on the ground, trying to catch his breath, "I'm... not sure." Around them, men were getting to their feet, untying horses, and climbing into wagons or checking their gear. Several of them eyed the break in the ground warily and muttered under their breath.Jaklah reached out and pulled his friend up. "When I saw that crack open, I thought you were-"Theyin held out a hand, cutting off his words. "Don't say it. Don't even think it. I haven't been that scared since..." He ran a hand across his brow. "To tell the truth, I don't think I've ever been that scared."Jaklah pointed to the front of Theyin's rough-woven breeches. "At least you didn't wet yourself. The other soldiers would never let you live that down."Slim chance." Theyin pulled the cork from his waterskin and took a measured sip. "With as little as they give us to drink, my body wouldn't dare spill a drop. There's not enough moisture in me to break a sweat."Forward, march!" Tankum shouted. The statue's feet shook the ground like an aftershock of the quake as he strode forward. Theyin and Jaklah walked a few paces behind him."You think it's true what some of the men are saying?" Theyin asked. "That the land elementals are behind the ground shaking?"Nah." Jaklah had seen Lanctrus-Darnoc, the half-boar, half-fox creature that came out of Land Keep with Marcus and Kyja, and, according to Tankum, helped save Terra ne Staric from the Keepers. "They're on our side."Theyin tried to spit the dust from his tongue, but his mouth was too dry to create enough saliva. "They say the water elementals are on our side too. But they don't seem to care about the fact that folks are dying of thirst."Jaklah didn't know what to say to that. Half the reason he'd joined the army of Terra ne Staric's stone warriors and wizards was because most of the wells in his city had dried up and the soldiers had at least enough water to stay alive. "My heart's still pounding," Theyin said."At least you had something happen," Jaklah muttered, his voice thick with bitterness. He knew it wasn't fair. His friend had nearly died. But the other reason he'd joined up was to get revenge on the Keepers that had stolen the magic from his friends and family for so many years. So far army life had been nothing but day after day of boredom. He kicked at a rock. "Guess we'll never see any action."He'd forgotten Tankum was still there until the warrior turned to look back at him. "That anxious to wet your blade in another man's blood, are you?"Jaklah flushed. "It's not that. It's just... well, what's the point of us being here if we aren't going to fight anyone?"Tankum pulled out one of his long, curved steel blades and ran its keen edge across the tip of his stone thumb. "An army's job is to obey orders. Sometimes those orders mean fighting, to the death, if necessary. Other times they mean keeping violence away by our very presence."Jaklah had never looked at it that way. The warrior had been in many battles. Maybe it was time to do less talking and more listening.The sun was still several hours from the edge of the horizon when Tankum abruptly called the march to a halt. Jaklah looked around. Why were they stopping? They never quit walking before dusk. The other men seemed confused as well.A stone wizard with big ears and an even bigger nose took out his wand. "What is it?"Tankum shook his head. He sniffed the air and put a palm to the ground. "Something's wrong." For the second time that day, Jaklah's hand reached for the hilt of his sword. Following the warrior's example, he smelled the air. There was the faintest scent of something familiar. Despite hot dry air, the smell made him think of the swamp near his home-now turned to hard, cracked ground."Look!" One of the men pointed toward a dark spot in the dirt. Jaklah stepped through the crowd to get a closer look."Is that what I think it is?" Theyin asked. The dark stain on the ground was round and less than a stone's throw across, but it appeared to be growing.Several of the men dropped to their knees and touched it with fingertips. "It is," one of them called out, his eyes wide with surprise. "It's water!"Jaklah rushed forward and flattened the brittle grass, ignoring the way it jabbed his fingers. He touched the dark soil with his palm. It was definitely wet.Two men began digging into the ground, trying to get enough of the brown water to cup in their hands. Even as they did, it became clear it wasn't necessary to dig. Like an unexpected spring, the water bubbled up through the ground, first soaking the dirt, then puddling around the base of the grass.Theyin scooped up a handful and held it to his mouth. "It's cold." He hooted. "And delicious."Soldiers shoved each other to reach the water-cupping it in their hands, soaking pieces of cloth and squeezing them into their mouths, or lapping it straight from the ground. Theyin was right. It was ice cold and despite the grit and dirt, the best thing Jaklah had tasted in weeks.The men started shouting and splashing-wetting their faces and dousing one another. One man dropped his pack and sword, tore off his shirt, and rolled across the ground, giggling like a child.Only the living statues seemed impervious to the water's allure. Unlike the humans, they could neither drink nor eat. Tankum, who had continued to sniff the air, stepped away from the growing pond. "Get back," he growled.When the men failed to respond, he shouted, "On your feet."A few of the man stood, but most of them ignored the warning. "What is it?" Jaklah asked getting up.The warrior suddenly drew his second blade. "Away from the water. Now!" The army of living statues pulled out their wands and weapons.Jaklah's throat was aching for more to drink, but he grabbed Theyin's arm and pulled his friend backward, taking the warrior's advice. About half of the men did so as well. The other half continued to drink despite their commander's orders."Is it the water?" Jaklah asked Tankum. "Is there something wrong with it?"Tankum's jaw clenched, the muscles in his stone arms bulging as he gripped his swords. "Something's... coming."Jaklah looked around. There was nothing as far as he could see. But he did feel something-a tingling in his limbs. The hairs on his arms and legs were standing straight up.Some of the men who had continued drinking must have felt it too. They stood and looked around with confused expressions, before hurrying to join their companions.The ground shuddered under Jaklah's feet. Was it another quake? Usually they happened exactly at mid-day. But once or twice the ground had trembled at other times. But if that was all, why was Tankum holding his swords out before him, a low rumble growing in his throat?The water began gushing faster out of the ground, washing up chunks of grass and clods of dirt. Now all of the men who'd continued to drink began getting up-stumbling through the thick, silty water that had risen to their knees. Only the man who'd pulled off his shirt took no notice- continuing to splash and frolic."Look there." Theyin pointed toward the middle of the pond. Bubbles boiled out of the mud."Get out of the water!" Jaklah screamed. Several of the soldiers started forward, but froze as something thick and brown rose out of the murky liquid. It took Jaklah a moment to realize it was an arm. Could there be a man down there? But it was so big. A man with arms that size would need to be...A second arm emerged, dark as mud and lumpy, as if it wasn't a real man at all, but some kind of monster. Out of the murk rose a head, big as a boulder. Its face was blank, with no sign of eyes, nose, or mouth. And yet Jaklah felt hatred radiating from it so strongly it might as well have been glaring straight at him. The creature climbed out of the water, growing as tall as a man, two men, a small tree.Soldiers yelled out warnings, and for the first time the swimming man seemed to understand something was wrong. He turned, saw the creature towering above him and stumbled backward-straight into another pair of lumpy arms. The shirtless soldier reached for his sword. Before he could remember he'd dropped his weapon, the arms yanked him under the water.Hands began emerging from all over the muddy lake now. Clay giants pulled themselves out of the ground. Ten, a dozen, thirty. Jaklah lost count as he drew out his sword with trembling hands. The golems turned and started toward the army of men and statues.Just before Tankum raised his swords and moved forward to meet the charge he glanced across at Jaklah. "Looks like you'll get your action after all."
If you happen to be in India and need rain, the people of the state of Assam know exactly the thing to do - hold a wedding celebration for two frogs!
The frogs were joined in matrimony in a traditional ceremony in Hengrabari, in the northwestern Indian state of Assam. It wasn't the result of an amphibian romance, however, and neither of the frogs turned into a prince after being kissed.
Instead, it was an attempt to end the dry spell that has hit most parts of Assam over the past months, which has led to severe water shortages.
Because rain is so important to agriculture many of the magical practices of ancient cultures have to do with controlling the weather, especially rainfall. Rain dances were practiced in North America and it is believed that the association of blood with rain inspired the practice of human sacrifice in Central America. One of the largest mass graves ever found at a Central American site dates to a period in which a 50-year draught hit the region, and some scholars have hypothesized that the escalating sacrifices were an attempt to raise enough magical energy to bring rain after years of failing crops.
The tradition in India is not nearly so extreme.
' It's a traditional belief that when a frog marriage is performed, the Barun Devata [the rain-god] is pleased and the rain comes,' former councillor Bijoy Das told The Hindu newspaper.
The wedding of the frogs - male Barun (meaning wind) and female Bijuli (meaning thunder) - was accompanied by all the traditions of Assamese weddings, including songs and gifts presented to the bride.
In my own experience, weather-working is not all that difficult except that to some extent you have to work with what you have available. If there's no moisture in the air the best magician in the world can't make it rain, because as far as I know nobody has yet figured out how to reliably materialize physical substances out of nothing. The probability gradient involved in violating the conservation of mass principle is so steep that I suspect it may actually be impossible.
So what a weather-worker has to do is to first shift the weather patterns over the area he or she wants to affect so that moisture will be present. This can take several days depending on where upper atmospheric air currents are moving and so forth, but it is necessary. Once the conditions are in place you can go ahead and shape the atmosphere into a storm by visualizing how you want the air currents and moisture to flow together.
This usually works for me, but unfortunately the technique is intuitive enough that it is hard to explain. I just open an operant field, visualize what I want, and close it down using only the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. I can do it without the field, too, but it won't work as well. It's easier to cast for a clear day than for rain because it takes less of a shift to send clouds away than it does to summon them, and as a result friends often call upon me to summon clear days for their outdoor events.
So far my track record on weather working is quite good, though I've mostly conjured for clear skies and only tried to summon rain a couple of times. We'll have to wait and see how these frog newlyweds do for the people of Assam.
Source: mysteryvoodoo.blogspot.com
