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By Brock Thompson
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Pisces And Pisces Love Match And Compatibility? Hot Or Not? - pisces and pisces and pisces and pisces
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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.
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.
CHARGE A PACK OF CARDS
This spell is to charge a pack of cards with the power to tell what will be on your future.
Items you will need
A pack of cards(casino,spanish etc)
A wand
Your own altar with a pentagram
CASTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ' CHARGE A PACK OF CARDS'
What the cards mean:
Casino Cards:
Hearts means love
Swords means strength
Flowers means growth
Diamonds means money
Kings,Queens and Jacks means leaderness and richness
Jokers mean friends
Spanish Cards:
Gold means money
Cups means food
Swords means strength
Sticks means nature
Fools means jobs
Kings means leaderness
Examples:
Casino cards: if the queen of hearts is pick up that means love and leaderness, richness
Spanish cards: if the kings of sticks is pick up that means nature and leaderness
Spell Casting:
Put the pack of cards on the pentagram in the altar and point the pack of cards with your wand and say:
'Pack of cards, I need you to say my future and help me on my path of my life.So mote it be'
ELEMENTAL LUCK SPELL
(Kudo's to Rabbitt). Based on Rabbitt's Luck spell.
Items you will need
Pentagram and candles if you need them.
CASTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ' ELEMENTAL LUCK SPELL'
hant the Following outside or near a open window:
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: 'full name' 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.
X4 Repeat, feel free to modify as needed. Thanks again Rabbitt
LUCK TO LOVE
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.
Items you will need
concentration
strong voice
clear conscience
good-natured heart
two people
CASTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ' LUCK TO LOVE'
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:
Luck from one,
Multiply,
Onto two,
Then divide.
Don't take offense,
It's already done.
It won't last long,
Though it's just begun.
Soon yours will lessen,
And ours will rise,
But in the end,
It will compromise.
Turn luck to love,
Until he/she learns.
As a selfless being,
His/her luck shall return.
By the power of the(whatever element you favor most), let it be so!
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.
US AuctionsAustralian AuctionsAustrian AuctionsBelgian AuctionsCanadian AuctionsFrench AuctionsGerman AuctionsIndian AuctionsIrish AuctionsItalian AuctionsDutch AuctionsSpanish AuctionsSwiss AuctionsUK Auctions
PROSPERITY WICCAN SPELL RING MONEY WEALTH LUCK FORTUNE AMBITION GENEROSITY
US 19.51
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Reference: my-spiritual-path.blogspot.com
When is a "natural talent" 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.
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.
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 (Ps. 139:13-14).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 "fearfully and wonderfully made." 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.
Excerpted from "Gifts of Love" (unpublished mss.)
"By DagoodS"
(Title by Voltaire)
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.
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.
If you are guilty of using this claim in a debate, you can save your breath and your fingers.
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.
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.
As pride had nothing to do with my transformation of beliefs, a person telling me that "It is because you were too proud" 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.
"You have been brainwashed to believe in a God. If you would only stop being brainwashed, you would see that there is no God."
Not very convincing, is it? Then why use the same, unconvincing tactic on others?
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 (if that) 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 "God" 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?
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?
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?
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.
My brother and I snuck into "Cannonball Run "and thought we had gotten away with murder! Then came the Video Cassette Recorder......
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.
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.
At first blush, "you have pride, therefore do not believe in my god" 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, "It is not pride" the first response is, "Sad. Too proud to see his pride." If I fail to protest, it confirms the statement.
At second blush, the statement, "you have pride and therefore do not believe in my god" is preaching to the choir. The only ones buying it are the ones that agree with that particular God.
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! "You guys are great for doing what you are doing. Those guys (who aren't here and can't hear me) are bad for not being here." Makes the audience so happy (dare I say "proud"?) to pat themselves on the back for being so holy. And no harm, because the unholy ones didn't even hear it.
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?
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.
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.
Yes, I know. But your God-belief is the correct one. After which I immediately hear Billions of voices shouting, "No, MY belief is the correct one." We have to do better than merely assertion. We have to do better than merely, "God says so."
A question that always pops in my head is, "Proud of what? My thinking? My humanity?" We hear the phrase, "Atheists think they know more than God," or "You worship your mind," or "You have faith in your brain," none of which is accurate.
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.
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.
Most atheists that I converse with are humanitarians. I do not run across "I think better than you, so I AM better than you" 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.
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.
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.
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 "proud" 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.
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.
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.
Am I proud of my humanity? I see a miscommunication here. Often theists (and I was certainly taught this way) 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.
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 (as near as I can tell) and certainly one atheist (that I can confirm) do not see the world this way.
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 "The human is the greatest evolved creature" it is most likely from a creationist. Not an evolutionist. In "some" 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.
Can humans process thought better than most creatures? It would appear so. Doesn't make us "better." 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.
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.
There is no pride in eliminating one's "grand significance."
So why is "pride" 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?
Finally, on a personal note, I was happy as a Christian. I liked God, and I figured God would (hopefully) 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.
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.
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 "let go and let God." 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.
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.
Credit: alchemy-and-alchemists.blogspot.com
Get The Best Yoga Guidelines At Yoga Divinity
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.
The Bon Practice
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.
Buddhism In Tibet
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.
Suppose Yoga
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.
Earn Dreaming
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.
The Accomplished Completness
Dzogchen Buddhism embodies the living being of the Bn tradition. '"Mindnature"' is every one the starting tapering off and the entity of practice. Mindnature is always commit in all beings regardless of '"samsara,"' 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.
Mesh Clever
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 '"rigpa,"' 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.
Correspondence Of Bn Vs. Buddhism Suppose Yoga
"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."
Sunrise seen from inside the elf church
Last December 22, the Associated Press posted a story titled "Iceland's Hidden Elves Delay Road Project." 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 "elf advocates" was leading the protests because the construction was invading an area inhabited by elves and containing an elf church.
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 "Highway In Iceland May Be Sidetracked By Elves" (it seems that we're now capitalizing prepositions) and illustrated it with an image of Liv Tyler as Arwen from "The Lord of the Rings". 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.
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.
"
Altar of the holy place of the elves
Icelandic media immediately challenged the reporting of Jenna Gottlieb, the author of the Associated Press news item. The Reykjav'ik Grapevine" ran a story declaring "Environmentalists Not Elf Lobby," 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 "cobbling together quotes from notable figures." Colleagues of mine in Iceland told me that, for instance, Gottlieb's quotes from University of Iceland's Prof. Terry Gunnell were "old and taken out of context." In the United States, "The Wire" ran a story summarizing the response: "Iceland's 'Elf Lobby' Isn't Real, According to Icelanders."
The AP story quoted two sentences about elves from Iceland's Ragnhildur J'onsd'ottir and referred to her as "a self-proclaimed 'seer.'" This was pounced on by writers who struck out against Gottlieb's article. "Icelandic Review Online" called Ragnhildur her a "self-confessed elf believer" in an article asking "How Stupid are the Icelandic People? The Wire" singled her out for ridicule in their coverage without bothering to mention her name; they simply and nastily wrote of "loony elf 'seers' trying to stop construction of a road being built."
All of this is a bit strange. The fundamental premise of the original AP story is that "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." However, Gottlieb does not quote any "elf advocate" involved in the protest - except for the two sentences from Ragnhildur.
In its response, "Icelandic Review Online" simply states, "The story is false" - but didn't seem to have bothered contacting Ragnhildur for her input. "The Wire", while criticizing Gottlieb's journalistic methods, shows no sign that it conducted a single interview of its own; the piece was written by "cobbling together quotes" just as much as the AP story was. "The Reykjav'ik Grapevine" - the originator of the "cobbling together" accusation - likewise created its response by sticking together existing quotes (including a Facebook status update) instead of doing any original interviews.
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 "Icelandic Review Online" refer to a Jewish demonstrator as a "self-confessed Yahweh believer"? Would "The Wire" refer to a Muslim protestor as "loony" and put "imam" in sarcastic quotation marks?
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A light-elf in the G'algahraun lava field
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" (summer solstice ceremony) of the 'Asatr'uarf'elagid ("AEsir Faith Fellowship") in 2010. As Iceland's leading elf specialist, she leads elf walks through 'Alfagardurinn ("elf garden") in Hafnarfj"ordur and creates original art based on her contact with the elves. I wrote about her public work when covering a 2012 "Elf Kerfuffle in Iceland" that also involved road construction and elf habitats.
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:
December 25, 2013
Hello and thank you, Karl Erik.
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.
The elves (with me as their speaker in the human world) 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.
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.
Best elf wishes to you and thank your interest. Thank you for all you are doing.
- RagnhildurI told her that I would like to post her letter, and she was gracious enough to agree. The next day, however, she wrote:
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:
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 (holy place). They are going to move one known elf church (more like a chapel) 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 (Green Hill) is also being saved.
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 [i.e., the shoulder] is made narrower.
Anyway, wanted to tell you this. Thank you for your interest in this, Karl.
Best wishes,
RagnhildurShe sent another update this week:
February 25, 2014
I have heard from the man Magn'us at Vegagerdi (Road Administration). 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.
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.
February 26, 2014 Hello Karl, I am sending you two photos from the sacred place in G'algahraun lava field.
This first one shows the new road. In front to the left is 'Ofeigskirkja. It is an "elf chapel," 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.
- 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 "after" 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.
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 (to use a tired but apt phrase) 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.
