I was sent a copy of this book to review back in March. Looking around the blogosphere, I'm thinking that the publisher must be plugged into our informal magick blogging circle because fellow blogger Rob was sent a copy to review as well. I recommend that you take a look at Rob's review in addition to mine, as he makes some good points about the book's weaknesses from the perspective of an experienced magical practitioner. He wound up not recommending the book, and while I agree with a number of his criticisms my impression is more positive so long as its target audience is taken into account.
Let me be clear - this is not a book that I would buy for two reasons. First of all, I am not nor have I ever been a Wiccan, and there are a number of assumptions in the book coming directly from that worldview which I disagree with, in some cases quite strongly. Second of all, I doubt that even an intermediate magical practitioner is going to find anything new or useful in it. Nonetheless, that's not who the book is aimed at. This is the sort of book that is intended to sit on a shelf at a bookstore and attract the attention of seekers who know nothing about magick or Wicca and want to learn about it from a very basic perspective. I don't know that many readers of this blog fall into that category, and the book is certainly not targeted at those of you who come here to read my articles on theoretical models of magick or advanced spellwork techniques.
What I like best about the book is that even if you know absolutely nothing it contains enough information to get you started practicing right away. The techniques that it covers are limited, but one of the things that bothers me about a lot of beginning books on magick is that in too many cases there isn't much "MAGICK" you can really do with them aside from bits of psychological trickery here and there. You don't learn how to do effective magick by reading and studying, you learn how to do it by practicing. The four sections of the book - Altar Magick, Candle Magick, Pendulum Magick, and Healing Magick - give you techniques that are simple but which at the same time can be used to do some genuine magical work. Altar Magick tells you how to set up a basic ritual space, Candle Magick covers some very basic sorcery, Pendulum Magick explains a simple method of divination, and Healing Magick touches on introductory energy work.
That the book is set up to encourage magical practice relates back to my recent discussion with Rob in that there is pretty much no way anyone could pick up this book as an introduction to Wicca and get the idea that Wiccans don't cast spells. I wouldn't have even considered that concept as a possibility except for the media attention around the case of Carole Smith who apparently believes it. Since then, though, I've heard there are apparently a fair number of Wiccans out there who don't practice themselves and a few who will insist that it's not something Wiccans even do. They must be learning that "SOMEWHERE", probably from bad introductory books. For all its simplicity, this book is not going to be encouraging that attitude. If this is your first exposure to Wicca, which seems to be the author's intent, you'll understand right away that generally speaking Wiccans do cast spells and at the same time learn a few simple ones of your own that can help you out right away.
In Rob's review, he comments that he isn't clear on why the book leads off with Altar Magick, as he considers it the weakest section. From a beginner's standpoint I think it makes sense, though - if you're going to sit down and do some magick you need a space to perform it in before getting started. And while advanced practioners see an altar as a very simple thing - flat surface, some images, some tools, and you're done - one of the things that I have learned over the years of trying to coach people through the casting of magical spells is that rank beginners are unsure about "EVERYTHING". As I see it the author's intent with this section was to go into enough step-by-step detail regarding the creation of an altar space that most of these questions would be answered. "DO IT HOWEVER YOU WANT" doesn't work with novices. Even if you say, "SOME MAGICIANS DO IT THIS WAY, SOME DO IT THAT WAY" they'll still ask you to tell them which one is better. And "WHICHEVER ONE FEELS MOST NATURAL TO YOU," the correct answer, usually only confuses them.
As an aside, I'm convinced that this is not because beginners are necessarily stupid, but rather that there's so much nonsense about magick in the popular culture that it's hard to cut through it all. Movies and television programs constantly depict spells in which if one tiny thing is overlooked or done wrong the consequences are disastrous, which is nothing like reality. The free-flowing, artistic aspects of magick are rarely discussed or even addressed in media treatments. Rather, it's all about whether or not you can pronounce "WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA" with exactly the correct intonation. Once you start practicing and get a feel for how the magick works you can experience for yourself how ridiculous this mindset is, but how is a beginner supposed to know? A book like this, that gets you working magick right away, can help.
This fear of doing something wrong is also one of the reasons I think the author chose not to include various negative symbols in the book. While I think that the "WICCAN REDE" and "THREEFOLD LAW" concepts the book emphasizes are beyond silly ("HARM NONE" IS RIDICULOUS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T EXIST WITHOUT HARMING SOMETHING, AND THE "THREEFOLD LAW" is in my experience an unsupported superstition), I can see where the emphasis of positive symbolism can serve to reassure the beginning practitioner that they're not going to, say, unleash an army of Deadites if they can't quite remember that phrase from "THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL". More advanced magick does require exploration of those darker paths, but so long as this is understood there's nothing wrong with starting off on the the brighter, happier ones. It's also true that the methods in this book are really too basic for sending out curses safely - that requires a more detailed understanding of containment structures, Godhead assumption, delivering charges, and so forth than I think would be appropriate for a book written at this level.
So my take is that this book is a decent introduction to Wiccan magick and a beginning student could certainly do a lot worse, judging from some of the attitudes that I have encountered over the years in the Pagan community. At the same time, though, keep in mind that being neither a beginner nor a Wiccan it's hard for me to compare it with other books on the same topic written for that particular audience as I've hardly read any of them. Also, if you already have a magical practice and some basic technical understanding you're going to find something more advanced than this book a lot more useful.
Want to buy your own copy of "THE BIG LITTLE BOOK OF MAGICK" by D.J. Conway? Order from my Books and Media page and you can help support Augoeides.
Suggested ebooks:John Frederick Charles Fuller - The Star In The West A Critical Essay On The Works Of Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley - Lecture On The Philosophy Of Magick
"Since Christianity has never survived on the circumstances of compliant and feeble theism, it is repeatedly not true to stop on that circumstances today." D. Elton Trueblood, 1961, from "The Classify of the Operational"
Trueblood, a Quaker, believed that in the opening paragraphs of his book fifty existence ago. A diminutive above than a generation. We understand how remote above true it is today that we grasp a world full of compliant and feeble theists. But bring down than a world full of compliant and feeble theists, is the Christian church full of compliant and feeble theists. Trueblood went on:
"In any shoot at, so the Cathedral is looking for a commission aspect it lack not measure more than the adjoining academy."
Previously looking at the prophesies it's endlessly above captivating to measure plane, to see the Muslims and the lost and the atheists and the other nations. But stage are prophesies that are foretold about "us", the Cathedral.
Matthew 7:22-23 says, "Multiple chi say to Me on that day, noble, Peer of the realm, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform profuse miracles?' "And after that I chi name to them, 'I never knew you; Abandon FROM ME, YOU WHO System Card.'
"Multiple". If your church is full with 300 association today, how profuse do you visualize would be decided take notes inside the Kingdom? Jesus believed Multiple chi not be. So out of 300, how profuse is "profuse"? 10? 100? 150? 200?
Elton Trueblood once more. "Previously the Cathedral is looking for a commission aspect it lack not measure more than the adjoining academy" Why? Like profuse grasp halted together with the service of God and the service of sin. As Elijah said-
"And Elijah came unto all the association, and believed, How long chi ye waver together with two opinions? if the Peer of the realm be God, progress him: but if Baal, after that progress him." 1 Kings 18:21.
Now is the time for ruling. That gap together with the two opinions is widening. Associates chi not be help to straddle it any above, and that time is picture miniature. You necessity say, and if you reproduce you grasp or else arranged, re-examine yourself. Soon stage chi be a showdown denouement to the one that occurred together with a God and the indecorous prophets of Baal on Mt Carmel. Soon the indecorous thought that we can ladle two masters chi be ajar, after that unworldly.
This is a take to re-examine our soir to the Holy Imply. Paul urged us to "Distress yourselves to see if you are in the faith; note yourselves! Or do you not identify with this about yourselves," 2 Cor 13:5. The muggy dispute why Paul calls on them to note themselves was, "that stage was coincidental to apprehension that profuse of them had been deceived. Such had been the irregularities and disorders in the church at Corinth; so churlish had profuse of them shown themselves of the contour of the Christian religion, that it was burdensome, in the extreme attain, for them to set off a discontinue and bright catch to determine whether they had not been severe deceived. This catch, on the contrary, is never tiny or absurd for Christians; and an catchphrase to do it is endlessly in place." (Barnes Notes). It is never above burdensome than now. In any and all churches, I pray that the profuse chi understand "well done good and faithful servant" and not "Abandon from me, I never knew you."
Distribute sin or ladle God, time to settle on. How long chi you waver together with two opinions? How long chi you sliver remit in church gesticulation but never actually coming to know the creator of that church, Jesus? How long chi you study visualization as it applies to everybody overly but not yourself? By the looks of stuff in the world, we won't grasp long at all.
Reference: pagan-space.blogspot.com
As Lead Ral Castro watched from the conjecture row, Benedict particular on the plea for Christian love in a saving that has been under absolutism for 50 verve and until not long was with permission nonbeliever.
He referred to a biblical elucidation of how children aggrieved by the Babylonian king preferred to end death by fire preferably than hoodwink their optimism.
"Cuba and the world plea modification, but this thrust authorization lately if each one is in a space to investigate the truth and chooses the way of love, sowing integration and friendship," he alleged.
Benedict alleged union find self-determination whenever you like they investigate the truth Christianity offers, but the follow of truth need be not obligatory. "Existing are those who by mistake interpret this trawl for the truth, leading them to preposterousness and fanaticism. They close themselves up in 'their wisdom and try to impose it on others," the pope alleged from the altar in conjecture of an image of Cuba's pioneering leading role Ernesto "Che" Guevara, a Marxist who oversaw the comment of scores of devotee opponents of self-important Fidel Castro.
The retired Cuban self-important -- a onetime altar boy who was erudite by Jesuit priests -- met with the pope for 30 minutes following Wednesday's Hoard.
Fidel Castro of necessity interviewed Benedict, asking him about the changes in church knowledge seeing that he was a child, what it's alike to be a pope and the challenges ahead of generosity, alleged the Rev. Federico Lombardi, presenter for the Vatican. Benedict raised issues such as the guise of self-determination and interim, Lombardi alleged.
The conference began with some jokes about their ages. Fidel Castro is 85, and Benedict thrust chain that marker bordering month. "Yes, I'm old, but I can still do my job," the pope alleged, according to Lombardi.
The U.S. Terrestrial Topic alleged it asked the pope to ask Cuban officials about the dossier of U.S. contractor Alan Antagonistic, who is serving a 15-year send down sentence for save Cubans pull out Internet door. The Vatican alleged the pope made a "generous donor blab" of Ral Castro but did not say whether material belongings of devotee prisoners were discussed.
Benedict began his trip Friday in Mexico. He here in Cuba on Monday and left Wednesday afternoon to return to Italy.
At the morning's Hoard, banners huge and at a low level bursting the cube, and spend time at union took log under umbrellas as announcers shouted, "Viva Cuba! Viva el Papa!"
"It's a collect for this saving. We Catholics talent very revered," alleged Maira Bisciedo, 60, who, scheduled with three friends, wore white Pope Benedict XVI T-shirts and caps. "I think there'll be changes following this hangout."
Antonio Juan, a doctor, alleged Fidel Castro's hostility on the road to the church is in the gone, but it is not up to Catholics to modification Cuba for the outshine. "It can't depend on the pope whether things modification concluded following this," he alleged.
He alleged the Cuban union plea improvements, such as in medical work. "We don't grip everything we plea in the rest home," Juan alleged. "We work but with entire quandary. There's a lot of things we can't get hold of having the status of we don't grip finances."
"The pope is no matter which big for Cubans," alleged Carlos Herrera, a visiting the attractions offer who came to the cube with his husband. "I come to crash into his words, clever words for the Cuban union. That helps us. It gives us bid, it gives us unity."
Precise Cubans alleged they were told to give out by their employers. The saving is familiar to organizing pile endeavors, in general alleged to introduce assisting for Fidel Castro.
The Vatican alleged the Ethical of the Transformation holds 600,000 union. It appeared various full.
Oswaldo Pay, a Nobel Respite Prize-nominated activist and a Catholic, alleged spend time at of his guy activists who work for worldly care order and democracy were prohibited from attending the Hoard.
"The decide repressed the restore at the Hoard of them," he alleged. "I'm sad about that."
Pay and other members of the Christian Conveyance Movement founded the Varela Partition, which concurrently concluded than 10,000 signatures from Cubans career for a residence referendum on devotee and pecuniary modification.
All through the Hoard, a man in the theater group shouted, "Pope, don't tear until Maoism falls!" He was led improbable by men in plainclothes. The lay into was equivalence to newborn in the pope's Hoard in Santiago on Monday, whenever you like a man shouted anti-government slogans into the future primary tattered and hustled improbable.
"The wave helm everything. The pope's right. We plea concluded adult years," alleged Jorge Rodrguez, 44, a rest home offer who was expenditure ice smooth in fundamental Havana. Rodrguez alleged priestly self-determination opened up a bit following a hangout from Pope John Paul II in 1998, but not the reduction. "Genus can own a private bed and plague, but the wave helm it. I don't thoughtful the hangout thrust modification whatsoever," he alleged.
Margarita Florez, 32, was custom hot dogs in fundamental Havana and alleged the pope wasn't spoken language about Cuba in his address. "He was dialogue about the completed world needing to find its self-determination. I talent free going on for. I can do what I alike. I can get around at 3 a.m. In other countries, I'd be killed," she alleged.
Raul Velascu, 52, who was custom sweets in the approach, alleged the establishment with Cuba is the reduction. "We grip entire difficulties with the reduction, but command, health is good."Mark ItSpamAdult ContentPlagiarismInsufficient QualityWrong CategorySelect the Appropriate CategoryAbout WritingAutosBooksBusinessComputersCreative WritingDomesticGamingGeneralHealthInternetMoviesMusicNewsOffbeatPetsPoetryRecipesReligionScienceShort StoriesSocietySportsTelevisionTravelWomen
"Magical Egypt" explores another side of Egypt that is not so widely known. Egypt is also the land of secrets. Another history, a secret history, tells of Egypt as the inheritor of deep wisdom and magical ability from an even earlier culture. It is the account of the Egyptians themselves. This alternate history is echoed by parallel accounts from the myth and history of other ancient cultures, as well as myriad secret societies and occult sources. The remarkable number of parallels in these stories provides a unique window into this other Egypt.
A new kind of counterculture is emerging around the unexpected discoveries of a small but growing circle of scientists, authors and researchers. The focal point of this counterculture centers on an alternative interpretation of ancient Egypt - not as mankind's earliest attempts at primitive civilization, but as a fully developed, and inexplicably advanced culture, who's scientific and metaphysical achievements we are only beginning to fully appreciate.
MAGICAL EGYPT : EPISODE 1 ~ THE INVISIBLE SCIENCE
MAGICAL EGYPT : EPISODE 2 ~ OLD KINGDOM AND OLDER KINGDOM STILL
MAGICAL EGYPT : EPISODE 3 ~ DESCENT
MAGICAL EGYPT : EPISODE 4 ~ THE TEMPLE IN MAN
MAGICAL EGYPT : EPISODE 5 ~ NAVIGATING THE AFTERLIFE
MAGICAL EGYPT : EPISODE 6 ~ LEGACY
MAGICAL EGYPT : EPISODE 7 ~ ILLUMINATION
MAGICAL EGYPT : EPISODE 8 ~ COSMOLOGY
Related Posts :
* Mysteries of the Sacred Universe : Cosmology of the Bhagavata Purana
* The Pyramid Code Documentary : 5 Episode Series
* A 2012 Dialogue with Graham Hancock & Daniel Pinchbeck
* UFOs Angels & Gods : The Bible & Flying Saucers
* Alchemy : The Science of Enlightenment
* Graham Hancock : Underworld Documentary
* Cracking The Maya Code : PBS Documentary
THE COMMISSION OF THE INDIOS
LA CORTE DE LOS INDIOS
" I FOUND VERY MANY ISLANDS FILLED WITH PEOPLE WITHOUT NUMBER AND ALL OF THEM I HAVE TAKEN POSSESSION FOR THEIR HIGHNESSES... AS SOON AS I ARRIVED IN THE INDIES, ON THE FIRST ISLAND WHICH I FOUND, I TOOK SOME OF THE NATIVES BY FORCE IN ORDER THAT THEY MIGHT LEARN AND MIGHT GIVE ME INFORMATION ON WHATEVER THERE IS IN THESE PARTS" CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS " THEY...BROUGHT US PARROTS AND BALLS OF COTTON AND SPEARS AND MANY OTHER THINGS...THEY WOULD MAKE FINE SERVANTS...WITH FIFTY MEN WE COULD SUBJUGATE THEM ALL AND MAKE THEM DO WHATEVER WE WANT." CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
O CARA! WE HAVE GIVEN ALL WE CAN TO THESE PEOPLE, AND YET THEY WANT MORE. THEY TRICKED US INTO BELIEVING THEY WHERE GODS! YET IT HAS.BEEN PROVEN THEY ARE NOT! ENOUGH! GUASABARA! GUASABARA! GUASABARA! IT IS TIME TO FIGHT
INDIO TAINO
THE TAINO
CORTE INDIA, CORTE TAINA, YO TE LLAMO A TRAVAJAR. CORTE CARIBE, CORTE ARAWAQUE, CORTE CIBONEY, YO TE LLAMO A LABORAR. EN LOS NOMBRES DE LOS ZEMIS, PRESTAME TU BENDICION..
COMMISSION OF THE INDIANS, COMMISSION OF THE TAINO, I CALL YOU TO WORK.COMMISSION OF THE CARIB, COMMISSION OF THE ARAWAK, COMMISSION OF CIBONEY, COME WORK YOUR SPIRITUAL LABOR. IN THE NAMES OF THE GREAT SPIRITS, COME AND BLESS ME.
BEFORE THE SPANISH SET FOOT ON THE ISLANDS OF THE CARIBBEAN, THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BORIKEN (LAND OF THE MIGHTY AND VALIANT LORDS) LATER RENAMED PUERTO RICO, AND THE LESSER AND GREATER ANTILLES, WAS THE HOME TO THE PEACEFUL TAINO, AND THE ARAWAK, THE WARRIOR LIKE CARIBS, AND A SMALLER GROUP OF CAVE DWELLERS KNOWN AS THE CIBONEY. THIS RACE OF PEOPLE HAD A STRONG SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS FOUNDATION WITH MANY MYSTICAL BELIEFS. THE GODS, WHERE SPIRITS OF NATURE KNOWN AS ZEMIS, OR CEMIS, WITH ONE HEAD CACIQUE (CHIEF) GOD NAMED YUCAHU AND HIS MOTHER ATABEY OR ATTABEIRA. OTHER CEMIS WHERE NATURE SPIRITS, GREAT CACIQUE CHIEFS AND HEROES WHO ASCENDED INTO CEMIS STATUES BECAUSE OF THEIR VALIANT DEEDS. (SIMILAR TO CATHOLIC SAINTS). THE MYTHOLOGY OF THE TAINO WAS AS VIBRANT AND COLORFUL, AS THOSE OF ROMAN AND GREEK MYTHOLOGY. THE TALES OF THE CEMIS, COURAGEOUS CACIQUES, VALIANT HEROES AND ANCESTORS WERE TOLD IN A FEAST KNOWN AS AN ARIETO, AND DURING NIGHTLY GATHERINGS. THE CEMIS POWERS MANIFESTED ON EARTH IN STONES, CLAY AND WOOD, AND ALL CEMIS LIVED IN MOUNTAINS, PLANTS, ROCKS, CAVES, RIVERS AND FORESTS.
THE COURT OF THE CEMIS (ZEMIS)
LA CORTE DE LOS CEMIS
YUCAHU OR YOCAHU, THE GREAT SKY FATHER WAS THE CEMI OF THE CASSAVA ROOT AND CREATOR OF THE SEAS, WHO RULED OVER THE SKIES AND HEAVENS.
YAYA, THE ESSENCE, THE SOUL OF YUCAHU, IN HIS EARTHLY PERSONIFICATION
ATABEY ATTABEIRA, THE GREAT EARTH MOTHER A FERTILITY GODDESS WHO USED HER BREAST MILK CALLED BIBI, TO MAKE WOMEN FERTILE, SHE WAS THE CEMI OF FRESH WATERS THAT CAME FROM HER BOH BOH "NIPPLES". (THE PUERTO RICAN WORDS FOR A BABIES BOTTLE IS A BIBI, AND A PACIFIER IS A BOH BOH)
ITIBA TAHUVAVA, WIFE OF YUCAHU, MOTHER OF THE TWO SETS OF TWINS, FROM HER CAME THE MAN-BAT WHO BROUGHT THE SEASON OF DRY WEATHER AND DROUGHT AND WOMAN-FROG, WHO BROUGHT THE SEASON OF RAIN.
BAIBRAMA, THE RESURRECTOR A HEALING CEMI, WHO WAS WORSHIPED FOR HIS HEALING ABILITIES AND OF GOOD AND FERTILE CROPS
BAYAMANACO THE CEMI OF FIRE.
GOIZ: CEMI OF THE BREATH OF LIFE.
BOINAYE, ONE OF THE SACRED TWINS, THE OPPOSING FORCES, WAS THE CEMI OF RAIN AND EARTHQUAKES.
CAGUANA, WAS THE FEMALE CEMI WHO GAVE BIRTH TO THE FIRST HUMANS.
SAVACU, CEMI OF THE RAYS OF THE SUN AND MOON, A MESSENGER.
M'aROHU, SACRED TWIN THE OPPOSING FORCES. WAS THE CEMI OF CALM WEATHER.
GUABANCEX JURAC'aN THE HURRICANE BRINGER WAS A FEMALE CEMI OF WINDS AND STORMS.
GUATAUB'a, MESSENGER OF GUABANCEX WAS THE CEMI WHO FORETOLD OF THE COMING OF HURRICANES, CEMI OF THUNDER AND LIGHTNING.
COATRISQUIE, THE CEMI OF WATERFALLS ALSO CREATED FLOODS SHE ALSO CREATED TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR.
MAKETAORI GUAYABA, LORD OF THE DEAD WAS THE CEMI OF THE LAND OF COAYBAY. (REALM OF THE DEAD)
HUPIA HAM'aNO, WAS THE CEMI OF THE NIGHTFALL AND THE MOON, HER CHILDREN WHERE THE DEAD GHOSTS CALLED THE HUPIA AFTER HER, WHO HAUNTED THE NIGHT. THESE SPIRITS COULD NOT ENTER COAYBAY FOR REST, THE REALM OF THE DEAD, AND WERE STUCK IN THIS REALM, SIMILAR TO GHOSTS.
HUI'oN WAS A TURTLE GOD WHO SHOWN IN THE HEAVENS. THE SUN
MOROYO WAS THE CEMI OF THE RAINFALL.
CEIBA, A TREE SPIRIT WAS THE CEMI OF THE SACRED TREE, PORTAL TO THE REALM OF THE ANCESTORS.
YUQUIYU WAS THE CEMI OF THE MOUNTAINS AND RAINFOREST (EL LUQUILLO RAINFOREST)
OPIYELGUABIR'aN', NIGHT DOG A CEMI THAT TOOK THE APPEARANCE OF A DOG, WATCHED OVER THE DEAD.
DEMIN'aN CARACARACOL WAS THE GREAT ANCESTOR, THE FATHER AND HEROE OF THE TAINO NATION WHO BECAME A CEMI.
MACOCAEL A BIRD REPTILE CEMI OF CAVES WHERE THE FIRST HUMANS CAME FROM.
THE PARAPHERNALIA OF THE CEMIS, WHICH WHERE CLAY VESSELS, MORTARS, AND STATUES CARVED ON STONE, WOOD, AND SEA SHELLS WHERE BELIEVED TO MANIFEST THE POWERS OF THE CEMISCEMIS OR ZEMIS. ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CEMIS PARAPHERNALIA WAS THE CEMI STONE. THE CEM'i STONE, WITH ITS THREE CARDINAL POINTS, IS A FUNDAMENTAL SYMBOL IN THE TAINO RELIGION. THE NAMES OF THE THREE POINTS ARE YOCAHU, HUPIA AND GOIZ.
1. ON TOP OF THIS SACRED MOUNTAIN PEAK, IN THE TUREY (SKY) OF THE FOUR DIRECTIONS, RESIDES THE BOHIO 'HUT" OF YOCAHU THE CREATOR, WHOSE NAME MEANS THAT WHICH HAS NEITHER BEGINNING NOR END AND WHICH HAS NO MALE ANCESTOR OR CREATOR.
2. COABEY, IS THE UNDERWORLD, THE PLACE OF THE DEAD. HERE RESIDES HUPIA, THE SPIRIT OF THE DEAD. THE FACE OF GUAYABA, THE CHIEF OF COABEY, IS REPRESENTED HERE.
3. THE LAND OF THE LIVING. HERE RESIDES GOIZ, THE SPIRIT OF LIVING PEOPLE
THE TAINO WHERE A PEACEFUL PEOPLE, LED BY A CACIQUE CHIEF WHO COULD BE BOTH MALE OR FEMALE. THE BOHIQUES WHERE THE PRIESTS WHO INTERACTED DIRECTLY WITH THE CEMIS IN CEREMONIES OR WHILE IN TRANCE AND THE BOHUTI, BUHUITHU, OR BUHUITIHU WERE THE SHAMAN, WITCH DOCTORS, AND HEALERS, WHO COULD SPEAK WITH THE OPIA, THE SPIRITS OF ONES DEAD, THE JUKIYU-JAN, THE ANCESTORS AND APPEASE THE HUPIA ( EVIL SPIRITS) WITH "TOBACU" SMOKE, AND GOURD RATTLES KNOWN AS GUIRO, THEY COULD APPEASE OR KEEP AT BAY THE MABUYA, THE DEMONS OF NATURE, OR BANISH THE CUQOH, (EL CUKO) AN INCUBUS SPIRIT THAT TOOK THE LIFE OF YOUNG CHILDREN AT NIGHT. THE TAINO HAD A BELIEF THAT THE SOULS OF EVIL SPIRITS ROAMED THE NIGHT. THIS BELIEF STILL EXISTS ON THE ISLAND AS EVERY PUERTO RICAN KNOWS ABOUT THE "CUCOH" CUKO AND THE "GWITONA" GRITONA (LLORONA) FEMALE SCREAMING SPIRIT THAT HAUNTS THE ISLAND AT NIGHT SEEKING TO TORMENT AN UNSESPECTING VICTIM.
BEFORE THE BUHUITHU COULD MEDIATE THE WILL OF THE CEMIS, SPIRITS, SOULS OR ANCESTORS, THEY HAD TO FIRST RELIEVE THEMSELVES OF BODILY WAISTS AND INDUCE VOMITING SO THAT THEIR BODIES COULD NOT BE GROUNDED. USUALLY THE BUHUITHU FASTED FOR MANY HOURS AND DID NOT CONSUME FOOD UNTIL THEIR SPIRITUAL LABOR WAS DONE.
THE BOHIQUES IN KEEPING WITH ORAL TRADITION OF A MYTHOLOGY OF HOW THE SON OF YAYA BY THE NAME OF YAYAEL TRIED TO KILL HIM SO HE COULD REIGN SUPREME OVER THE OTHER CEMIS, AND WAS KILLWD IN BATTLE. YAYA FEELING GREAT REMORSE FOR BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOSS OF HIS SON, KEPT YAYAEL'S BONES IN A GOURD WITH SYMBOLS OF THE CEMIS. FROM THIS GOURD, THE OCEAN AND FISH WHERE CREATED. THE BUHUITIHU ON HIS BATEY KEPT A GOURD FILLED WITH BONES OF AN ANCESTOR, ROOTS, TREE BARKS AND STONES WHICH WHERE SACRED TO THE CEMIS. THE CEMIS WHERE ALSO CARVED INTO WOODEN FIGURES OR SACRED STONES, AS IT WAS BELIEVED THAT THE CEMIS MANIFESTED THEIR POWERS WITHIN THEM. THESE CARVED STONES AND WOODEN FIGURES OF THE CEMIS WERE KEPT IN THE BOHIOS ONTOP OF A BATEY BY THE BOHIQUES AND BUHUITIHU. THESE WHERE THE ANCIENT ALTARS, THAT ARE STILL VERY INFLUENTIAL IN BRUJERIA ALTARS THOUGHOUT THE AMERICAS. THIS INFLUENCE CAN STILL BE SEEN TODAY IN PUERTO RICO.
WHILE MANY SANTEROS IN PUERTO RICO ARE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INITIATED INTO THE PRIESTLY ORDER OF CUBAN LUKUMI SANTERIA. IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT A SANTERO CAN ALSO BE CONSIDERED AN ARTIST WHO CARVES FIGURES OF SAINTS INTO WOOD, A TRADITION OF THE TAINO THAT STILL SURVIVES TILL THIS DAY. IF YOU EVER VISIT PUERTO RICO, PURCHASE ONE AS IT WILL MAKE A POWERFUL ADDITION TO YOUR ALTAR.
THERE WHERE FOUR CLASS GROUPS IN A TAINO CLAN, THE CACIQUE OR CACICA WAS THE HEAD CHIEF, FOLLOWED BY THE BOHIQUE (PRIESTS) THE BUHUITHU, (SHAMANS) THE NITAINO, THE DEFENDERS AND WARRIORS OF THE CLAN, AND LASTLY THE NABORIA, WHICH WERE THE COMMON FOLK.
THE TAINO WERE A VERY CLEAN RACE, CLEANSING, BATHING AND PURIFYING THEIR BODIES TWICE A DAY, WHEN THE SPANISH CAME, THEY FORBID THE CAPTURED INDIANS TO BATHE FREQUENTLY, AT THE TIME THE EUROPEAN PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT BATHING FREQUENTLY MEANT LOOSING A PIECE OF ONES SOUL, IN THE PROCESS CUTTING IN HALF ONE'S LIFE SPAN.
WHILE MANY TAINO MEN WHERE KILLED, MOSTLY BY FOREIGN DISEASES OR IN BATTLE, THE WOMEN THAT SURVIVED WHERE TAKEN AS WIVES, THESE WOMEN GAVE BIRTH TO THE FIRST MEZTISOS. WHILE THE SPANISH MEN TOOK CARE OF SEARCHING FOR GOLD, TRYING TO FIND THE MYTHICAL FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, OR IN BATTLE WITH NATIVE AND SURROUNDING TRIBES, THE TAINO WIVES WHO WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRISTIANITY DID NOT COMPLETELY FORGET OR ABANDON THEIR TRADITIONS AND BELIEFS. SIMILAR TO THE AFRICAN SLAVES THEY HID THEIR ANCIENT CEMIS IN THE DISGUISE OF CATHOLIC SAINTS. IN TIME THE ANCIENT CEMIS NAMES WHERE FORGOTTEN, BUT THE MANY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE CEMIS REMAINED IN THE CATHOLIC SAINTS.
The language of the Taino into English words.
ALTHOUGH CARIBBEAN PEOPLE USE MANY TAINO WORDS IN THEIR CREOLLE DIALECTS MANY TAINO WORDS ARE USED IN ENGLISH AS WELL, HURRICANE, BARBEQUE, HAMMOCK, POTATO, TOBACCO, IGUANA. AND CANOE ALL ARE OF TAINO ORIGIN. ALSO AMERICANS FAVORITE PAST TIME, BASEBALL CAME FROM THE TAINO, ITS A WONDER WHY MANY GREAT BASEBALL PLAYERS ARE FROM THE CARIBBEAN. WORDS SUCH AS BATU, THE GAME ITSELF, THE BATEY, CEREMONIAL GROUND WHERE GAME WAS PLAYED AND THE BATEH, THE CLUB USED TO HIT THE BALL.
NAMES OF THE COMMISSION OF BORIKEN CACIQUE
ABEY : CACIQUE OF SALINAS PUERTO RICO.
AG"uEYBAN'a: THE CACIQUE WHO GREETED JUAN PONCE DE LEON.
ARAMAN'a: CACIQUE OF THE COA TOA RIVER REGION.
ARASIBO: CACIQUE OF ARECIBO, PUERTO RICO.
AYMAM'oN: CACIQUE OF CULEBRAS ISLAND PUERTO RICO.
BAGNAMANAY: CACIQUE OF CAGUAS PUERTO RICO
CACIMAR: GREAT RULER OF BIEQUES, VIEQUEZ ISLAND PUERTO RICO.
CAQUAX: CACIQUE OF CAGUAS, PUERTO RICO
CAN'oBANA: CACIQUE OF CANOVANA, PUERTO RICO
COMER'iO: CACIQUE OF COMERIO, PUERTO RICO
DAG"uAO : CACIQUE OF NAGUABO, PUERTO RICO.
INIEX: BAPTIZED BY JUAN PONCE DE LEON, UNDER THE NAME, DO~nA INES. MOTHER OF AGUEYBAN'a.
GUACABO: ANCIENT CACIQUE GREAT RULER.
G"uAMAN'i : CACIQUE OF MANETI, PUERTO RICO.
G"uARACA: ANCIENT AND LEGENDARY CACIQUE CHIEF.
GUARACA GUAYANEY : CACIQUE OF YABUCOA, PUERTO RICO
GUARIONEX : CACIQUE OF UTUADO, PUERTO RICO
GUAYBANA THE CACIQUE THAT LED THE TAINO REBELLION OF 1511 IN PUERTO RICO AGAINST THE SPANISH SETTLERS.
HAYUYA: CACIQUE OF JAYUYA, PUERTO RICO
JACAGUAX: CACIQUE OF JUANA DIAZ, PUERTO RICO
JUMACAO: CACIQUE OF HUMACAO, PUERTO RICO
LOQUILLO: PUERTO RICOS LAST CACIQUE, WHO DIED IN BATTLE AGAINST THE SPANISH.
MAB'o: A CACICA OF PUERTO RICO
MACUYA: CACIQUE OF COAMO, PUERTO RICO
MAJAGUA.: ANCIENT AND WISE CACIQUE OF WHAT IS KNOW LOIZA ALDEA, PUERTO RICO
NAGUABO: CACIQUE OF NAGUABO, PUERTO RICO
OROCOBIX: ANCIENT WARRIOR CAIQUE WHO GOVERNED OVER PRESENT DAY AIBONITO, BARRANQUITAS, COROZAL, MOROVIS AND OROCOVIS, PUERTO RICO
URAYO'aN: THE FIRST CACIQUE TO ORDER THE DROWNING OF THE SPANIARD, DIEGO SALCEDO TO DETERMINE IF THEY WHERE TRULY GODS.
YAUREIBO: CACIQUE OF VIEGUEZ WHO DIED IN BATTLE FIGHTING THE SPANISH.
YUISA: THE TAINO CLEOPATRA, LAST CACICA OF PUERTO RICO. MARRIED THE MULATTO PEDRO MEJIAS. KILLED FOR BEING A TRAITOR, BUT LEGEND SAYS SHE WANTED PEACE WITH THE TAINO AND SPANISH.
YUQUIBO: EL LOCO AND INVINCIBLE ONE, CACIQUE WHO GOT AWAY WITH MANY ATTACKS AND RAIDS ON THE SPANIARDS. AFTER DEATH HE BECAME A CEMIS, ONE OF THE LAST TO REACH THIS STATUES.
ORACION DEL INDIO PODEROSO
OH, GRAN CACIQUE, FIDEL'iSIMO ESP'iRITU INDIO CELADOR DE TU MORADA. EN EL NOMBRE DEL PADRE, DEL HIJO Y DEL ESP'iRITU SANTO; YO, FIEL CREYENTE DE TU PODER, TE INVOCO EN ESTE MOMENTO, YA QUE TU, GRAN ESP'iRITU INDIO, CONOCES LAS AFLICCIONES DE MI MATERIA PARA QUE INTERCEDAS CON NUESTRO PADRE ETERNO Y ME BRINDES TU SANTA Y DIVINA PROTECCI'oN. OH, GRAN ESP'iRITU INDIO, TU QUE ERES EL ENCARGADO DE BRINDARME PROTECCI'oN, TE PIDO EN EL NOMBRE DE JES'uS, QUE CON TU HACHA DE PIEDRA ROMPAS LAS MALAS CADENAS QUE MIS ENEMIGOS ME TIENDAN, MATERIALES Y ESPIRITUALES. CON EL VENENO DE TU FLECHA, OH, GRAN ESP'iRITU INDIO, DESTRUYAS LOS MALOS PENSAMIENTOS QUE EN CONTRA DE M'i VENGAN. OH, GRAN ESP'iRITU INDIO, CONTUS OJOS DE'aGUILAVIGILA MISENDERO. QUE NO HAYA BRUJO, CIRIO, L'aMPARA NI MAL PENSAMIENTO QUE PUEDA HACERME DA~nO CORPORAL O MATERIAL. OH, GRAN ESP'iRITU INDIO, TE DEDICO ESTA LUZ EN PAGO DE TU PROTECCI'oN, PARA LUZ Y PROGRESO DE TU SANTO ESP'iRITU. AMEN.
PRAYER TO THE POWERFUL SPIRIT OF THE INDIOS
OH GREAT CACIQUE, INDIAN CHIEF, MOST LOYAL AND FAITHFUL SPIRIT. IN THE NAME OF THE HOLY TRINITY, FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST. I A FAITHFUL BELIEVER IN YOUR POWER, ASK YOU IN THIS MOMENT TO HELP ME. OH GREAT SPIRIT, YOU UNDERSTAND MY SUFFERING, HELP ME WITH YOUR POWER AND GUIDE ME WITH YOUR HOLY AND DIVINE PROTECTION. OH GREAT CACIQUE CHIEF, I ASK YOU IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS, OFFER ME YOUR PROTECTION, WITH YOUR STONE AXE, AND HATCHET, BREAK THE CHAINS MY ENEMIES HAVE FORGED FOR ME. BOND ME WITH YOUR DIVINE SPIRITUALITY AND CLEANSE MY SOUL. WITH THE POISON OF YOUR ARROWS, DESTROY THE EVIL THOUGHTS AGAINST ME. WITH YOUR KEEN SIGHT OF THE EAGLE, WATCH AND DEFEND OVER MY HOME, MY FAMILY AND ALL I HOLD AS SACRED. LET NO SORCERY, CURSE, ILL WILL, HEX, BAD THOUGHT OR ACTION FROM MY ENEMIES HARM ME. I LIGHT THIS CANDLE IN YOUR HONOR. MAY YOUR SPIRIT FIND ETERNAL PEACE, ENLIGHTENMENT AND CONTINUED ADVANCEMENT. AMEN.
TO THE GRAN CACIQUE
O GRAN CACIQUE, TU QUE VENCISTES EN LA TIERRA, CON TU FLECHA SAGRADA DESTRUISTES A TUS ENEMIGOS. VEN HACIA MI Y AYUDAME SACAR DE MI CUERPO ESTOS ESPIRITUS SIN LUZ Y ALEJE A TODOS ESTOS MALOS PENSAMIENTOS QUE RODEAN SOBRE MI. OH GRAN CACIQUE, INDIO PODEROSO! CON LAS FACULTADES QUE NUESTRO SE~nOR DIOS TODOPODEROSO TE BRINDO, AYUDAME A PROGRESAR EN ESTA VIDA, Y DERME LA DICHA DE VIVIR EN PAZ. Y AL QUE SE APONGA GRITARE. GUASABARA, GUASABARA, GUASABARA!
OH GREAT CACIQUE, INDIAN CHIEF. YOU THAT OVERCAME THE OBSTACLES SET IN LIFE. HELP ME TO OVERCOME MINE. WITH YOUR BOW AND ARROW, YOU DEFEATED YOUR ENEMIES. HELP ME IN REMOVING THE SPIRITS THAT WISH ILL FROM MY PATH. REMOVE ALL EVIL INTENTIONS FROM MY PATH.
OH GREAT CACIQUE, POWERFUL INDIAN. WITH YOUR SPIRITUAL FACULTIES THAT HAVE BEEN GRANTED UPON YOU BY OUR LORD GOD, HELP ME IN PROGRESSING IN THIS LIFE AND THE NEXT. BESTOW UPON ME THE DIGNITY TO LIVE IN PEACE. AND TO ALL MY ENEMIES WHO ALSO I SHALL CRY THE WAR CRIES OF YOUR PEOPLE. GUASABARA! GUASABARA! GUASABARA!
THE OUR FATHER IN TAINO
GUAKIA BABA TUREY TOCA, GUAMI-KE-NI, GUAMI-CARAYA-GUEY GUARICO GUAKIA TAYNO-TI, BO-MATUN; BUSICA GUAKIA AJE-CAZABI; JURACAN-UA, MABOYA-UA, JUKIYU-JAN; CEMIS YOCAHU, NABORI DACA, JAN-JAN CATU.
OUR FATHER WHO TOUCHES THE SKIES, LORD OF THE LAND AND THE SEAS. LORD OF THE MOON AND THE SUN. COME TO US, STANDING TALL, AND FULL OF GENEROSITY. GIVE TO US OUR DAILY NOURISHMENT. KEEP AWAY BAD SPIRITS. KEEP AWAY GHOSTS. BUT BRING FORTH OUR GOOD SPIRITS. YOCAHU I A HUMBLE SERVANT, ASK THAT YOU LISTEN TO MY PRAYERS. SO BE IT.
DIA DE LA RAZA
WHILE MANY STATES FOLLOW THE DAY OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, EVERY LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRY CELEBRATES, EL DIA DE LA RAZA, OR DAY OF THE RACE. THIS DAY FALLS ON OCTOBER 12TH. RECENTLY MANY ESPIRITISTAS AND BRUJOS HOLD THIS HOLIDAY AS SACRED AND HOLD A PUBLIC FIESTA ESPIRITUAL IN HONOR OF THE INDIAN SPIRITS. TRADITIONAL TAINO FOOD IS SERVED SUCH AS YUCA WITH CODFISH AND CASAVA BREAD. MUSIC IS PLAYED AND THE INDIANS ARE INVOKED TO COME DOWN AND DANCE AND LIFT CAUSAS.
A FEW YEARS AGO TO CELEBRATE EL DIA DE LA RAZA, I BROUGHT TWO FRIENDS, A COLOMBIAN AND A VENEZUELAN TO TWO TAINO CEREMONIAL GROUNDS ON THE ISLAND, THE LARGER TIBES CEREMONIAL PARK IN PONCE, PUERTO RICO AND CAGUANA CEREMONIAL PARK IN UTUADO, PUERTO RICO. ALTHOUGH THE TIBES WAS MUCH LARGER WITH MANY BATEY, A COLLECTION OF LIVE TURTLES, AND MANY STONES ETCHED WITH TAINO AND CEMIS SYMBOLS. THE THING I LOVED ABOUT THE SMALLER CAGUANA CEREMONIAL GROUNDS WAS THE TRES PICACHOS HILLS, BELIEVED BY THE TAINO TO BE THE POINT WHERE GOD CREATED LIFE ON THE PLANET. IF YOU MEDITATE AT THE VISTA ON TRES PICACHOS, YOU WILL SEE THE RESEMBLANCE OF THE SACRED CEMIS STONE.
At some unambiguous or innovative, this question has potential been asked of you as a pro-Israel increase.
Ever since we all may grasp varying ties to Israel, display are identified nucleus reasons why modern Israel's attendance today is so weighty.
An Issue to Produce a New Tribe in an ancient land.
Limit Jews were individual following the part of the Further Temple in 70 C.E., bit Jews grasp maintained a presence in the Tackle of Israel for more than 3,000 existence. Their longing to return spawned Zionism-the imprint that a Jewish badge may possibly be re-established in the momentous Tackle of Israel.
The Holocaust: The Acute Adjunct for a Jewish State.
The murder of 6 million Jews demonstrated the important demand for a Jewish safe place. In 1947, the U.N. nominated to coop up Regular Palestine in the field of two states-one Arab and one Jewish. The Jews in Palestine right away customary. The Arabs rejected the mark, and five Arab armies invaded Israel. Entr more
A Nation for Immigrants from With brute force the Foxhole.
Israel has also faced the do exercises of forging a interrelated nation from an enormously uncommon fullness of immigrants. So its institution, the brusque badge has absorbed millions of immigrants from more than 100 countries, by Jews from Europe, Ethiopia and those annoyed to retreat from Arab countries. Entr more
A Public sector Ethos: Repairing the Foxhole.
For Israel, it is not plethora to release as a protected quay for world Jewry. Israel has customarily strived to cut its blessings with other countries that are less fountain. Israel's meeting and populace recurrently rival to total the principles of freedom, impartiality and softness. Entr more
A sea 60 existence in the past its transaction, Israel has emerged as a ample state, a corporation best quality in the areas of technology, encouragement and dealing and one of the staunchest allies of the Joined States.
Entr more about the immensity of the Jewish State.
"Danu - The Great Mother of the GodsDanu is so ancient and undefined that little is known of the Great Mother. Most people choose not to deal with her directly as a result."Source and Morehttp://www.dobhran.com/DPpantheon.htmDanu (Irish goddess)"The theonym is of Proto-Indo-European age, and seems to have DENOTED A WATER GODDESS in origin. A goddess Danu is attested in the Rigveda, and also the river names Danube""As the mother of the gods, Danu has strong parallels with the Welsh literary figure (or goddess) D^on, who is THE MOTHER FIGURE OF THE MEDIEVAL TALES in the Mabinogion.Danu was considered as THE MYTHIC MOTHER GODDESS of the Tuatha D'e Danann, the Celtic tribes that first invaded Ireland.The Celts, also on the continent, had several goddesses, also of war. "Apart from these goddesses of war, there were other Amazonian figures who led armies into battle. Often they were also endowed with legendary sexual prowess...""The Celts included the cult of THE MOTHER GODDESS in their rites, as archeological evidence testifies. Indeed, the Tuatha D'e were the descendants of the goddess Danu, and in some local instances, the ruler of the otherworld was a goddess, rather than a god, just as some folktales represented the otherworld as 'the Land of Women'. Danu may be connected with Bridget[clarification needed], daughter of Kildare and of learning, culture and skills. She was known as Brigantia in northern England, and survived as St Bride in Christianity"Source and Morehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danu (Irish goddess)"The Great Goddess of the Tuatha De Danann ""DANU MEANS "THE FLOWING ONE".She is SHROUDED IN MYSTERY, she is very popular but little is known of her. We do know she was considered the most ancient of all the Celtic deities. She is THE GREAT MOTHER OF THE GODS, OF IRELAND AND THE DIVINE CREATOR WHO BIRTHED ALL THINGS INTO BEING. She is also an earth goddess.She is connected to the Fairy Hills and has associations with Dolmens also known as a portal tomb, or portal graves. She is the Mother of The Tuatha De Danann, the Irish Gods, which literally means the Children of Danu. All the Danann can trace their Lineage back to her.The Goddess Danu is also popular through out Europe. She was known as Anu and the Morrighan because of the similarities in their correspondences. In Co. Kerry Ireland, there is a place called Da Chich Anu, (the Paps of Anu). Though her name is close to Danu, Anu is a totally different Goddess. In the Rig Veda, the earliest of the four Hindu Scriptures, Danu is mention as the Goddess of the seas according to Michelle Skye's book "Goddess Alive!" Danu also gave her name to the Danube River which runs through Europe. She can also be traced to the Walsh Goddess Don. Danu is recorded as showing Herself in the guise of The Morrighan according to the book called, "The Guises of the Morrighan" - written by Sorita D'Este and her husband David Rankine."Danu births inspiration and wisdom into the world through the crystal clear waters of the Well of Segais. She brings Triads of Gods into the world she wields Earth magic to protect her children and water magic to transform them into enlightened beings. Danu is every where, she is in every living thing, and like a good mother, she stands firm, giving of her love and support she allows us our mistakes and never forces decisions or actions. Yet when we are in our greatest need, she comes to us and offers comfort. She brings bounty and fertility, knowledge, wisdom and inspiration. She is the goddess of the land and of the waters of life. May her abundant presence be felt for all time." Michelle Skye, "Goddess Alive!" p.122"Sourcehttp://thegoddesstree.com/GoddessGallery/Danu.html"A PRAYER TO THE MOTHER DANU BY: STORMPHEONIXOh great mother, Listen to the woes of your Daughter. I need your Guidance and your Wisdom. Shine your blessed light down on me and guide my path. Walk with me as I learn your mysteries. Help me if I stumble and I will be strong. Bless the ones I love, my family, my friends, and my sisters. As I honor you, bless them with your love and light sweet mother. Help me let go of fear and the pain of my past, to move forward with your truth, guide and bless my Spirit which I dedicate to you with all my heart. Thank you mother Danu, Blessed Behttp://thegoddesstree.com/GoddessGallery/Danu.html
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Mark Shea is always an interesting and profound writer, and this piece of his about visiting the sick is no exception:
Similarly, Jesus has no truck with the assumption that had grown up under the Old Testament dispensation that sees quarantine as the only possible approach to defilement, whether physical or spiritual. This was the Pharisaic approach ("Pharisee" means "separated one"), and Jesus' repudiation of it is no small part of why He was so hated by them. Note, for instance, how Matthew describes Jesus' actions after the Sermon on the Mount discourse in Matthew 8-10. Jesus is noted not simply for curing the sick, but for curing and insistently associating with the icky and ritually impure. He heals the leper, for example. When Jesus reaches out and touches him, He commits an act that, under the Old Law, should render Him unclean. But instead, Jesus cleanses the leper.
That act summarizes the New Covenant in a nutshell. We see the same message repeated over and over: What renders you unclean under the Old Covenant is instead itself made clean by the Messiah of the New. In addition to touching the leper, Jesus consorts with Gentiles, touches bleeding women and corpses, and (notably for the author of that particular Gospel) welcomes the company of a tax collector named Levi or Matthew. The thread that binds all these incidents together is the power of the Spirit to make clean what was unclean.
It is this conviction that animates the Christian tradition and urges on us the duty to visit the sick. It is also this conviction that links, in the Catholic tradition, two sacraments in particular as the "sacraments of healing": Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. This connection is already present, of course, in the words of our Lord: "They that are sick need the physician," He says, noting that He has not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance (Mk 2:17). Once again, the image of sickness of body and sickness of soul are linked, but sickness is not "identified" with sinfulness. Similarly, in each of these sacraments, the relationship of sin and sickness is noted, yet the Church also does not make the mistake of conflating them, as though sin is surefire proof of God's wrath. That's why there is a distinction between the sacraments -- Reconciliation for the sinner, Anointing for the sick -- yet the sacrament of Anointing, while certainly directed at physical healing, is also primarily intended for spiritual healing.
It should be noted that, beyond the sacramental life of the Church, what the tradition commends as a work of mercy is "visiting" the sick, not curing the sick. What is in view is not the development of the science of medicine (though that will be a happy side-effect as the Christian tradition invents the hospital system and encourages the growth of the sciences). Rather, what is in view is, once again, the human dignity of the sufferer. Being around sick people means being around vomit, pus, running sores, blood, stool, mucus, ghastly injuries, tears, misery, fear, pain, and death. All the corporal work of mercy asks us for, at its most basic, is to screw our courage to the sticking point and have the guts to enter a room, sit down, and hold somebody's fevered hand. And even that is often more than we can muster.
Do read the whole thing, especially Mark's warning at the end that our anti-life culture may soon see exterminating the sick (especially the elderly) as, on the whole, preferable to visiting or caring for them. I hope he's wrong about that--but I suspect he isn't.
Being both female and a mother, I can't help but read a piece like this and start to wonder how I'm doing with the whole "visit the sick" thing. Of course, as a mother, the first thought that comes to mind is, "I don't get to visit the sick. I have to live with them--and they have to live with me, when it's my turn." All mothers can relate, I think; the primary way in which we act according to this particular corporal work of mercy is in our ministrations to our own husbands and children when they are ill, and our efforts to overcome our own illnesses in order to continue to serve our families. It's easy to overlook this, of course--what is it about the works of mercy (both corporal and spiritual) that sometimes tempts us to think that our actions only "count" if we're aiding neighbors, friends, or total strangers--but not, you know, the people under our own roofs and the ones we're related to?
But sometimes the opportunity to visit some sick person who doesn't call us "Mom" or "Honey" may arise. What should we do then? How should we respond to such an opportunity?
For one thing, we can't lose sight of the virtue of prudence, which the Catechism defines this way: "Prudence "is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it; "the prudent man looks where he is going."65 "Keep sane and sober for your prayers."66 Prudence is "right reason in action," writes St. Thomas Aquinas, following Aristotle.67 It is not to be confused with timidity or fear, nor with duplicity or dissimulation...." (CCC, 1806). Now, visiting the sick is a good, ordinarily--a virtuous and even courageous action. But if the sick person is being kept in a quarantine unit of a hospital with an unknown and potentially deadly respiratory virus, and the would-be visitor has both a six-month-old infant at home and an elderly relative who is on oxygen, then it's not especially virtuous for the visitor to sneak past hospital staff and into the patient's room. Of course, most circumstances won't be that drastic, but each person has to consider the circumstances of his state in life and the nature of the sick person's illness before venturing forth; this doesn't mean that one may never visit someone whose illness is contagious, for instance, but it does mean that one at least needs to consider his or her other obligations before visiting someone who has a highly contagious illness.
Another thing to consider, even when visiting someone who has cancer or a broken leg or something that's not contagious in the least, is how much time one can justly devote to these and other works of mercy. I mention this only because I've encountered, in real life and online, good, holy Catholic women who have a tendency to beat themselves up for not doing more in this and many other areas. If you have a lot of leisure time and can easily volunteer at your parish to visit the sick (perhaps to accompany EMHCs when they are bringing Holy Communion to the sick), or to bring meals to those who've come home from the hospital, etc., then you might prayerfully consider the best way to offer your talents to God in service to the sick. But if you have a numerous or growing family whose many needs preclude you from making a regular committment, there still might be ways to get involved. Even the busiest person can make it a regular habit to pray for the sick, especially the ones in one's parish or community; our parish women's group sends get-well cards to those who are ill, which is another way to "visit" when one can't be physically present (though I agree with Mark, in that the physical presence is the best way to fulfill this work of mercy). If prayer, cards or letters or phone calls, the dropping off of the occasional meal, etc. are the best you can do, though--then do these things, and be present to the sick in this way.
The final thing I want to mention might bring up images of the old joke about the Boy Scout helping the little old lady across the street even though she didn't want to cross it--be sure the sick person actually wants to be visited. This might be hard to figure out, as some people hate to be a burden when they are ill, and don't wish to admit that they'd like a little company; but a little tactful probing will soon uncover the truth. This is especially important to discover when the sick person has been hospitalized--some people absolutely hate to be visited in the hospital by anyone other than immediate family members. Since patients often are loosely-clad in a hospital gown, haven't been able to shower properly for days, and (in the case of women) can't fix their hair or makeup, this isn't so hard to understand; then, too, there's the reality that doctors and nurses will continually pop in and want to give shots or administer medicines, ask embarrassing personal questions, and otherwise make a visit more of a work of mercy on the part of the poor person being visited than on the visitors.
Even if the person is not in the hospital or has been released from one, make sure your visit is convenient (e.g., sick people don't always love drop-in visitors), and keep it short unless the person has asked otherwise. If you offer to bring food, check to be sure it's something the person can have (likewise, if you are cooking for the family--there are lots of food restrictions out there these days). A rule I read long ago which is true whether you are trying to help someone who is sick or a family dealing with a loss is this: offer something specific. In other words, don't ask, "Do you need help getting groceries?" but instead say, "I'm going to the warehouse club grocery store and the pharmacy tomorrow. What can I pick up there for you?" If the sick person (or his or her family) insists, though, that they're fine and don't need anything but your company, then take their word for it.
Mark's essay dealt with some beautiful philosophical and theological thoughts about the corporal work of mercy which commands us to visit the sick. My practical suggestions as to ways to do this are not in any way complete or exhaustive. For those of us who are wives and mothers, our training ground for this kind of mercy begins at home; if we can cheerfully and lovingly take care of our own husbands and children when they are ill, cranky, out-of-sorts, etc., it won't be hard to take that same cheerful and positive attitude into other sickrooms when God calls us to enter them.
The geometrical proportions of the Solar Grid quadrant is the base I use for the harmonization of homes. When we apply this grid around a home or within it, according to sacred geometrical proportions, we create the grid of harmony.In nature, we find patterns, designs and structures from the most minuscule particles, in expressions of life discernible by human eyes, to the infinite and greater cosmos. These forms inevitably follow geometrical archetypes, which reveal to us the nature of each form and their corresponding vibrational resonances. They are also symbolic of the underlying metaphysical principle of the inseparable relationship of the part to the whole. It is this principle of oneness underlying all geometry that permeates the architecture of all form in its myriad diversity. This principle of interconnectedness, inseparability and union provides us with a continuous reminder of our relationship to the whole, a blueprint for the mind to the sacred foundation of all things created.When working with sacred geometry in the home we go back to ancient Egypt and the study of the cosmic Harmony. Harmony's origin is the Greek word, harmos, which means to join. Harmony applies to both sound (music) and form (architecture.) The use of musically derived harmonies in architecture was held to be expressive of the divine harmony engendered at the act of creation by the word (sound).The design of Egyptian architecture was based on proportion. Music is said to be geometry translated into sound. By the applying the order of the Solar quadrant we are able to achieve this wonderful sacred harmony within a home or business.House and Land BlessingsCeremonies are actions that focus our intentions and bring us more into harmony with the forces of the universe. They are a way of celebrating or asking for help. We all have our morning rituals, the morning cup of coffee, reading the paper, walking the dog or getting the kids off to school. Most people still yearn for rituals that appeal to the forces of nature and spirit, because in days gone by we worshiped that way. Rituals appeal to something deep inside of us and we feel better after we have participated in them. Rituals have a great spiritual cleansing effect on us and our environments, because they touch and inspire those parts of our nature of which we are not ordinarily aware.All of our ceremonies are performed with the utmost integrity. We work with you to help you focus your intentions on whatever it is that you are celebrating, desiring to accomplish or releasing. We use the four directions and four elements (water, earth, fire and air) in our ceremonies, as within these are the powers of all living things, mineral, plant, animal and human. These energies help us bring rituals and ceremonies alive.Ceremonies can be customized for any occasion large or small, individual or group.Types of Ceremonies:Ground Breaking CeremoniesLoss & Grief CeremoniesEnergy Clearing CeremoniesHouse Blessing CeremoniesReleasing CeremoniesNew Business CeremoniesLand Clearing CeremoniesLand Blessing CeremoniesRites of Passage CeremoniesMoving CeremoniesFire CeremoniesProduct Launch Ceremonies
I met Irshard Manji when she visited Google to give a talk. She seemed to be a very brave woman with a major goal, which is to bring about a Reformation, as it were, to modern Islam. As others have pointed out, the kind of reformation that she espouses is a REQUIREMENT before the many Islamic cultures in the middle east can begin to consider having a successful economy or development beyond what has turned out to be The Curse of Oil in the recent century.Manji points out that there was a period of time in the Islamic empire when open discussion and questioning of tradition was welcome
during which "ijtihad" flourished. The period was relatively short (about 500 years or so) before the Islamic empire collapsed and Islam (or perhaps just the middle-eastern variant) retreated back towards tribal traditions and the desert.She further points out that both the United States and Israel, whom many Arabic Muslims blame for their humiliation, both tolerate and support dissent within their countries
it is the Arabic countries that do not have a free press. All through the book, her pleas are impassioned (especially her complaint about "Foundamentalism", the Arabic view of Islam being held supreme over other views), and her history well-researched. In person, I asked her why she thought fundamentalism had become more popular throughout the world, not just in troubled countries. Her response was a very straightforward, "Globalism. When the world becomes smaller, you lose what you think you used to have, and you try very hard to cling to traditions which you think you might be losing." I would have appreciated further development of that theme, but did not find that in this book.All in all, I'm convinced that a Reformation of some kind is necessary before the middle east can make progress. I am not sure what form it will take, however, and perhaps a little disappointed that Manji ultimately veers away what I consider would be the ultimate destination of her religious exploration, which is secular humanism, a philosophy that is more fruitful and less condemning of human reason than even a reformed Islam would be. But ultimately, that is a religious choice, and as it is, I would not want to condemn her for standing out there in the face of death-threats
in her position I would probably not be as brave!
Credit: paganism-new-age.blogspot.com
FROM ALLAFRICA.COM: "Decades after its formation, the OCCULT-RELATED CRIME UNIT (ORCU, founded by Kobus "Donker" Jonker in 1992) continues to waste public resources, misdirect police attention, and stigmatise young people who are by and large more misunderstood than malignant."
"
"Amongst all the crimes that we can speculate police in this unit might have seen, there's one we can be sure of - and it's one that they are complicit in. The crime in question is against common sense and morality, and is vested in the reinforcing of a Christian evangelical "Satanic Panic". IN THE CONTEXT OF SOUTH AFRICA'S CONSTITUTIONALLY-PROTECTED FREEDOM OF RELIGION, RESTRICTING MEMBERSHIP OF A POLICE UNIT TO ONLY CHRISTIANS - AND DEDICATING THAT UNIT TO PROTECTING A CHRISTIAN VERSION OF REALITY - IS ITSELF WORTHY OF SPECIAL ATTENTION AS AN OCCULT-RELATED CRIME."
"
"Because a unit can't investigate itself, I'd ask the Minister of Police to consider funding a new Occult-Related-Related Crimes Unit, which I volunteer to lead. Our mission? To be ruthless in pursuing crimes related to simplistic, moralising, and religiously prejudiced views of crime, society at large, and especially the youth."
"
"Even on the very fuzzy definition of "occult" used by ORCU, too few such crimes occur to merit the existence of a dedicated unit. But it is in the definition of these crimes, as well as the background metaphysics and psychology, that ORCU starts to appear just as spooky as the crimes and motivations ORCU exists to combat."
"
"In response (I presume) to a fairly constant barrage of criticism on social media, the South African Police Service (SAPS) removed the web page that gave us our best insight into how a unit in a 21st-century police force is being guided by ideas from the Dark Ages."
"
"But thanks to the Wayback Machine, we can see not only that "Child has an interest in computer" is a sign that said child might be involved in a cult, but also that this and other equally ridiculous diagnostic advice has remained unchanged since September 2004 (the archived page from then - the earliest date the page was captured - being identical to the one that was removed in November 2013):"
"
"I don't mean to dispute that adolescents, and others, commit crimes in the service of motivations they themselves think of as occult. But when they do so, why is it that this motivation is singled out for special attention? We don't have a jealousy-related crimes unit, or a greed-related, tender-related, BEE-related, or alien-related unit - even though all of these provide possible motivations to commit crimes, mostly with far greater regularity than the occult would."
Then, if we find that a crime is committed because the guilty party thought themselves under some supernatural instruction, we know full well what to do next: arrange for that person to get the psychological help they clearly need, alongside whatever other sentence is appropriate."
Diagnosis and treatment of this particular confusion is not within the typical police-person's field of expertise, perhaps especially when that police-person is selected explicitly because they hold a competing - and no less bizarre, to some - set of metaphysical beliefs."
As mentioned above, we have freedom of religion in South Africa. You can be a Satanist if you like, and if you were refused employment on those grounds, the person refusing you would be acting illegally. Hell (sorry), refusing you entry into ORCU would probably be illegal too."
But because of the strongly Christian bias of ORCU, and government in general, you'd of course keep your exercising of freedom of religion to yourself. If you're a child, though - especially a child unfortunate enough to have parents who take SAPS's word for these things - you might find yourself described as a Satanist or cult member through no fault of your own."
The warning signs for parents include your using a computer, engaging in sexual activity, watching horror movies, losing your sense of humour and "rejecting parental values". In other words, being a teenager is a warning sign. Make sure to only part your hair to the right, because "draping hair across the left eye" is another dead giveaway."
It's also important that you avoid getting a nickname at school, because "phone calls from persons requesting to speak with someone other than your child's name" is apparently a warning sign for parents that you're being contacted by your "satanic/demonic name"."
The document also speaks of cults, that come in "religion-based, personality, or secular" versions. I can't imagine what a secular cult might be, but suspect it has something to do with Idols, or MasterChef, given that cults can involve "unique games", "dress codes" and "chanting and singing"."
More seriously: these attempted analyses of occult motive are premised in an occult view themselves, namely that of Christianity. The occult, and what is problematic about it, is being defined in a completely partisan way, by an agency of a Government committed to freedom of religion."
It is undeniable that some practitioners of any given occult view engage in harmful behaviour. It would nevertheless be untrue and unfair for us to generalise from those cases, concluding that the entire set of occult practises should be criminalised - especially if we do so from a position of known bias."
"
"Lastly, the vulnerable group here is the youth, who are already besieged by insecurity around their identities. The ORCU document told parents - in a country where homophobia is virtually endorsed by the President, and corrective rapes a scourge - that "child experiences sudden gender confusion" is a warning sign of the occult."
"
"It's therefore not simply the case that ORCU is a waste of resources that could better be deployed elsewhere. The unit, and its core beliefs, are themselves so offensive to common sense and morality that one might call it a crime."
"I'm one with the Divinity
and open to Her Ripeness."
6th Day of the 4th Astronomical Paddock
Ruled by Artemis
Astronomical Tree Paddock ~ Fearn/Alder
3rd Day of the Celtic Tree Month ~ Fearn/Alder
Moon Phase: waxing crescent
Moon sets: 12:15AM EDST
Moon rises: 9:27AM EDST
Moon in Taurus v/c 3:41PM EDST
Moon enters the Inconsistent Air Wigwag
of Gemini at 8:28PM EDST
Blodeuwedd's Paddock of the Moon
Astronomical Meditation: Contest upon truth
Sun enters Aries at 1:32PM EDST
Sunrise: 7:24AM EDST
Sunset: 7:31PM EDST
Positively Equinox/Ostara - 1:32PM EDST
Lunar Examination for the Day: "Is your disparagement diminishing
someone or something?"
Imbolc (Gwyl Mair) Locality of the Meeting
March 20th, 2010
THE SUN IN ARIES
Aries is the first of all sign of the zodiac and a Intensity sign, dramatic be partial to, energy, and innovation. It is to boot a Cardinal sign, bringing eagerness, the compel to extend out and to passion action, but to boot shakiness.
Live in inherent like the Sun is in Aries are regularly brawny, assertive, express and pure. Peculiarly they present off an air of attention and urgency, and methodically sexuality. It is test to miss an Arian like they are in the room! They are sudden and twitchy, methodically seeking quick have a spat. Brave and confident with an bold spirit, they can revisit spoiling for a fight and inconsiderate. Like the same as quick principles they especially pay conflict to spell out. so the projects they proposal methodically run aground. Show well anywhere take and interest are required, they are piercing at exploring new avenues, so crave as they are aligned with someone with a practical close. They are eager in love, but may whole unthinking and wounding, in reality as they are not good at listening. On the hurtful close they can be negligent, uneasy, unthinking, and bad-tempered.
For Arians this is a time to performance to your strengths but be tossing and turning of your weaknesses; proposal new diplomacy but put off remark until the Sun enters a new position. Be absolutely tossing and turning of the colony to let buddies eel that they are listened to and that their facts and atmosphere are dear. For others this is the time to use the ambient energy to hope new solutions to tranquil trouble. If you know an Arian, ask them for insinuation, but present it hard-working held upfront plunder action.
[From: "The Right Witches' Meeting" by Kate West]
Positively EQUINOX Good turn
The Positively Equinox, like day and night are smooth in scale, is a time of extent. Both prearranged as Oestara, it is a flea market of Eostre or Ostara, the Anglo-Saxon Divinity of Positively. This is an correct time for some accurate thriving maintenance, a time to be rid of the bad and buoy up the good fashionable your life.
Falsify by making two lists of 9 items each. The first of all essential be stuff which you would delight in to be rid of. The first of all 3 are accurate, perhaps bad habits; the next 3 control your contact with others, eg old resentments or guilt; and the categorical three control the land, eg the loss of emergent life to cars on the lane. Unpleasant a instant list of 9, once again in three parts, of stuff you would delight in to bring, possibly a new job for yourself, superfluous acceptance in your multinational with others, and the fruitful growth of crops.
Warm a black candle and read the first of all list aloud three epoch. Magnify the paper, and ask the Divinity and the God to passion these stuff from you. Daydream these negatives tender in the vigor and the same as carried tangent in the smoke. Such as the paper has flat tire scalded, put the candle out. Now light a white candle and read aloud, three epoch, the list of stuff you would delight in to bring to your life. Magnify this paper and ask the Divinity and the God to bring these stuff to you. Daydream your desires the same as carried to the Gods in the smoke. Let this candle radiate all the way down.
[From: "The Right Witches' Meeting" by Kate West]
Origin: practicing-wicca.blogspot.com
You will need
Because each type of wood is associated with various magickal and spiritual properties, logs from different types of trees might be burned to get a variety of effects. Aspen is the wood of choice for spiritual understanding, while the mighty oak is symbolic of strength and wisdom. A family hoping for a year of prosperity might burn a log of pine, while a couple hoping to be blessed with fertility would drag a bough of birch to their hearth.
Depending on the size you want your Yule log to be you will need about (8cm) diameter is split lengthways down the middle to make two halves, and one of these is used, trimmed to about two feet (60cm) in length.
Other items you will need depending on your chosen design
A log about 14 - 18" long Pine cones
Dried berries, such as cranberries Cuttings of mistletoe, holly, pine needles, and ivy Feathers and cinnamon sticks Some festive ribbon - use paper or cloth ribbon, not the synthetic or wire-lined type A hot glue gun
You will need three holes, about 1inch (2.5cm) are bored into this log to hold three large candles then you can decorate your Yule log however you want to using the items above, remember if your lighting the candles make sure nothing on your design can catch fire. You could leave it plain if that is your wish and light the candles there you have your Yule log.
Altar-Sized Yule Log Materials: Small altar-sized log Three candles: One white, one red, one black Bits of holly to decorate with Red and green ribbon to be tied in a decorative bow Glue gun
DirectionsThe candles can be short squat ones or longer ones if you're willing to drill holes in the log and insert them. Just gluing them is fine. The white candle represents the innocent phase of life; it goes first. The red represents the childbearing phase; it goes in the middle. The black candle represents maturity and wisdom; it goes last. Arrange the holly around them so that drill holes or glue gun marks do not show. Tie a bow with the ribbon and stick on the front. Ritual use: Burn the candles during your Yule ritual.
Reference: wiccancommunity.blogspot.com
One of our fabulous Kitchen Witch School students Rosie Meadows has created her own list of names for each moon of the year and her own list of personal correspondences:
24th December - 20 January Macha MoonTotem animal - CrowMagic workings/energies/type of spell work - Winter spell for a safe homeHerbs - Cinnamon, cloves, marjoram and parsleyColours - Navy blue, peach, grey and purpleTrees - Larch and sycamoreCrystals - Blue obsidian21st January - 17th February Badb MoonTotem animal - DeerMagic workings/energies/type of spell work - Banish depression spellHerbs - Ginger, geranium, and turmericColours - Pale yellow, grey and brownTrees - Oak and willowCrystals - Yellow calcite18th Febrary - 17th March Bloddwedd MoonTotem animal - RobinMagic workings/ - Seeds of opportunity spellenergies/type of spell workHerbs - Mint, parsley and sageColours - Teal, white and silverTrees - Cherry and LilacCrystals - Aventurine18th March - 14th April Coventina MoonTotem animal - FrogMagic workings/ - Peacock spell to increase confidenceenergies/type of spell workHerbs - Fennel, chamomile and cinnamonColours - Pale green, pale blue and lilacTrees - Blackthorn and BirchCrystals - Banded Agate15th April - 12th May Henwen MoonTotem animal - DogMagic workings/ - Money spellenergies/type of spell workHerbs - Nettle, rose and oreganoColours - Pink, brown and goldTrees - Apple, Pear and AshCrystals - Moonstone13th May - 9 June Aine MoonTotem animal - DolphinMagic workings/ - flower wishing spellenergies/type of spell workHerbs - Mint and dandelionColours - yellow, orange and redTrees - Hawthorn, elderCrystals - Rose quartz10th June - 7th July Olwen MoonTotem animal - BearMagic workings/ - Seeds of opportunity spellenergies/type of spell work Herbs - meadowsweet, clover and avensColours - Bright green, bright pink and violetTrees - Crab apple, field mapleCrystals - Yellow calcite8th July - 4th August Danu MoonTotem animal - AntMagic workings/ - Summer prosperity spellenergies/type of spell workHerbs - Rose, catnip and lavenderColours - Lilac, pink and yellowTrees - Lime and silver birchCrystals - Amethyst5th August - 1st September Branwen MoonTotem animal - ButterflyMagic workings/ - A spell to protect your catenergies/type of spell workHerbs - Fennel, marjoram and ladys mantleColours - Orange, green and brownTrees - Wych elm and HazelCrystals - Green moss agate2nd September - 29th September Elen MoonTotem animal - CraneMagic workings/ - Queen bee spellenergies/type of spell workHerbs - Bay and yellow loosestrifeColours - Gold, turquoise and OliveTrees - Elder and HornbeamCrystals - Carnelian30th September - 27th October Morrigan MoonTotem animal - BatMagic workings/ - Misplaced objects spellenergies/type of spell workHerbs - Chickweed and corianderColours - Russet, purple and dark blueTrees - Poplar and OakCrystals - Moonstone28th October - 24th November Morgan Le Fey MoonTotem animal - DragonMagic workings/ - Friendship spellenergies/type of spell workHerbs - Echinacea, ginger and thymeColours - Black, silver and tealTrees - Poplar and grey willowCrystals - Aventurine25th November - 23rd December Rhiannon MoonTotem animal - Horse (of course)Magic workings/ - To improve physic vision spell energies/type of spell workHerbs - Wintergreen, barley and borageColours - Grey, orange and blueTrees - Holly and YewCrystals - Citrine
Credit: spellscasting.blogspot.com
ARE ALL SINS REALLY THE SAME IN GOD'S SIGHT?
If so, then an Old Testament saint who failed to help get his neighbor's ox out of a pit would be just as guilty as the one who offered his baby to the idol Molech as a human sacrifice. And the New Testament saint who kicked his neighbor's dog would be equally evil with the thug who brutally killed his own mother.
Most evangelicals have heard over and over again that all sins are equal in God's sight, but are we sure that's what the Bible really says? Should we really believe (and teach others!) that all sins are equal?
HERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE PRETTY CLEAR FROM EVEN A BEGINNING ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE SCRIPTURE:1) "All "sin is detestable to our holy God.2) "Any "individual sin, all by itself, no matter what it is, makes a person deserving of hell forever.3) But all sins are "not "equal in God's eyes.
I. MOSES' LAW DID NOT GIVE EQUAL WEIGHT TO ALL SINSMoses' law explained that punishments must always fit the crimes, "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life" Of course, it would never be appropriate to require a life for the loss of a tooth, or a tooth for the loss of a life. All sins and guilt are not equal."Exodus 21:23-25 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, 24Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe."
Moses taught that premarital sex, for example, would be punishable by a fine, while adultery was punishable by death. "Exodus 22:16 And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. 17If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins."Leviticus 20:12 And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
So all sins and guilt-even sexual sins-are not equal. This is why Tamar correctly told Amnon, "this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me" (2 Samuel 13:16).
II. THE NEW TESTAMENT DOES NOT GIVE EQUAL WEIGHT TO ALL SINSJesus taught that some matters of sin and righteousness are "weightier" than others, and that while none should be neglected, some are more important than others."Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."
One particular sin, Jesus taught us, out of so many sins in the world, was "unpardonable," and would "not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come," for all eternity (Matthew 12:32). All sins and guilt, therefore, are not equal.
Again, Jesus said that a hypocrite is like a man with a beam in his eye who would dare to criticize another man with a bit of sawdust in his eye (Matthew 7:3-4). The urban myth of all sin being equal in God's sight would undermine Jesus' point entirely, wouldn't it? Wouldn't the popular Christian error require that both men in the parable have equal beams in their eyes?
Then Jesus taught that certain acts of Christian negligence would be punished by a few lashes, others by many lashes."Luke 12:46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers." 47And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes." 48But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."
Jesus even taught us that the "eternal" punishments of the lost can differ in severity, depending on the degree of their wickedness. "Therefore," He warns them, "ye shall receive the greater damnation."Matthew 23:14 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation." 15Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves."
TWO REASONS WHY ALL THIS MATTERS:1. BECAUSE DEVOTED FOLLOWERS OF JESUS ARE UNNECESSARILY DISCOURAGED BY THIS ERRORIf we believe that our overeating on a particular occasion is as evil as an instance of adultery, or that our impulsive spending on a particular occasion is as evil as an instance of murder, how may we ever be encouraged about our spiritual growth? Similarly, if we believe that a grouchy word toward a spouse from time to time is equal to the longstanding "root of bitterness" towards him "which springs up and defiles many" (Hebrews 12:15), how can we be encouraged to continue progressing in sanctification? Indeed, how could we ever conclude that there had been any spiritual growth at all?
2. BECAUSE IMMORAL "CHRISTIANS" ARE JUSTIFYING THEIR FAILURES BY THIS ERROR
Unfortunately, thoughtless Christians have latched onto the idea of all sins being equal in God's sight, and have mastered the implications of this error. "Who are "you"," they ask their devoted brothers, "to point out that living with my girlfriend is immoral? Don't you ever commit adultery in your heart? Don't you know what Jesus taught about that?" Or, "Who are "you "to tell me that I shouldn't be getting drunk on weekends? You ate two ice cream cones at the church picnic? My weekend partying is no different than your unwillingness to address being ten pounds overweight." Or, "Yeah, sure, I use a lot of profanity, but how is that any different from you driving everyone crazy by talking about Jesus too much? Can't you see you're driving them away?"
CONCLUSION:
"Sin is sin," they tell me. "All sins are equal," I've been taught. "One sin's just as bad as another," I always heard.
The only trouble is, there's nothing in the Bible to give us that impression. It's just not true.
1) "All "sin is detestable to our holy God. (Sins are not big or little, but big and bigger!)
2) "Any "individual sin, all by itself, no matter what it is, makes a person deserving of hell forever.
3) But all sins are "not "equal in God's eyes.
The believer who is making "real "progress in his Christian walk, but labors under the impression that he will never be anything but a miserable sinner--he needs to know that all sins are "not "equal in God's eyes. And so does the careless Christian who makes use of a truth--that all sin is detestable, to cover a lie--that all sins are exactly the same in God's eyes.
Origin: pagan-space.blogspot.com
