"TELEPATHY AND RELATED PSYCHIC OR PSI PHENOMENA ARE THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE NEW SCIENCE OF PARAPSYCHOLOGY. CRITICS HAVE RIGHTLY POINTED TO ITS DUBIOUS ORIGIN FROM MAGIC AND WITCHCRAFT AND ARE STILL INCLINED TO RELEGATE IT TO THE LUNATIC FRINGE OF OUR CULTURE. YET SINCE ITS ACCEPTANCE AS A LEGITIMATE SUBJECT FOR SCIENTIFIC STUDY, IN 1969, BY THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, PARAPSYCHOLOGY HAS GAINED ACADEMIC RECOGNITION AND HAS BY NOW GROWN INTO A FORMIDABLE RESEARCH EFFORT SPONSORED BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, UNIVERSITY CENTERS, FOUNDATIONS, AND A NUMBER OF PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS BOTH IN THIS COUNTRY AND ABROAD."
"IT IS TRUE THAT PSI PRESENTS US WITH A VISION OF THE WORLD-OR PSYCHIC REALITY-IN WHICH SPACE SEEMS TO BE EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING LIKE A RUBBER BALLOON, IN WHICH TIME'S ARROW MAY COME TO A STANDSTILL IN MIDFLIGHT OR MAY BE SEEN TO REVERSE ITS COURSE, AND IN WHICH MATTER MAY APPEAR TO DISSOLVE AND LIQUEFY AS IN A SURREALIST NIGHTMARE. IN THE EXTREME CASE, SUCH A VISION MAY CULMINATE IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE EGO AND ITS MERGING WITH THE NONEGO. BUT IT MAY ALSO BE CONDUCIVE TO NOVEL, ECSTATIC FORMS OF EXPERIENCE, TO A MODE OF EXISTENCE WHOLLY INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE ACCUMULATED WISDOM AND TIME-TESTED KNOW-HOW HANDED DOWN TO US FROM OUR EVOLUTIONARY PAST."
"STILL, WE SHALL SEE IN PART FOUR OF THIS BOOK THAT THE THEORY PROPOSED HERE IS IN NO NEED OF INTRODUCING A NEW DEUS EX MACHINA, SOME NOVEL PHYSICAL, BIOLOGICAL, BIOPLASMIC, OR OTHER MYSTERIOUS FORM OF ENERGY INTO OUR EQUATION. THE MYSTERY OF "ORDINARY" HUMAN AWARENESS AND VOLITION IS BIG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE PSI. PARAPHRASING A FAMOUS PASSAGE FROM HIPPOCRATES, ON THE SACRED DISEASE, IT COULD BE STATED: "IT IS THUS WITH REGARD TO THE MANIFESTATIONS CALLED OCCULT: THEY APPEAR TO ME TO BE NOWISE MORE DIVINE NOR MORE OCCULT THAN OTHER MENTAL MANIFESTATIONS, BUT HAVE NATURAL CAUSES FROM WHICH THEY ORIGINATE...."
Origin: magic-and-spells.blogspot.com
Julie Ingersoll of the Instructor of North Florida has an stimulating article in Religion Dispatches good "Did We Dine the Kool-Aid in 'Suicide Cult' Disappearance?". The article looks at the way the media responded immediately to the California Favor Lesson which "passed on" for a sulky section to the same extent the media and law enforcement feared the group would commit heap suicide. Ingersoll draws notice to the "suicide cult" outline that the media and law enforcement are quick to view minority religions through and follow-up its union to the anti-cult conflict. Although Ingersoll's verify is vanished the exalted eminence among the terrestrial anti-cult conflict which focuses on "chance not belief" and the evangelical "counter-cult" conflict which focuses on ideas, until now it does element out the station of understanding the framework from which new religions view the world, a framework that exceptionally conforms to the suicide cult outline.
NOTE: Add-on Haughty Matter 14 SEPT 2012 The good sense of this target is to show to be false the "no freewill" arguments of Calvinists (and others who grasp to a shut converted theology) mobile that the Bible DOES teach freewill. I mettle start by laying a beginning. The Bible teaches us that God is full of Babe, Consideration, Adorn, He is Exactly so and Genuine in all His ways. Inhabit who teach that we accept no freewill in our helping hand and that purely community who God chooses as a result of His set example, mettle be saved, actually put down God's place by (formidably) teaching that God in His set example has twisted innumerable club deliberately predestining them to an eternal annoy of hell. This is actually vulgarity while it teaches whatever thing about God's appearance which is obviously untrue! Romans 8:32 says "He who did not Garbage His own Son". After that, why would He (out of a appearance of love) create humans to as a consequence send to an eternal hell (imperfect them when able to choice God)? Definite that would be the suitcase, if (as they teach) some accept no idiosyncrasy of sorry while they are not of the work out. If they are powerless of choosing God while they are Belated, as a consequence Zealously God has twisted souls to be angst-ridden for infinity. How can God be a God of Babe and moreover be Genuine and Exactly so if He did such things? How can you trust a God tenderness that? No discussion Incredulity has besotted on in a huge way while "how can you stick in a God tenderness that?" No, I cannot stick in a God tenderness that while that is NOT His appearance. Because about 2 Peter 3:9 "it is not God's Order that any obligation flee but that ALL obligation come to repentance". If we do not accept free mettle and cannot choice God (unless He chooses us) as a consequence anybody would be saved while that verse says that it is not His Order that any obligation flee. "who can sicken the Order of God?" Romans 9:19. At a standstill, we know that the Bible teaches that innumerable are on the vast method of separate and innumerable mettle not go to Paradise. After that, whatever thing does not add up. We know that the Bible is inerrant, but our line of manner (absolute theology) is fallible. After that community who teach in "no freewill" must be transgression (in the light of the best quality verse) and are formidably defaming the place of God by teaching that God is a impostor while they would accept to teach (to be accepted) that ALL would be saved, so exposed it teaches that not all would be saved. So establishing at hand is a enterprise with their theology, we must experience what the Total bible is Very teaching. With regard to cast your vote, I stick that itinerary that God knows the end from the beginning, so He knows in advance ALL community who mettle choice Him. They are correspondingly all (pre) preordained to become children of God and correspondingly formidably are the work out. In the awfully way that God foreknew "otherwise the beginning of the Property" of His redemption example in Jesus. "the beef that was slain otherwise the beginning of the Property" Amazement 13:8, i.e. He knew the end from the very beginning. It is not God's Order that any obligation flee but God has coherently point all men freewill to choice or reject Him. This is why not all are saved even though God loves the Total world (John 3:16). God wants anybody to choice Him and has reached down to us to reveal His lurid love and sent His Set apart Primary to convict all men of sin (John 16:8), but they can quiet (out of freewill) sicken God nonetheless everything God has done to aid us in choosing Him. This is obviously transparent in REALITY! In spite of that He quiet demonstrated His lurid love by humanitarian us His Son as a sacrificial victim. The scriptures are perceptive (to me) that community God saves are permanently detached by Him as ready in my target WHY Legitimate BELIEVERS ARE Continually Pole IN THEIR Exchange Inhabit who be dogmatic adjacent to free mettle start by assuming that Adam and Eve lost their freewill so they sinned while they devotedly "died". It is true that they died devotedly, but is it true that they lost their free will? Because actually happened? Their bodies were invented to go on endlessly, but their sin had a huge pertain on them. From that dash physical putrefy was set in pitch in their bodies, but poorer was that they became at odds from God devotedly. They quick-witted spiritual death which was in idea the spirit within their bodies dying. It is the spirit of man that can procession with God, but that was now exploited consequent in a dead spirit. This is not to be mislaid with the go of man which remained lurid but became a slave to the misbehaving requirements of the flesh. The scriptures are perceptive that man is complete up of scaffold, go and spirit - but that is pristine countrywide. In Ephesians 2:1 it says "And you He complete lurid, who were dead in trespasses and sins". The theme is at what concept were they complete alive? Was it otherwise they usual Christ now their hearts or afterwards? 2 Cor 5:17 states it was AFTERWARDS "After that, if self is in Christ, he is a new creation; old substance accept voted for away; watch, all substance accept become new". A individual becomes saved so they stick in Jesus and collect Him now their hearts. More or less the Set apart Primary makes us lurid so He comes within us and makes us a new business. Otherwise our spirit is quiet dead within our misbehaving appearance but our go is quiet Gifted to make the freewill ruling to collect Christ Otherwise. These preachers state that once Adam and Eve sinned they no longer had freewill. But, what about Cain who came nominated afterwards? Work out Commencement 4:6-7 "So the Lord alleged to Cain, 'Why are you angry? And why has your features fallen? If you do well, mettle you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the way in. And its desire is for you, but you obligation muscle refined it.' " Sounds tenderness Cain had freewill? They moreover quote from John 6 and John 15. At a standstill, they do not experience the context. It is central that we do experience the context. In John 6 Jesus is discussing the weather conditions that present club to choice or reject Jesus. The so-called "as it should be" Jews had habituated their hearts to the message of Jesus. Jesus as a consequence explained (in believably the highest heartbreaking verse in the payment - verse 44) "No one can come to Me unless the Lead who sent Me draws him". At a standstill, Jesus moreover stated "innumerable are called but few are fixed". If we experience the verse which says "it is not God's Order that ANY obligation flee but that ALL obligation come to repentance" as a consequence that implies freewill while God wants someone to be saved. Following Jesus alleged "innumerable are called" I am instinctive that itinerary (comparing scripture with scripture) that All is called. At a standstill, few counter to the scream i.e freewill prevents them. The fixed are community who DO counter.Because about John 15:16? " you did not choice me I chose you" Jesus was cry focus to the apostles about their career as apostles. But at hand over, God calls and chooses someone and gives plenty fancy to maintain them to repent but innumerable (using free mettle) determine to reject Christ. Meticulously no-one chooses Christ imperfect the work of the Set apart Primary. The Set apart Primary convicts us of graciousness, sin and judgement and reveals the truth about Jesus and His love, but He never services conveyance while God gave us freewill. Jesus chose the apostles and drew them once Him. Before Jesus called them to esteem Him, they were not alert. In fact Peter told Jesus to set aside from him. At a standstill, as God saw now the creature of David "a man once my own creature" so He saw now the hearts of the apostles and knew that these men would be advantageous to be His apostles. He chose them - they did not choice Him first but were won refined to esteem Jesus. BUT they quiet exercised free mettle. Jesus "chose" the apostles to be special ministers for scattering the gospel by means of the world. Jesus is not speech about the "work out". Canto 19 says: "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet while you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, correspondingly the world hates you". The authority of this teaching is that Jesus Split and empowered the apostles from the stains of the Sphere for a special ministry. He chose to disaffiliate them. It is not speech about "cast your vote" stylish. God's eternal example is that ALL who come to Him mettle be then traditional to be at odds from the "love of this world" and mettle be enabled to do so by the power of the Set apart Primary. God reveals His love to innumerable and by HIS power convicts them of sin but nonetheless all this On the other hand few counter to it while they DO accept freewill as was ready in the best quality reproduction of Cain.The sticky Definite must be that God HAS point us free mettle to choice or reject Him, but if we choice Him, He as a consequence enables us to collect Him and as a consequence empowers us to be detached by Him permanently. Following the bible discusses predestination and cast your vote I understand it to mean that God knew in advance who would collect or reject Him. He knew from the very beginning of time! After that, formidably the work out are fixed, fixed while God sees the end from the beginning. The key to understanding these substance highly is by having a modify front door to our theology. I use a absolute front door by studying the Total Bible to understand the whole assistance and eternal example of God with all its micro and total parts Before I produce my theology. Chief I produce FROM SCRIPTURE the essential starting points of my tolerate For reproduction, that the Bible is the expressive Word of God, formidably written by God correspondingly is very true and can be trusted. God exists and consists in 3 persons as a Godhead, that He is eternal, immense, omniscient and terrible (all of these are coherently qualified in Scripture). That man is a reprobate who needs to be saved and Jesus died to allotment us from our sins. Plus, what the Bible tells us about God's Participate, eg He is Set apart, Immaculate, Genuine and Exactly so and is Babe. He is exact and His strategy and purposes are beyond repair (of course these are well a few examples of innumerable certainties). These certainties are the beginning for interpreting all other scripture. We must unendingly stick these substance in mind. With regard to the roughly theologies tenderness Calvinism, Arminianism etc., they go ancient history these substance and hypothesize other substance to be true (gnostic philosophies) Otherwise and as a consequence go about proving it from scripture. The really front door obligation be to produce theology from the starting tolerate of the Biblical certainties and as a consequence for eternity become licensed and look at the wide-ranging theological tolerate as we go nominated, whenever we are proved really or transgression by scripture. My wide-ranging tolerate had previously been unwavering by innumerable years of studying the Bible, so I logically dip into, look at and become licensed this tolerate in the light of newer scriptural protest march. For reproduction, I perpetually readjust my eschatological tolerate and thereby am virtuous to learn SO Far away Haughty concerning the end get older Following I use the form total I mean the external vast outworkings and by micro I mean its simply record hidden working and how it can be practicable to us expressly. As an reproduction, total may perhaps focus on to "the eternal redemptive example of God" amid "subsequent to saved unendingly saved" whilst micro may perhaps focus on to "all substance work together for our good" Romans 8:28 or "we are when special from one quantity of majesty to pristine" 2 Corinthians 3:18. I stick the be au fait with of my front door is that I am open plenty to look after teachable by the Set apart Primary (not brainwashed now any record absolute theology) and despicable plenty to shape my theology. My front door enables me to dip into Every one word, assessment, vestibule, payment, book, in the Bible, expressly accomplishment these words now their really context and NOT disregard at all.Fascinate Bang stylish for part 2 of this target entitled "Romans Segment 9 DOES NOT Confute Freewill but Very Reinforces It. Looking At The Context Of The Total Convey of Romans". For even above on this countrywide at ease experience this target NEW CALVINISM. EXPLAINING AND Exposing THIS Original ECUMENICAL AND Renegade Occupation WHICH IS Cargo THE Church BY Storm
"I'm one with the Divine beingand open to Her Judiciousness."3rd of the 5th Astrophysical SequenceRuled by PersephoneAstrophysical Tree Month of Saille/Willow9th Day of the Celtic TreeMonth of Saille/WillowMoon Phase: waxing New MoonMoon rises: 7:39AM EDSTMoon sets: 10:37PM EDSTMoon enters the FluctuatingAir Intuition of Gemini at 1:05PM EDSTBloudeuweld's Sequence of the MoonAstrophysical Meditation: Bulwark of elderly gamesSun in TaurusSunrise: 6:30AM EDSTSunset: 8:07PM EDSTPlanetary Investigation of the Day: "For instance memoirsdo you greatest extent appreciate?"Imbolc (Gwyl Mair) Vicinityof the TimeApril 23rd, 2012MOON IN GEMINI - The Moon in Gemini wakes us up; we lose our close attentionbut hasten our post. The confer sparkles, our rumination broadensbut doesn't enhance. Evaluate to: a tangled web, rummage, move, indication, deliberate,lower, edit, design and showing. The Moon in Gemini quickens our fearful street.Outline a web of understanding - work out new information. Dialect to your vegetation, trim butwish for planting. This is a time of post and other maneuver of aspect, hole,usefulness, short journeys, reading or calligraphy and having the crave to grasp supercilious thanone thing leave-taking at a just the once. You may sound wholehearted and faculty delicate to work with your handswithin the moon's transit in Gemini. All post (language and/or rumination) or reading and prudent matters are easierwithin Gemini moon transits. Women are supercilious flexible and movable, so accommodate allstatements and promises with a bit of salt, genuinely if the separate has acknowledged untrustworthy in thebygone. It's a difficult time to make any decisions, but a good time to use your wit or artificein confer. Show is a strong crave for call and hole. In in tears matters andin your scene, issues of the practical world are set mention. Moon in Gemini is the besttime to work magick for good post, nudge of institution, calligraphy, societal inhabitand travel. Curative rituals for ailments of the shoulders, arms, hands or lungs are any donewithin this result in of time. Relatives born under a Gemini Moon can babble to role, consider fast,multi-task, shift moods with refinement, but thirst to undertake heaviness and set sights on.MOON DAY - Magickally Moon Day encourages the lunar energies of breakthrough, fantasy,prophetic thoughts, emotions, psychic abilities, travel, women's mysteries and depth. Activewith the opposite phases of the moon is an forceful handicraft that takes a bit of time for Witchesto learn. So why not cut to the go along and put to the test with the day of the week that isintense to the moon in all of its magickal energies and aspects? Today's colors are white, silver and ashy cerulean - pocket candles of these colors for yourworks. The Flowers/plants are bluebells, jasmine, gardenia, white roses, white poppies,and moonflowers. The essential oils/incenses are Gardenia, jasmine, lemon, lemon rub,lily, myrrh, sandlwood and Stephanotis.
Origin: animals-and-shamanism.blogspot.com
(H/t to ReCon for the photo of the confessional)
Chastity! What's all this talk about chastity? I thought I didn't have to worry about that since I am married. In a beautiful way, the Church paints a picture for us of what chastity is and why we are called to it regardless of our station in life. It is all about self-giving and living a life without duplicity. Not living a secret interior life that I thought I could "get away with" or not have to seriously deal with because "it's all under the Blood."
Here's what the Church teaches:
" The chaste person maintains the integrity of the powers of life and love placed in him. This integrity ensures the unity of the person; it is opposed to any behavior that would impair it. It tolerates neither a double life nor duplicity in speech.
All the baptized are called to chastity. The Christian has "put on Christ,"135 the model for all chastity. All Christ's faithful are called to lead a chaste life in keeping with their particular states of life. At the moment of his Baptism, the Christian is pledged to lead his affective life in chastity.
"People should cultivate [chastity] in the way that is suited to their state of life. Some profess virginity or consecrated celibacy which enables them to give themselves to God alone with an undivided heart in a remarkable manner. Others live in the way prescribed for all by the moral law, whether they are married or single."136 Married people are called to live conjugal chastity; others practice chastity in continence:
There are three forms of the virtue of chastity: the first is that of spouses, the second that of widows, and the third that of virgins. We do not praise any one of them to the exclusion of the others.... This is what makes for the richness of the discipline of the Church.137
Those who are "engaged to marry" are called to live chastity in continence. They should see in this time of testing a discovery of mutual respect, an apprenticeship in fidelity, and the hope of receiving one another from God. They should reserve for marriage the expressions of affection that belong to married love. They will help each other grow in chastity."
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church
As His redeemed people, Christ calls us to live a life enslaved to Him, and not our passions. Not only does He call us to this but empowers us to make it so. The sacrament of reconciliation and the act of frequent "confessing of my sins to one another" (a priest) as scripture exhorts, is a surefire way to gain grace directly from the giver of all grace. John Paul 2 went to confession weekly. Far be it from me to think that I need the sacrament less!
Through prayer, a daily examination of our conscience, and a docile spirit open to the salutary effects of the sacraments, we can live our Christian lives without duplicity.
"Immaculate Virgin Mary, I confide my chastity to your maternal heart. I ask your help to guard my senses, especially the eyes, for an unchaste eye is the messenger of an unchaste heart. Knowing my pride, I pray for that humility which invites the mercy of God. Knowing that I am human, I shall not be surprised at the urge of concupiscence, but trusting in your care I rely on your protection and all the graces that I need from your divine Son. Amen."
Credit: masonsofheaven.blogspot.com
The icon above is located in the cemetary Church of All Saints in the town of Perama of Rethymno, the seat of the municipality of Mylopotamou, by the iconographer Emmanuel Sephake.
The prototype for this icon is in the historic Church of the Holy Trinity in the same town (probably from the Venetian era), near the Monastery of Arkadiou in Rethymno, and is found in the Holy Altar, roughly next to the Holy Prothesis table. The priest serving in the Sanctuary sees it across from him, though it is not visible to those outside the Sanctuary. It is directed, therefore, to the priest, and is aimed at his constant moral diligence.
The icon depicts an angel standing on a priest holding the Holy Chalice and dressed in priestly vestments. It bears the inscription "The Unworthy Priest".
This icon, it is assumed, is based on an old story which says that once there was a priest who got drunk one Saturday night, and went the next day to serve Divine Liturgy. However, as his wife was going to church, she saw him outside, tied to a tree. When she went inside, she saw him again, serving Divine Liturgy! She was surprised. After the Liturgy, her husband revealed how an angel prevented him from liturgizing, and served Divine Liturgy in his stead and with his appearance.
The meaning of the story is that, no matter how unworthy a priest may be, this does not hinder the validity of the Holy Mysteries, for it is the grace of God which completes them, not the priest himself. But priests should be worthy of their work, otherwise they will face consequences, now and in eternity.
Source
By Jaclyn Hurley
In arrears bending your life to Christ, it is top that you do your best to repress that you promote your understanding with him. This is because; it is external to visit new believers, the devil is ever on the sentry, for someone to plague. Inaccessible from prayers and fasting, a aficionado have got to repress that he or she is well equipped with knowledge about God. Typically decision the best reading provisions may not be easy. Hitherto, with Christian book store New Haven CT you can get the knowledge that you select to control.
Still the provisions they find in the bookstore are countless, you may find that bibles are the quantity. In the role of you crave to border in the best reading provisions, you have got to control this bookstore in sensitivity. They control bibles of all versions including other biblical provisions that may nurture your spirit. The bibles you find in this place would help you know the fortitude of God and look up to it to the fullest.
Still Christians dignitary in God and withstand their energy from him, they finish low times and challenges that influence their spirit. At such a minute, they would tie encourage and strength that comes from the bible. New than the bible, the bookstore contains other provisions that control the best certain messages. These messages would cart you strong and determined in your Christianity.
Marriage has visit unexpected challenges. Sometimes, some nation good turn quitting their marriages by looking for a break. Hitherto, break is not odd especially for a aficionado. More willingly, the aficionado have got to scrutinize for ways to make converted that he or she makes the marriage work. One way of acquit yourself this is by reading provisions that impart about marriage. This is because; such provisions give godly ways of solving challenges in marriage
The magazines and Godly books you find in the bookstore are essential in wealth illusion. God requests that all nation lived in detail and in good health at all times. God does not revere it every time his nation are succumbing in penury and other injurious life challenges. The claim why some believers vacation in penury is due to lack of biblical wealth illusion commands.
Parents have got to control time to buy some books in this bookstore and learn ended about children grassland. You would in the same way learn new ways of allot your children with the knowledge of God. In actuality, parents who bring up their children in Godly district help them make their life cover and full of achievements. Separation with your children in these bookstores would be truthful.
For you to get the best reading provisions, you fortitude unquestionably impose to repress that you are shut up shop on the load that you go for. Guaranteed reading provisions control gentle roof page, but the information big is not very handy. As a answer, you fortitude impose to make converted that you go for a reading load that has the reparation satisfied.
The authors of the books that you find in the bookstore are prominent. They control good history of spiritual grudge and distinction. You would find the impose to read them every day the same as they control good and worthy satisfied. You have got to control these provisions for easy metamorphosis of your spiritual life.
About The Author:
Shed light on ended about Things You Require To Schoolwork About Christian Assume Accumulation New Haven CT.
Our Beaker ancestors worried about the changing seasons. Well you had to. Agriculture depends on the sun. You need to know when the sun's powers are declining - so from June 21 onwards or thereabouts you knew it was time to stop sowing and get ready for reaping. In the despairing depths of midwinter, even as you looked forward to another couple of months of cold, the winter solstice was the promise that things would change. That one day they would get better. Apparently in the Southern Hemisphere, someone was having the same idea.
But tonight is another kind of time. Although driven by the sun, it's not predictable like a solstice. It's not even got the hazy precision and doubtful utility of knowing the equinoxes. And it's a day of uncertain prediction and unsure definition. Here in the Beaker Community, we call it "the day the year dies". And this year, I'm calling it for today.
The rain's been falling all day. Outside the sky alternates between gray cloud yielding heavy showers, and clear skies revealing the autumn skies - when the Plough hangs in its sinister way over the landscape (albeit round here it's struggling against the glow off the M1).
Down in the Great Hall the Beaker People are engaged in an important debate - if God is good and omnipotent, how can you explain Waterloo Road? And I should be offering spiritual solace and inspired guidance. But here in my study, the curtains are drawn and a fire warms the room. Meanwhile outside wind form the north-east chills the air. The year has died. It may drag itself along for a few months yet, but we know it's died.
And so I throw a broken-up pallet on the fire and revel in the blue, chemically-enhanced flames. I really must check what preservative they've used, next time I collect a job-lot. Still, it's environmentally friendly and on the bright side all the chemicals are going up the chimney. Autumn is a time of dark, of dying, of predictable despondency. Winter, a time of sleep and quiet. It's Spring that I really fear. Because who can control that? New life is a riot - you can't nail that.
Tip of the pointy hat to Pagans for Archaeology Facebook Group for the link to the article.
WOUTER J HANEGRAAFF. ESOTERICISM AND THE ACADEMY: REJECTED KNOWLEDGE IN WESTERN CULTURE. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2012.
I think I had better start this review with a warning as to what this book is NOT about; despite the subtitle it is not about the wide range of 'damned and excluded' topics discussed by Forteans, psychical researchers and the like. Nor does it really cover the full range of 'magical' and 'occult' beliefs mentioned in the publisher's blurb.
It's attention is more narrowly focused on what he suggests should be called the 'western esoteric tradition' and which might be better know (wrongly in his opinion) as the Hermetic tradition. This tradition he traces from attempts from the Church Fathers onward to incorporate Greek, or more particularly Platonic philosophy, or at least what was presented as such, into the Christian tradition.
This tradition was one in which God was seen as imminent in an eternal world, and in which there was a spark of divinity in everyone. These ideas were not exactly compatible with orthodox Christian belief, and there were various ways round it. For example the Greek philosophers might have been prophets of Christianity. However one that tended to predominate was what Hanegraaff calls orientalisation. The Greek philosophy was claimed to have descended from the Egyptians, especially the imaginary Hermes Trismegistus, or the mythologized Zoroaster, or, at least ultimately back to Moses.
Hanegraaff argues that it was the development of what we might call a form of Christian fundamentalism, which led to the exclusion of this tradition from Christianity. It was the decisions of both the Protestant reformers and the Catholic counter-reformation to purify Christianity of 'pagan accretions', to return to a stark view of a wholly desacralised world that was nothing more than the inert clay out of which a wholly transcendent God moulded things. This 'fundamentalist' desacralisation of nature opens up the road to the secular mechanical Laplacian universe.
By the 18th century this esoteric tradition was caught between religious critics that continued to attack paganism and secular critics who attacked 'superstition'. Exiled from the intellectual mainstream, the esoteric continues as an opposition culture, against which elites can differentiate themselves, but in this underground it flourishes as the province of autodidacts of all kinds.
Hanegraaff especially notes that as belief in mythical secret societies such as the Rosicrucians took hold, real life groups such as the early Freemasons tried to emulate them, and the whole mythology of secret societies in general, and that of grand conspiracism in particular developed.
After tracing the evolution of the influence of the esoteric tradition on topics as diverse as Mesmerism and German romanticism with its notion of 'the night side of nature' (which became the title of a book of ghost stories by Catherine Crowe), he discusses its return to academe, mainly through the influence of the Eranos conferences and year books.
He gives particular attention to a number of individuals associated with it like the psychologist Carl Jung, the Islamist and mystic Henry Corbin, the expert on the Kabala and Jewish mysticism Gershom Scholem, the historian of religions Mircea Eliade, and the esoteric Christian Antoine Faivre who started his career as an expert on Vampires. Hanegraaff contrasts the 'religionist' approach of Corbin, who spoke exclusively as a believer (and seems to have awarded himself quasi-papal infallibility) and the meticulous historical approach of Scholem, and presents a revisionist view of Jung and alchemy, arguing that Jung did not see alchemy as an exclusively psychological processes..
He also reviews critically the work of Frances Yates on Bruno and the Hermetic tradition.
This is not always an easy book, but contains much of interest. and Magonia readers may be especially interested in the later sections on the Eranos group. I get the author's point, but I am not sure one can talk about 'the academy' for periods of centuries. Is this not reading backwards from the professionalization of knowledge in the late nineteenth century onwards? I do get the feeling that this is in some way two rather different books knitted together, one on the intellectual history of the western esoteric tradition, and another, much narrow one, on its study in the academic environment from Eranos onward." - Peter Rogerson."
On Saturday, May 20, 2006 in view of the fact that difficult to the Hollywood Reappearance Fix in place where Ramtha-in keep a tight rein on of the person of his 'channeler' JZ Knight-would speak in the Hollywood Ballroom, I found for my part experiencing what I would concluding consequence to be a synchronicity advancement. I dappled a bespoke permission facade that intended "BONMOTS" and would spot that this was an apt tale of an aspect of Ramtha's crooked teaching rescue. Next I'd witnessed Kevin Ryerson channel three additional entities at the Philosophical Observe Polish in 1998, seeing his facial language since he first went trendy aspiration had been glamorous. However I don't summon up having heard any 'bon mots,' I noticed that the beings who josh finished Ryerson at mature sometimes referred to themselves with the pronoun 'we.' Now, eight time concluding, here was poles apart street to witness channeling; subdue, on this on time stage was no gleam of the income leading trendy a aspiration or out-of-body rest for the be careful of the channeler. (An model of channeler 'John of Pin-up 'incorporating the thing is free in this video.) The receipt for Ramtha's Hollywood discourse had meaning 150 and the panorama began an hour unhurried. That was since Ramtha in keep a tight rein on of JZ Knight's person time-honored convivial applause and a standing praise upon secret the ballroom. I remained seated as I while didn't know what to reflect on about it all. In the books I'd read about Ramtha, he was recounted to easily line each scholar as 'master.' Host of frequent give somebody no option but to seemed ecstatic to see (or see over) in being the mystery and incredulity that is Ramtha. I make real soundtrack background this type of panorama as it's difficult to glint upon chatty sentiments since spoken in quick practice. The discourse had been without stopping to ultimate four hours but not exactly did it start unhurried, it would end an hour previously. Obviously, Ramtha doesn't strictly take in to schedules as is readily understandable; subdue, stage was an immense cost of discernibly extemporaneous information on hand in two hours. I probable the viewers to be approximately 350 evolution in view of the fact that a satellite concentrate was in addition understandable via the Internet for 50. In the wake of the standing praise, Ramtha spoke: "Greetings and salutations, you beauteous entities, surefire gratifying to this esteemed viewers." He chronic the sofa a lot of mature with slur variations and later intended, "Genuinely I am revered to carry you here. Let us carry a use up to life. We disturb the water that it become the living discourse to which we say. And later we use up it trendy the person and the person is express life simply." Ramtha later recited a prayer with most in the viewers repeating each assessment that he intended, beginning with: "Oh my babe God... of this day... I venerate my alluring life..."; and categorical with: "... and all that I learn this day... I admire its parade... simply trendy my life... and that finished the affair... I may most recent... for two hundred time... not good enough death... from the lord god of my like... so be that." Last the toast "To Life!," Ramtha told frequent standing "You may be seated" and they sat down... continuesCOPYRIGHT(c)Indication RUSSELL Clang
"
Jester reading a book (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Of all the books I have ever read and studied, I have only encountered one where I have been told repeatedly that I cannot understand it unless I first believe everything it says". Yes, I am referring to the Christian bible and the magic that protects it from being deciphered by non-Christians. This claim has always struck me as being thoroughly ridiculous and has led me to laugh in more than a few faces. It is not that I dispute the need to interpret some books, reading meaning into the author's words. Many books require this, and I can accept that the Christian bible might too (although interpreting what many claim is at least divinely inspired strikes me as arrogant). What I dispute is that the claim that one must believe a book prior to being able to understand it is anything but nonsensical.
I studied many books during my years in school. I don't mean I read them, although I did that too. I mean I studied them in the sense of critical analysis and interpretation. In elementary school, this largely focused on reading poets like Robert Frost and discussing what they were communicating. By grade 5, we were reading some of the less complex literary classics like "To Kill a Mockingbird", and this would continue into junior high. In high school, the books become more complicated (e.g., "Moby-Dick"). The complexity continued to increased in college where I encountered everything from short stories written by African authors, modern literature (e.g., "Beloved"), and classic non-fiction relevant to my major (e.g., "Man's Search for Meaning"). Graduate school would bring more focused technical non-fiction reading, necessary due to the increasing specialization.
What much of this study had in common, regardless of the subject matter of the books involved, was that it was widely understood that some level of interpretation was often necessary. In studying a book, poem, or short story, we often examined themes, symbolism, and subtle nuances of meaning. Reading a book like "Crime and Punishment" meant that we would not simply engage in a casual reading but probe the author's meaning, discuss various themes, and even debate the intent behind various parts. I almost always enjoyed this, and I suspect it is a big part of the appeal behind book clubs.
It makes perfect sense that Christians would want to engage in some sort of bible study. If they really think this book is "holy" in some way, I would think they would want to read it often, think about it, and discuss it with others. And if they truly regard it as "holy," I would assume they would live their lives by it. But the idea that one cannot understand what it says without first believing it is silly.
When a Christian makes this claim, my suspicion is always that what he or she is trying hard not to say is something like this:
My bible cannot possibly mean what it says because so much of what it says is truly vile. Since I cannot defend what the bible actually says to you, I will instead defend my interpretation and cherry picking. Thus, you won't understand it as I do until you believe what I do (i.e., that we should ignore or re-interpret the many parts we don't like even while we claim that it is the word of some god).The Christian is stuck claiming that his or her bible is "holy" because that is a core part of his or her faith. It is no longer open for debate; it is accepted as absolute truth. So what is such a Christian to do when confronted with one of the many vile parts of his or her "holy" book? His or her choices include defending the indefensible by arguing that the vile part is perfectly fine, re-interpreting the part away (e.g., "The parts of the Old Testament that make my god sound like a douche no longer apply"), or insisting that the person pointing it out is misunderstanding it.
Only the most rabid fundamentalists will pick the first option; the rest will rely on the other two. Of course, it should be noted that effective re-interpretation is likely to require some knowledge many Christians lack (you know, because few Christians seem to be willing to read their own "holy" book). This explains why the final choice is so damn popular. The Christian who has no idea what his or her bible says can still shout, "You just don't understand it!" at the atheist.
Subscribe to Atheist Revolution
Copyright (c) 2014 Atheist Revolution.
Every week I share with you seven websites with great resources or fantastic art to raise your knowledge and your gnosis.
This is tied to my previous post, Paganus. It may surprise people to know that there are many types or flavors of Wicca/Witchcraft in current practice. All of them borrow at least some elements from Gerald Gardner's Wicca. And he nicked it from Crowley, and he nicked it from the Golden Dawn, who stole it from the Rosicrucians, etc, etc. It makes you wonder if there is some credence to it being an "ancient practice." Perhaps, but if there is, it's kind of like a game of telephone, what you get in the end may have no resemblance to what started it. For that, you'd have to look into the reconstructionist paths. Maybe I'll do something about them in the future.
These first few take specific pantheons or gods and use Wicca as a basis for their practices.
The Temple of Kemetic Wicca - Wicca that uses the ancient Egyptian gods.
The Asatru Alliance - Wicca that uses the old Norse gods. They're slowly filtering out the Wiccan influences to the point where they could be considered reconstructionist.
Temple of Diana - Feminist Wicca that focuses on the Goddess, specifically Diana.
I would feel like I cheated if I counted all these old school Wiccas as their own thing. The differences between them don't really matter that much outside of the UK. The original is Gardnerian Wicca. His disciple developed Alexandrian Wicca, and the guy who got sick of the drama made Seax Wicca. It's kind of like the difference between Lutherans and Methodists if you ask me.
Raven Star Coven: Blue Star Wicca - It's kind of the standard Wicca practiced in the US. They've seeded a lot of covens.
Progressive Witchcraft - The founders of this movement, Stewart and Janet Farrar, and Gavin Bone, wouldn't call it a branch of Witchcraft at all. But they have been mighty inspirational to many covens. Including my own, Novices of the Old Ways Midwest. You may be thinking, "but James, you're not a Wiccan." True, but I'm a chaos magician, so I can shift my beliefs. I just happen to find the Novices to be the most open and accepting group in my area.
Stregheria - I include this due to the love/hate surrounding its founder, Raven Grimassi. He's written a shit-ton of accessible books on Wicca, popular with younger practitioners. Which to a lot of people means he's pushing watered-down shite. I've never read a book by him, so I don't know the answer. I do know that he goes to great lengths to call his Italian based Witchcraft "authentic." Obviously, there's a lot of Wiccan influence in it, so I don't know how he can make those claims with a straight face. Good to know about because it/he is influential.
Don't forget to sign up for our mailing list to get more Scroll of Thoth in your inbox, including my own banishing ritual. Also, help out the blog by checking out our Amazon recommendations and using the Amazon search window whenever you make a purchase.
BY CHUCK LEDDY
HENRY LOUIS GATES JR., THE ALPHONSE FLETCHER UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF THE HUTCHINS CENTER FOR AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN RESEARCH, MODERATED AN OPEN, FREE-FLOWING, AND AT TIMES AMUSING 90-MINUTE INTERFAITH DIALOGUE AMONG "THREE REMARKABLE AMERICAN LEADERS": RABBI ANGELA W. BUCHDAHL, SENIOR RABBI-DESIGNATE AT NEW YORK CITY'S CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE; SHEIK YASIR QADHI, DEAN OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AT THE AL-MAGHRIB INSTITUTE; AND THE REV. J. BRENT WALKER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BAPTIST JOINT COMMITTEE FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. THE PANEL DISCUSSED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE ROLE OF RELIGION IN PUBLIC LIFE, THE CHALLENGES OF INTERFAITH DIALOGUE, AND THE CRITICAL NATURE OF RELIGION IN MAKING THE WORLD BETTER.
THE AMBASSADOR JOHN L. LOEB JR. INITIATIVE ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND ITS IMPLICATIONS, WHICH SPONSORED THE EVENT, IS A JOINT PROGRAM OF HARVARD'S CENTER FOR AMERICAN POLITICAL STUDIES (CAPS) AND THE GEORGE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. IT WAS ESTABLISHED TO EXPLORE THE CAUSES, PROCESSES, AND EFFECTS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN CULTURES AND COUNTRIES BY SUPPORTING HARVARD RESEARCH ON THE TOPIC, AS WELL AS ACADEMIC CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS.
"THIS INSPIRING SYMPOSIUM IS PART OF A LARGER AND LONGER CONVERSATION ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, PLURALISM, AND TOLERATION, AND I'M BOTH DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO AMBASSADOR LOEB FOR SUPPORTING THIS VISION AND THRILLED THAT HARVARD IS LAUNCHING THIS DIALOGUE," ADDED PROFESSOR DANIEL CARPENTER, DIRECTOR OF CAPS.
GATES BEGAN THE INAUGURAL SYMPOSIUM ON MAY 1 BY ASKING THE PANELISTS HOW THEY VIEWED FAITH-BASED POLITICAL ACTIVISM IN A CLIMATE OF SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.
WALKER ANSWERED FIRST: "SEPARATION DOESN'T MEAN WE NEED TO GO AND HIDE AND NOT TRY TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER. WE BAPTISTS ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND GET INVOLVED, MOTIVATED BY OUR RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS. MARTIN LUTHER KING AND MANY OTHERS LIVED ACCORDING TO THIS TRADITION, AND THE COUNTRY IS FAR BETTER OFF FOR IT."
QADHI ADDED THAT THE SEPT. 11, 2001, TERRORIST ATTACKS MOBILIZED AMERICAN MUSLIMS MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. "TO BE AMERICAN MEANS TO FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS AND BE INTEGRATED INTO SOCIETY. AFTER 9/11, WE'RE STILL BATTLING, AND WE WILL CLAIM OUR RIGHTFUL PLACE" DESPITE ONGOING WAVES OF ISLAMOPHOBIA, HE SAID.
BUCHDAHL SAID SHE'S BEEN MOBILIZING FAITH-BASED ACTIVISM AROUND ANTI-VIOLENCE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: "WE ARE BUILDING COALITIONS AROUND GUN CONTROL AND VIOLENCE, AS WELL AS QUALITY EDUCATION AND PROBLEMS OF INCOME INEQUALITY. EACH OF THESE ARE MORAL ISSUES THAT ARE ROOTED IN OUR FAITH TRADITIONS. IF OUR FAITH-BASED COMMUNITIES AREN'T TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES, THEN WE DON'T HAVE ANY REASON FOR BEING."
GATES' NEXT QUESTION WAS: "HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT BUILDING BRIDGES AMONG DIVERSE RELIGIOUS FAITHS AND NONRELIGIOUS GROUPS?"
WALKER SAID FINDING AREAS OF COMMON INTEREST IS KEY, AS IS MUTUAL RESPECT, ESPECIALLY FOR RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES: "WE DON'T NEED TO AGREE ON EVERYTHING TO WORK TOGETHER."
QADHI EMPHASIZED THE NEED TO AIR RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES. "WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ELEPHANTS IN THE ROOM, TO MOVE BEYOND PLATITUDES IN ORDER TO CONCENTRATE ON THE VERY REAL DIFFERENCES AMONG US." QADHI OFFERED THE EXAMPLE OF A LARGE INTERFAITH SERVICE HE'D PARTICIPATED IN AT A MEMPHIS SYNAGOGUE. "A PASTOR AT THIS INTERFAITH SERVICE ENDED HIS SERMON BY SAYING, 'I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT UNLESS YOU BELIEVE IN THE LORD SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, YOU WON'T GO TO HEAVEN.' NOW THIS CAUSED AN AWKWARD MOMENT," SAID QADHI, PAUSING UNTIL THE AUDIENCE STOPPED CHUCKLING.
"SO THE NEXT MORNING, THE SYNAGOGUE'S SENIOR RABBI CALLED ME TO APOLOGIZE IF I'D FELT UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT WHAT THE PASTOR HAD SAID. AND, BY THE WAY, THERE MUST BE A GOOD JOKE HERE ABOUT THE RABBI WHO CALLS THE SHEIK TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE PASTOR. BUT I TOLD THE RABBI THAT I HADN'T FELT OFFENDED AT ALL." AIRING THESE DIFFERENCES, SAID QADHI, HAD IMPROVED HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PASTOR. "SOMETIMES WE NEED TO LET THESE ELEPHANTS OUT OF THE ROOM BEFORE WE CAN DISCUSS OTHER ISSUES."
GATES THEN ASKED BUCHDAHL ABOUT WHETHER SHE'D EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTIES NAVIGATING BOTH HER KOREAN AND JEWISH IDENTITIES. "NAVIGATING INTERSECTIONS OF CULTURES AND RELIGIONS IS SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS DONE," SHE EXPLAINED. "I WAS BORN IN SOUTH KOREA TO A KOREAN MOTHER AND A JEWISH FATHER. AND THANKS TO PROFESSOR GATES [VIA HIS PBS TV SERIES "FINDING YOUR ROOTS"], I LEARNED THAT I WAS A DESCENDANT OF KOREAN KINGS. SO I NOW GET TO SAY THAT I'M TRULY A 'JEWISH KOREAN PRINCESS.' "
WHEN GATES OPENED UP THE EVENT TO AUDIENCE QUESTIONS, ARJUN SINGH ASKED THE PANELISTS HOW THEY ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE WITH THE 30 PERCENT OF PEOPLE UNDER 30 WHO HAVE NO IDENTIFICATION WITH RELIGION, CITING A RECENT PEW RESEARCH CENTER SURVEY. "AS A PERSON OF FAITH," ANSWERED BUCHDAHL, "I FEEL THAT GOD HAS HAD A VERY BAD MARKETING CAMPAIGN. TOO MANY PEOPLE CLAIM TO SPEAK DEFINITIVELY FOR GOD, AND IT'S BECOME A REAL TURNOFF FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHAT GOD STANDS FOR."
IN THE HALLWAY AFTER THE PANEL HAD ENDED, SINGH WAS ASKED FOR HIS REACTION TO THE EVENING'S INTERFAITH DIALOGUE. "I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY VALUABLE," SINGH SAID. "I'D DESCRIBE MYSELF AS AMONG THE 30 PERCENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO PUT 'NONE' FOR THEIR RELIGION, BUT I WAS VERY HAPPY TO HEAR FROM THREE LEADERS WHO ARE POWERFUL AND ENTRENCHED IN THEIR FAITH-BASED COMMUNITIES. I ESPECIALLY LIKED THE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO USE RELIGION FOR GOOD IN A GROWINGLY NONRELIGIOUS WORLD. ALL THREE LEADERS DESCRIBED RELIGION AS A TOOL MEANT TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE REMINDED OF THIS."
MEME IS A CULTURAL INVENTION THAT PASSES FROM ONE MIND TO ANOTHER AND THRIVES, OR DECLINES, LIKE A GENE. MEMETICS EXPLORES THE CONCEPTS AND TRANSMISSION OF MEMES IN A SIMILAR FASHION TO GENETICS. A MEME'S SUCCESS IS DUE TO ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ITS HOST. MEMEPLEX, LIKE THE GENETIC CODE, IS A SET OF IDEAS THAT REINFORCE EACH OTHER. RELIGION IS A MEMEPLEX. BASIL VENITIS, VENITIS@GMAIL.COM, HTTP://VENITISM.BLOGSPOT.COM
A BIAS IS A WAY IN WHICH WE SYSTEMATICALLY GET THINGS WRONG, WAYS IN WHICH WE MISCALCULATE, MISJUDGE, DISTORT REALITY, OR SEE WHAT WE WANT TO SEE, AND THE BIAS I'M TALKING ABOUT WORKS LIKE THIS: CONFRONT SOMEONE WITH THE FACT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO DIE AND THEY WILL BELIEVE JUST ABOUT ANY STORY THAT TELLS THEM IT ISN'T TRUE AND THEY CAN, INSTEAD, LIVE FOREVER, EVEN IF IT MEANS TAKING THE EXISTENTIAL ELEVATOR.
RELIGIONS CLAIM DIVINE FAVOR FOR THEMSELVES, OVER AND AGAINST OTHER GROUPS. THIS SENSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS LEADS TO VIOLENCE BECAUSE CONFLICTING CLAIMS TO SUPERIORITY, BASED ON UNVERIFIABLE APPEALS TO GOD, CANNOT BE ADJUDICATED OBJECTIVELY. RELIGIONS DO TREMENDOUS HARM TO SOCIETY BY USING VIOLENCE TO PROMOTE THEIR GOALS, IN WAYS THAT ARE ENDORSED AND EXPLOITED BY THEIR LEADERS.
IF WE LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE OF SCIENCE, PARTICULARLY NEUROSCIENCE, IT SUGGESTS THAT YOUR MIND, YOUR ESSENCE, THE REAL YOU, IS VERY MUCH DEPENDENT ON A PARTICULAR PART OF YOUR BODY, THAT IS, YOUR BRAIN.
RELIGIONS, SCAMS, AND HOAXES SUCCEED BECAUSE THEY EXPLOIT POWERFUL PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES. THESE PROCESSES ARE THE VERY ONES THAT HAVE ENABLED HUMANS TO SURVIVE AND CREATE ART AND TECHNOLOGY, BUT ALSO TRANSFORM HOMO SAPIENS INTO HOMO SUCKERS! 30% OF PEOPLE ARE PANTHEISTS, 25% CHRISTIANS, 20% MUSLIMS, 14% HINDUS, 7% BUDDHISTS, AND 1% JEWS.
SOME PEOPLE PREFER TO LEAVE A MORE TANGIBLE, BIOLOGICAL LEGACY -- CHILDREN, FOR EXAMPLE. OR THEY LIKE, THEY HOPE, TO LIVE ON AS PART OF SOME GREATER WHOLE, A NATION OR A FAMILY OR A TRIBE, THEIR GENE POOL. BUT AGAIN, THERE ARE SKEPTICS WHO DOUBT WHETHER LEGACY REALLY IS IMMORTALITY. WOODY ALLEN, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO SAID, "I DON'T WANT TO LIVE ON IN THE HEARTS OF MY COUNTRYMEN. I WANT TO LIVE ON IN MY APARTMENT."
ALBERT EINSTEIN SAYS:"THE WORD GOD IS FOR ME NOTHING MORE THAN THE EXPRESSION AND PRODUCT OF HUMAN WEAKNESSES, THE BIBLE A COLLECTION OF HONORABLE, BUT STILL PRIMITIVE LEGENDS WHICH ARE NEVERTHELESS PRETTY CHILDISH. NO INTERPRETATION, NO MATTER HOW SUBTLE, CAN FOR ME CHANGE THIS. FOR ME THE JEWISH RELIGION LIKE ALL OTHER RELIGIONS IS AN INCARNATION OF THE MOST CHILDISH SUPERSTITIONS. AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE TO WHOM I GLADLY BELONG AND WITH WHOSE MENTALITY I HAVE A DEEP AFFINITY HAVE NO DIFFERENT QUALITY FOR ME THAN ALL OTHER PEOPLE. AS FAR AS MY EXPERIENCE GOES, THEY ARE ALSO NO BETTER THAN OTHER HUMAN GROUPS, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE PROTECTED FROM THE WORST CANCERS BY A LACK OF POWER. OTHERWISE I CANNOT SEE ANYTHING CHOSEN ABOUT THEM."
THE OCCIDENTAL DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE OF SINGLING OUT RELIGIOUS LIBERTY FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT UNDER THE LAW IS NOT IN SYNC WITH THE WORLD WE LIVE IN TODAY. THE CURRENT STATUS QUO IS PREDICATED ON A FUNDAMENTAL INEQUALITY. FOR EXAMPLE, A BOY MIGHT BE PERMITTED TO CARRY A DAGGER TO SCHOOL AS PART OF HIS SIKH RELIGION, BUT THE SAME DAGGER WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED IF IT WERE PART OF A FAMILY TRADITION. NAMELY, YOUR CLAIM OF CONSCIENCE COUNTS IF IT IS BASED IN RELIGION. MY CLAIM OF CONSCIENCE DOESN'T COUNT IF IT IS NOT BASED IN RELIGION. THAT IS A PERNICIOUS AND INDEFENSIBLE INEQUALITY IN THE EXISTING LEGAL REGIME.
THE ORIGINS OF RELIGIOUS TOLERATION CAN BE TRACED BACK HUNDREDS OF YEARS TO THE EUROPEAN WARS OF RELIGION. THAT TURMOIL GAVE WAY TO GREATER ACCEPTANCE OF DIVERSE RELIGIONS, AN IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENT OF WESTERN DEMOCRACIES. HOWEVER, OCCIDENT'S PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT FOR RELIGIOUS TOLERATION IS NOT IN STEP WITH CHANGING TIMES. WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THE HISTORICAL REASONS WHY OUR CONSTITUTION SINGLED OUT RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY 200-PLUS YEARS AGO, IN THE WORLD WE LIVE IN TODAY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE RELIGIOUS IN ORDER TO HAVE A CONSCIENCE.
WHILE SOME MIGHT WISH THERE WAS A WAY TO GRANT EXEMPTIONS TO ALL CLAIMS OF CONSCIENCE, THIS WOULD LEAD TO ALMOST INSURMOUNTABLE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS. IT WOULD BE TANTAMOUNT TO LEGALIZING CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE. WHILE COURTS CAN VERIFY A PERSON'S INVOLVEMENT IN A RELIGION AND THAT RELIGION'S PARTICULAR BELIEFS, NON-RELIGIOUS CLAIMS WOULD BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO VERIFY. WE DON'T HAVE A WAY TO PEER INTO A MAN'S SOUL TO SEE IF HIS CLAIM OF CONSCIENCE IS REALLY A LEGITIMATE CLAIM OF CONSCIENCE.
THE FACT THAT SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE AN OMNIPOTENT GOD WILL RESURRECT THEM TO LIVE AGAIN AND OTHERS BELIEVE AN OMNIPOTENT SCIENTIST WILL DO IT SUGGESTS THAT NEITHER ARE REALLY BELIEVING THIS ON THE STRENGTH OF THE EVIDENCE. RATHER, WE BELIEVE THESE STORIES BECAUSE WE ARE BIASED TO BELIEVE THEM, AND WE ARE BIASED TO BELIEVE THEM BECAUSE WE ARE SO AFRAID OF DEATH.
COURTS STILL SHOULD MONITOR FOR LAWS THAT ARISE FROM INTOLERANCE - FOR EXAMPLE FRANCE'S BAN ON HEADSCARVES WORN BY MUSLIM WOMEN AS AN EXAMPLE. BUT AVOIDING LAWS MOTIVATED BY INTOLERANCE IS DIFFERENT FROM GRANTING SPECIAL RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS FROM NEUTRAL LAWS. SUCH SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR RELIGION OFTEN DEFEATS SOCIETY'S PROMOTION OF THE GENERAL WELFARE. IF WE START CARVING OUT EXEMPTIONS, WE DEFEAT THE PURPOSES OF THOSE LEGITIMATE OBJECTIVES.
Spirituality is the search for an ultimate reality, a transcendent dimension of the world, an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his being, or the deepest values and meanings by which people live. Spirituality is often experienced as a source of inspiration or orientation in life. It encompasses belief in immaterial realities or experiences of the immanent or transcendent nature of the world. Spirituality is more personalized, less structured, more open to new ideas, and more pluralistic than religion.
SPIRITUALITY IS NOT RELATED TO RELIGION. SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION LOCK HORNS! MANY PEOPLE DEFINE THEMSELVES AS SPIRITUAL BUT NOT RELIGIOUS. SPIRITUALS BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF MANY DIFFERENT SPIRITUAL PATHS, EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING ONE'S OWN INDIVIDUAL PATH TO SPIRITUALITY. MOST PEOPLE IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS SPIRITUAL BUT NOT RELIGIOUS. RELIGION IS A MEMEPLEX ORGANIZED BY CHURCHES, WHEREAS SPIRITUALITY IS DEFINED AS AN INTERNAL INDIVIDUAL SEARCH.
SPIRITUALITY EXISTS WHEREVER WE STRUGGLE WITH THE ISSUES OF HOW OUR LIVES FIT INTO THE GREATER SCHEME OF THINGS. THIS IS TRUE WHEN OUR QUESTIONS NEVER GIVE WAY TO SPECIFIC ANSWERS OR GIVE RISE TO SPECIFIC PRACTICES SUCH AS PRAYER OR MEDITATION. WE ENCOUNTER SPIRITUAL ISSUES EVERY TIME WE WONDER WHERE THE UNIVERSE COMES FROM, WHY WE ARE HERE, OR WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE. WE ALSO BECOME SPIRITUAL WHEN WE BECOME MOVED BY VALUES SUCH AS BEAUTY, LOVE, OR CREATIVITY THAT SEEM TO REVEAL A MEANING OR POWER BEYOND OUR VISIBLE WORLD. AN IDEA OR PRACTICE IS SPIRITUAL WHEN IT REVEALS OUR PERSONAL DESIRE TO ESTABLISH A FELT-RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DEEPEST MEANINGS OR POWERS GOVERNING LIFE.
God is a vision of the highest values of truth, justice, love, and goodness toward which we strive. In this sense, God is a standard against which to measure ourselves and our achievements. God reminds us of the relativity and limitations of our own ideas. God serves as a corrective to our biases and a basis for critical reflection. By bringing together our highest ideals in a single symbol, God provides a focus for personal devotion or communal worship.
We experience God as love, light, power, and wisdom. The God we pray to is both transcendent and immanent, a part of us but also greater than us. Sometimes we experience God as a light that comes to us in the darkness. This light emanates intense love and compassion and leaves us feeling joyous and connected to all of creation. Other times, we simply hear God's guidance as thoughts. It seems similar to a nudge or sometimes a whisper. This guidance usually comes suddenly and clearly, and it can arrive while we are deep in prayer or simply going about our business of the day.
THE QUESTION IS, ARE WE DOOMED TO LEAD THE ONE LIFE WE HAVE IN A WAY THAT IS SHAPED BY FEAR AND DENIAL, OR CAN WE OVERCOME THIS BIAS? WELL THE GREEK PHILOSOPHER EPICURUS THOUGHT WE COULD. HE ARGUED THAT THE FEAR OF DEATH IS NATURAL, BUT IT IS NOT RATIONAL. "DEATH," HE SAID, "IS NOTHING TO US, BECAUSE WHEN WE ARE HERE, DEATH IS NOT, AND WHEN DEATH IS HERE, WE ARE GONE." NOW THIS IS OFTEN QUOTED, BUT IT'S DIFFICULT TO REALLY GRASP, TO REALLY INTERNALIZE, BECAUSE EXACTLY THIS IDEA OF BEING GONE IS SO DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE. SO 2,000 YEARS LATER, ANOTHER PHILOSOPHER, LUDWIG WITTGENSTEIN, PUT IT LIKE THIS: "DEATH IS NOT AN EVENT IN LIFE: WE DO NOT LIVE TO EXPERIENCE DEATH. AND SO," HE ADDED, "IN THIS SENSE, LIFE HAS NO END."
MANY CHURCHES ARE DENS OF MURDERERS, BECAUSE THOSE JUDGED GUILTY OF HERESY INCURRED HARSH PENALTIES INCLUDING DEATH BY FIRE. RELIGIONS ARE ON THE WAY TO EVENTUALLY TURNING INTO MERE HISTORICAL CURIOSITIES. THE CENTRAL CONCLUSION ABOUT RELIGION HAS TO BE THAT IT HAS NOT MADE ANY LASTING IMPACT ON HUMAN ETHICS, THE PRIMARY ENGINE FOR ITS EXISTENCE. IN THIS RESPECT ALONE, RELIGION HAS FAILED DISMALLY.
NOW SOME CHURCHES HAVE ISSUED RESTRICTIONS TO HUMAN REPRODUCTION AND STEM CELL RESEARCH. MANY RELIGIONS HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WHERE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IS GOING AND THE RISK IT IS POSING TO THEIR BELIEFS. IN THE LONG RUN THESE RESTRICTIONS WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE. THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT SCIENCE WILL EVENTUALLY TRIUMPH.
EVERY ATTEMPT TO RECONCILE RELIGION WITH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IS A VIRTUALLY UNATTAINABLE GOAL. A DISCOURAGINGLY FUTILE EFFORT TO ACHIEVE CONSISTENCY BETWEEN SCIENCE AND RELIGION IS BROADLY ONGOING TODAY. A DOMINANT FACTOR IS INDIVIDUALS' REPEATED BUT FAILED ATTEMPTS TO SEEK AT LEAST A RATIONAL LINK BETWEEN RELIGION AND ETHICS. ETHICS IS A MAJOR FACTOR IN SCIENCE BUT PLAYS NO DISCERNIBLE ROLE IN TECHNOLOGY. ETHICS CONSISTS OF WISE GUIDES FOR HUMAN BEHAVIOR THAT ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT TO CIVILIZING PURSUITS. THEY ENSURE THE SURVIVAL AND PROSPERITY OF THE HUMAN SOCIETY. BY CONTRAST, RELIGIOUS PRECEPTS AND PROHIBITIONS USUALLY IMPOSE A HOSTILE BURDEN ON OUTSIDERS AND INFIDELS WHO REJECT ADHERENCE TO TRADITIONAL AND ANCIENT NORMS, MOST OF WHICH LONG AGO REACHED OBSOLESCENCE.
RELIGION IS INCAPABLE OF GRANTING BELIEVERS THE THOUGHT THAT THERE MAY PERHAPS BE ERRORS IN ITS TENETS THAT MIGHT CONTRADICT ANY PART OF THE PLATFORM ON WHICH THEY STAND. H.L. MENCKEN WITHERINGLY SUMMARIZED HOW SCIENCE COULD OVERCOME THE LIMITATIONS OF THEOLOGY AND AUTOCRACY: EVERY TIME THE SCIENTISTS TAKE ANOTHER FORT FROM THE THEOLOGIANS AND THE POLITICIANS THERE IS GENUINE HUMAN PROGRESS.
ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS ARE INHERENTLY VIOLENT, BECAUSE OF AN EXCLUSIVISM THAT INEVITABLY FOSTERS VIOLENCE AGAINST THOSE THAT ARE CONSIDERED OUTSIDERS. ABRAHAMIC LEGACY IS ACTUALLY GENOCIDAL IN NATURE. BASIL VENITIS, VENITIS@GMAIL.COM, HTTP://VENITISM.BLOGSPOT.COM, @VENITIS
OVERCOMING THE AFTERLIFE BIAS IS NOT EASY BECAUSE THE FEAR OF DEATH IS SO DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN US, YET WHEN WE SEE THAT THE FEAR ITSELF IS NOT RATIONAL, AND WHEN WE BRING OUT INTO THE OPEN THE WAYS IN WHICH IT CAN UNCONSCIOUSLY BIAS US, THEN WE CAN AT LEAST START TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THE INFLUENCE IT HAS ON OUR LIVES.
BY DWELLING ON INEQUALITY, THE POPE IS PROMOTING ENVY. CHRISTIANITY DISAPPROVES OF ENVY, DEEMING IT ONE OF THE DEADLY SINS. CIVIL SOCIETY EXPECTS THE POPE TO URGE ALL PEOPLE TO THINK OF THEMSELVES IN RELATION TO GOD AND TO THEIR OWN FULLEST POTENTIAL. ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO MEASURE THEMSELVES AGAINST OTHERS ONLY LEADS TO GRIEF. RESENTING THE SUCCESS OF OTHERS IS A SIN IN ITSELF.
PANTHEISM IS THE BELIEF THAT EVERYTHING COMPOSES AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING IMMANENT GOD AND THE UNIVERSE IS IDENTICAL WITH DIVINITY. PANTHEISTS THUS DO NOT BELIEVE IN A PERSONAL GOD. PANTHEISM WAS POPULARIZED IN THE MODERN ERA AS BOTH A THEOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY BASED ON THE WORK OF THE SEVENTIETH CENTURY PHILOSOPHER BARUCH SPINOZA. EINSTEIN SAYS: WE FOLLOWERS OF SPINOZA SEE GOD IN THE WONDERFUL ORDER AND LAWFULNESS OF ALL THAT EXISTS AND IN ITS SOUL AS IT REVEALS ITSELF IN MAN AND ANIMALS. I DO NOT BELIEVE IN A PERSONAL GOD, AND I HAVE NEVER DENIED THIS BUT HAVE EXPRESSED IT CLEARLY.
IT HELPS TO SEE LIFE AS BEING LIKE A BOOK: JUST AS A BOOK IS BOUNDED BY ITS COVERS, BY BEGINNING AND END, SO OUR LIVES ARE BOUNDED BY BIRTH AND DEATH, AND EVEN THOUGH A BOOK IS LIMITED BY BEGINNING AND END, IT CAN ENCOMPASS DISTANT LANDSCAPES, EXOTIC FIGURES, FANTASTIC ADVENTURES. AND EVEN THOUGH A BOOK IS LIMITED BY BEGINNING AND END, THE CHARACTERS WITHIN IT KNOW NO HORIZONS. THEY ONLY KNOW THE MOMENTS THAT MAKE UP THEIR STORY, EVEN WHEN THE BOOK IS CLOSED. AND SO THE CHARACTERS OF A BOOK ARE NOT AFRAID OF REACHING THE LAST PAGE. LONG JOHN SILVER IS NOT AFRAID OF YOU FINISHING YOUR COPY OF "TREASURE ISLAND." AND SO IT SHOULD BE WITH US.
IMAGINE THE BOOK OF YOUR LIFE, ITS COVERS, ITS BEGINNING AND END, AND YOUR BIRTH AND YOUR DEATH. YOU CAN ONLY KNOW THE MOMENTS IN BETWEEN, THE MOMENTS THAT MAKE UP YOUR LIFE. IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR YOU TO FEAR WHAT IS OUTSIDE OF THOSE COVERS, WHETHER BEFORE YOUR BIRTH OR AFTER YOUR DEATH. AND YOU NEEDN'T WORRY HOW LONG THE BOOK IS, OR WHETHER IT'S A COMIC STRIP OR AN EPIC. THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IS THAT YOU MAKE IT A GOOD STORY.
People are unfamiliar with SPELLS FOR LOVE beyond Hollywood and TV. When the idea of them being real comes to mind, they may find it ridiculous. Many confuse magick with faith and religion. Unfortunately, the latter had all spirituality taken out from it and came to be all about keeping up with going to church on Sundays. Those who consider religion a definite authority think it is all there is to spirituality, getting discouraged and sometimes being led to atheism.
Although magick may be practiced in the context of a religion, which in my opinion limits the learning of the magician, it is not a faith but experiential knowledge. Calling upon a spirit implicates seeing and hearing it. While out of your physical body, you can check what a friend is doing and confirm it with him later. When you cast spells for love on someone, you can notice a radical change in his or her behavior. Magicians don't practice magick so that maybe their life will change for good but to make it happen.
There is evidence of magick all around us. It conveys the nature and usefulness of spells for love. Evidence even gives you an idea of the methods used by magicians to accomplish their tasks.
Religious Evidence Of Spells For Love
The Holy Bible is the most popular reference of magick in the west. Joseph had a silver cup whereby he used to practice divination (Genesis 44:2-5). Aaron's rod became a serpent before the pharaoh of Egypt, and turned the water of the Nile river into blood, including reservoirs in vessels of wood and stone, killing all fish at the same time (Exodus 7:8-12 and Exodus 7:17-21). Jacob's rods made flocks bear young that were streaked or spotted (Genesis 30:37-39).
Historical Evidence Of Magick
For the Egyptians, magick was everyday life. They had a particular inclination towards talismans and amulets, from which a collection is exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Talismans and amulets resembled an animal, symbol or deity and sometimes consisted of grouped shapes. Material, color and incantation put on them differed as well. Talismans and amulets could be a necklace, bracelet or ring. Dolls made of wax and other materials were used in spells for love, nowadays a well-known practice in Voodoo. A doll made of terracotta with nails stuck is exhibited in the Louvre museum of Paris.
Present-day Evidence Of Magick
The period of 1888-1908 is marked by the foundation and disintegration of the Golden Dawn, one of the most influential and respected magickal orders. Wicca and spells for love were revived in 1954. There are pre-existing magickal traditions that became more popular.
Scientific Evidence Of Spells For Love
The company Neurosky developed a headset that decodes brainwaves and streams them to control video games and other devices. Researchers led by Brian Paisley and Robert Knight, professors at the University of California-Berkley, developed a device that translates brainwaves into words. Because thoughts produce brainwaves, they are real like a radio or TV signal.
People make claims about magick when they don't really know about it. They and others believe them and that is why their love life is in chaos. But that doesn't have to happen to you. Now that you know spells for love are real, you can use them to get the love life you want.
TO OBTAIN OUR SERVICES
You must be 18 years of age or older. Above all, you must be certain that you want Results! Deep down you must be committed to Achieve Results!
To those who are not absolutely sure yet whether they want results, we recommend that they approach a therapist, counselor, and the like. This way, they have the inner satisfaction of having done something and at the same time they do not need to worry too much that they get that which they claim to desire.
Our spells will resolve your problem in 10-21 days. We have a wide amount of experience in love spells and will plan the most convenient strategy for your case.
There are people who often try to waste our time trying to get something for nothing. Ever heard of a top lawyer assisting people in legal disputes for nothing? Contacting us means you are willing to pay the appropriate fee. You will never be asked for more money under some excuse. We will only accept a case if we are 100% sure of success.
You can contact us at urgentlovemagick@gmail.com Tell us about your case in detail. We respond fast to all e-mails since we know how important your case is.
[This article appeared in a thread on categorizing magick on the
newsgroup alt.magick. It contains some useful information on how
people percieve and categorize various phenomenon -- Amythyst]
The recent discussions of nlp and education bring to mind an issue
having to do with learning which I believe is pertinent to magick.
Formal magick is a largely literate/intellectual art, as we
discuss it. There is a great deal of pooh-poohing of non-literate
traditions from some quarters, and the entire focus of some people
on magick as science comes from a western academic tradition. No
problem with this -- but it is only one view.
As Leo (I think) said recently (reminding me of Idries Shah...) a
large part of his study is 'learning how to learn.'
In my experience working as (among other aspects of my job[s]) a
computer trainer, I have found that people learn in very different
styles. I ask for the tolerance of the psych and ed people out
there, since I haven't studied this formally...
I have a taxonomy of learning styles which is not complete, nor is
each category exclusive. But I find that people tend to be
oriented towards one of three styles of learning:
Think -- study first, do later, integrate somewhere in the
process
Feel -- conceptualize and integrate, then do and study
Do -- play with and do things, study, and then integrate
Most academic types are Thinks. These are people who find it easy
to learn by 'reading the book/manual.' Many hackers are Do/Think
types; they can study, but they often prefer to play with the
system and experiment as a preferred path of learning about it.
Feels are the people for whom it is most important that they
realize the importance and meaning of a skill before they attempt
to begin to acquire it. These people often need to feel inspired
before they enter into a new enterprise -- at which point they are
often immersed to the point of obsession...
I was once commissioned as a consultant to teach the manager of a
small non-profit organization (male) to teach him and his
secretary (female) basic DOS literacy, and how to use Lotus 123 (a
spreadsheet, for those who, like me, prefer not to travel in DOS
circles...;). "Be gentle with Sarah, though," he advised me.
"She's kind of a dummy about computers."
When I arrived to teach these folks I noticed that I would explain
something, demonstrate it on the machine, and John would get it
straight off. Then Sarah would have to ask, "Could you tell me
about this again?" So I would go thru it again, while John stood
behind Sarah shaking his head privately at me as if to say "I told
you so...!" I found this more than a little patronizing, since
Sarah seemed to be picking up more detail, really, than John...
So, the next thing I had to show, I said, "Watch this." And I
performed a task. Then I explained what I just did. Sarah caught
on immediately (she was more of a Do). John had to say, "Could
you show me that again?"
I confess, I spent the rest of the session adapting my teaching to
Sarah's learning style (show, explain, then allow her to replicate
what I did). It was clear that she was the one who would be doing
most of the work on the computer anyway. I suspect that John is
mystified to this *day* as to what might have been going on, that
he suddenly had so much trouble, and Sarah's IQ had seemingly gone
up so quickly.
Sarah, on the other hand, whether she picked up on the mechanism
or not, appreciated the attention, and when I saw her months
later, thanked me again for making her 'feel better about the
damnable machine.'
The point of this is that many of us deal better in a learning
environment where we can *see* and *do* things with others, rather
than try to get them from books. This does not reflect on a
person's relative intelligence, but rather on their adaptability
to academic culture, if anything.
I personally consider myself to be a Feel/Think, in this system,
and it is important to me to be able to integrate systems as I
learn them. One of the best ways for me to do this is to be able
to find a person with whom I can relate closely to teach me. Once
I learn something, I can teach it to just about anyone, although I
might not be able to express it in words for an arbitrary (to me,
impersonal) audience.
Shamanic traditions, for example, are very Do/Feel in orientation,
I think.
Just a few ideas to cast into the fray...!
--
Shava Nerad Averett shava averett@unc.edu
/* all materials (c)1992, Shava Nerad Averett, and have nothing
significant to do with the University of North Carolina, a
mostly owned subsidiary of the NC Legislature, a mostly owned
subsidiary of the DOT. */
The other night I was meditating and Hermes* popped by. He gave me a torch** and said: * It request help me later than I go swallow careful mature * To deliberate down as I do astral work and use it to see what I have been confused * To put an image of the torch on my altar.Yesterday, I had a very longing gossip with VI with reference to story magick. His motion post on that delivery is in this area and I seriously imply you dig up the series of posts he is leaving to make on the delivery. I get convincingly clued-up every time I chat to that man. VI is one of persons workforce with whom I bring to a close up fairly later than he speaks the same as one desires to ensnare and understand what he is current. I am indubitably that gossip played within what followed.Succeeding in the afternoon, Soror Gimel texted and alleged she was having a very tough asthma criticize. I told her to go to the ER but I would work on it. I appearance workforce to see professional help and they extremely considerably constantly snub me in situations like this. She did the same. I took my torch with me and slowed down on my barn dance. In fact, I traveled a insignificant reserve and unused. I have issued some complaints from time to time that I can't astral travel as the mature I did in the shrink planes, I felt an exciting interweave strike. Just the once I heal or go to other astral sitting room I do not reliability that. I am in this area and consequently I am there. The lack of a transitory phase makes it harder to define someplace I am. Did I travel or is this all in my climax and my climax suitably happens to be lovely to heal workforce swallow its images? Just the once I unused, I felt that astral interweave and it was a bit careful to tolerate in place. The torch didn't reveal considerably.Just the once I took new-found hop, there was no interweave until I unused over. I figured I was two thirds of the way there but this time the torch revealed a breakage in the non-negotiable. I entered this and found for myself in a place of white light. That light was coated like iced cake triumph. It may possibly diversion but retained its something else shapes. The happening looked like a vigor in which simple resentment imply form. Soror Gimel thought her stem genuinely in worry. I called an ambulance which voguish tidied up and helped move the gurney she was on inmost the car. The EMTs worked on her spell they delivered her to the clinic. They did CPR, gave her a jaunt and a day or to after that released her. She hugged her other half and child and seemed suitably fine. At the moment, she hearsay that she is considerably split but still requirements her inhaler.This story board view was sensibly even as was the stagger of anything astral world I found us in. I have questions: * Did I carry her on a healing barn dance emerge of time? * Was the story line actual or suitably the way my climax was converted by the prior gossip and what is the difference amongst climax space and actual? * He moreover popped by in my tarot class live through Monday night. That through me feeling nearly everything was fun.** I couldn't find a lead spiritual union to Hermes and torches in the lore. I did see that his son Pan had a torch take in Marathon but who says he is restricted to stuff in his myths?
Origin: paganism-new-age.blogspot.com
