Wushu Magic

General Thoughts on RPG Magic

Magics such a cornerstone of fantasy gaming, yet I often find it one of the most unsatisfying sections of rules. On the one hand we have systems like d20 and Rolemaster which provide a vast list of spells, nicely delineated, and usually containing within them a kind of thaumatological theory. I loved ICE's Spell Law for many years-- mostly because it had so many spells. However in play, these kinds of systems become rigid, with little way to modify or improvise. There's also the problem of overkill inherent to them-- new spells, new rule look ups and a slowing down of play. On the other end of the spectrum with have systems which have complete flexibility, like True20 or even Mage: The Ascension. However, unless outside schemas apply (as in MTA) you can end up with a kind of flavorless set of mechanics. I worry about that sometimes with my versions of magic for Action Cards sometimes, but I try to make sure I add to the narrative to make the magic feel in keeping with the campaign. Libri Vidicos borrows from Harry Potter obviously, so magic is present, potent and can be wondrous. In the Third Continent Campaign, magic in both the arcane and divine form, ought to have a little more everyday, gritty and practical feel to it-- but the echoes of older, more powerful magics exist. I think I'm happier with a flexible system-- especially if I'm creating something from scratch. It simply represents less work-- less effort for time I can spend elsewhere on the design.

The other consideration I've mentioned before is balancing the power and utility of magic against the point investment of non-magic players. I want magic to be effective, in combat and outside. As an example, let's look at a potentially great system that ends up crippling mages, Gurps. Over the years Gurps has become more and more crunchier and granular. If people think 3e+ Dungeons and Dragons is a tactical and detail contest, they really ought to look at Gurps, which has become more and more that as well. I'd hoped the new edition would go in the other direction but it didn't. I at least had hope that the new Magic book for the system would fix the problems of the old version, but they essentially imported it in wholesale with only a couple of minor changes to match new mechanics. If we look at it from a point investment standpoint, the straight warrior has the advantage. They have to buy some physical stats and really one combat skill. The mages has to buy the physical stats to survive, plus IQ for their spell-casting, plus the spells. And that usually means multiple spells to have some variety and effectiveness, since they have to buy prerequisites (setting aside One School and other options). But that's a classic investment problem in games. But when we get to combat, a fighter can swing every round, doing let us say 2X damage, without any additional cost. A mage will not be doing that every round-- they have to prepare the spell for usually at least a round, but more if they want it to do damage even comparable with that of a warrior, which of course reduces that measured over several rounds. Then they have to make a spell-casting roll, and a spell-throwing attack roll.

So the relative advantages:

Melee Fighter-

*Less point investment

*No real resource expenditure to activate attacks (unless you use advanced fatigue rules which don't come into effect until many rounds later)

*Key stats are combat effective ones

*Better damage over time

Mage-

*Higher point investment

*Resource expenditure for casting

*More point investment required

*Additional skill roll often required

*Prep time required for nearly all effective spells

*Usually ranged

*More flexibility

Gurps clearly is trying to keep mages in line-- to remove the possibility of people goobing the system. It makes sense in the context, since Gurps comes out of a tactical wargame (Melee and Wizard) but it does create problems and frustrations. I'm sure a careful GM could manage that balance, but it does take jerry-rigging the system and more work than I'd like, even leaving aside how static the spell lists feel. Of course, on the opposite end, you have old Rolemaster where eventually you hit a level point and the mages becomes seriously overpowered and dangerous, especially compared to pure melee classes.

Anyway, those are always considerations going on in my head when I think about magic systems. I have a certain admiration for things like WoW where they've been able to achieve balance or at least a kind of parity over time with the classes. But of course, that's part of the trick, they're imposing changes from above, they have a large test group to shake out problems, and they have time to make and remake those changes-- and forum complaints aren't the same as unhappy players at the same table as you.

Wushu Campign Magic

That's the long way around to talk about what I'm working on for the magic system for the Wushu campaign. In working on this, I've referenced a couple of the existing Chinese Magic systems from other rpgs. Feng Shui didn't have much-- a very generic set up eight different elements. It has some flavor to it, but definitely more of the HK Action flik variety than Chinese or Wushu magic. Qin the Warring States has some interesting stuff, but it falls into the classic DnD discrete spells with overlap between different forms, high complexity, and many rolls. Still there's flavor there I plan to borrow. Weapons of the Gods...well, once again, I find this to be the greatest RPG I can't understand...well, next to Nobilis. There's flavor there and a complex set of ideas but as a whole it is hard to follow. So instead, I'm just going to borrow themes and ideas. I want a flexible system which has limits-- those limits being to keep the magic looking and feeling like the classic or at least cinematic version of Chinese/Wushu wizardry-- I'll avoid my favorite term sorcery here, since that has some darker connotations. At the same time I want mages to have parity with warriors.

So magic is divided into Five Schools-- for want of a better term-- each School has three classes of effects.

Alchemy:

The art of making potions and ointments. Scholars who focus on this will be able to prepare some ahead of time, but will also be able to call out some effects on the fly. For this mechanic, a character will be able to claim a number of prepared potions per session equal to their rank in Alchemy. The GM reserves the right to say a particularly powerful potion would count as two towards that. Generally Alchemical arts require a lab and resources. Since such alchemy is more ritual-- with necessary alignments and feng shui-- than science, an Alchemist can only work on one potion at a time.

*Effect Potions: Mostly non-instant and non-damaging effects. Healing potions for both wounds and Chi can be created. Healing potions heal a number of wounds equal to twice the Scholar's Alchemy rank. Potions can also be made to cure disease and other ill-effects. The Alchemist may also make potions which boost a stat or a group of stats. However these require a Resistance test if more than one is consumed. At skill three or better, the Alchemist can create a vaporization potion, allowing him to make Effect and Combat potions in a gaseous form.

*Combat Potions: Potions with an antagonistic effect. They can be delivered outside of combat, in drinks or the like. Common Effects include-- noxious substances for blinding, burning liquids for damage, acids for destroying armor, painful concoctions to cause damage or irritation over time, smoke bombs and the like. Thrown potions must be dodged-- they can only be successfully parried by adding style elements to evade the splatter. At higher skill levels, the Alchemist can make unstable explosives.

*Ointments (Buffs): These can't be retroprepared. Ointments take time to apply, at least fifteen minutes, so can't be activated in combat. Ointments also tend to attract dust and so can make the user dirty. Common Ointments include ones to ward off animals, increase defense against one kind of attack-- like blades-- or at advanced levels more kinds of injuries, to resist elemental effects or just the elements, to resist disease, increase attractiveness (which isn't noticeable), and the like.

Chi Flows:

The manipulation of the flow of Chi within oneself and also of others. The classic meditative form of magic.

*Healing and Protection: While most of these techniques are self-only a few can be used on others. Characters can perform battlefield healing, but it lacks the potency of a well-prepared potion or medicine. Healing touch can be done once per target and heals a number of wounds equal to the Scholar's Chi Flows Rank. Other kinds of healing, such as Chi restoration, disease curing, and condition clearing, has a higher difficulty than for Alchemical Arts. However, the character can balance a condition, putting it into stasis until more efficacious techniques can be used. These arts can be used on the self to resist disease, harden the skin, turn away certain substances and so on. Continuing effects must be prepared in advance, but the player may spend a point of Willpower to retroactively claim preparation. Only one continuing effect from this group may be active at one time.

*Boosts: These are self-only effects, but can be quite potent. The character can boost one stat, or with more difficulty, a set of stats. He can also modify his own abilities, making himself more limber to escape bonds, silent to evade detection, able to avoid the need to sleep or eat, and so on. Purely defensive abilities which grant soak or resistance fall under the Healing and Protection class. Continuing effects must be prepared in advance, but the player may spend a point of Willpower to retroactively claim preparation. Only one continuing effect from this group may be active at one time. The player is encouraged to come up with new options. Narrow effects will be more potent than broad ones.

*Tricks and Sealing: These effects revolve around manipulating the Chi of others. Offensively, they can be used to drain chi, seal powers, reduce stats, and the like. These are mostly instant combat effects, so don't require the meditative preparation of the other arts. The character can also manipulate and even cloak his own power if he wishes. Daoists have a number of other classic techniques within this-- the sending of thoughts at a distance, creating small illusions to trick the unwary, focused gestures to distract and confuse an enemy, or even engaging in direct Chi to Chi combat with other Scholars.

Predictionism:

Not only the ability to see the future, but to also read the present situation and calculate actions for best results. Predictionism requires time and ritual, but minor effects can read read on the fly.

*Divinations: This covers the basics of sense-- being able to read the past, see at a distance, divine the nature of omens, tell something of the future. Common effects include things like danger detection, dowsing, tracking sense, intuition, object reading and the like. It also covers the ability to do formal readings of the future, a common professional skill.

*Curses: Since the PC's are good, they don't actually inflict curses, instead they detect which interrelations currently exist and explicate them. Which curses the target based on their preexisting conditions. This can be used to cause minor problems-- like detecting that a person should avoid fighting in a particular place or against a certain kind of foe. For example, Scott could say that a warrior is governed more by the cool influence of water and fighting under a hot summer sky will tire him out more quickly. It could also be used in the inverse, to uncover that a target might be weak to a particular substance or person. Essentially players are encouraged to narratively define bonuses or penalties. A target should be limited to one of these kinds of effects at a time. Characters with higher Legends may be more resistant to these kinds of effects. Characters may also apply more active curses with more preparation-- usually based around the element most strongly present in the person. For example Water curses are about the separation of two things. So a Scholar might be able to cause a rift between two people with such a curse or even prevent a particular person from finding another (useful if someone's annoying or pursuing you).

*Influences: These are the inverse of Curses, providing beneficial situations and circumstances. It can also be used to detect and balance the feng shui of an area-- making it more harmonious or auspicious for a certain kind of activity. A more active use is to push persons towards events or meeting people, as the fates decree two things coming together.

Exorcism:

Covers abilities designed to fight against the supernatural and the corrupt: hopping vampires, animated corpses, ghosts, fox spirits, demons, evil wizards and the like. The Exorcist Scholar pits his strength against that of the forces of darkness. This means lots of resistance checks. The Exorcist may also create Talismans to grant these effects to others-- though at a reduced strength.

*Detections: The ability to detect malign magic. Sensing if a person is under an active curse, seeing if something is the work of a demon, crafting a mirror which will reveal a true form, striking to shed disguises, seeing the invisible, and so on.

*Wardings: Both the creating of defensive measures (shields to parry, additional soak) and also being able to set up barriers which dark forces cannot cross or touch. Useful for keeping a house clearly of baleful influences. Can also be used to trap demons and the like.

*Banishings: Spells which directly attack these supernatural foes. As with other directed combat spells, Scholars may apply style keywords they know to an attack. Or they may generally apply modifiers, like more damaging or split or the like, by these increase the difficulty of the spell-casting. Attack Spells have a rate of two-- but a Scholar may spend two actions on casting a spell, giving them +3 dice damage.

Elementalism:

The Chinese system has five elements: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood. Each of these has certain non-literal associations in Wushu magical theory. You can find some discussion of that here-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu Xing. For the purpose of Elementalism, we're talking about the literal forms of the elements: firebolts, grappling vines, ice shards and so on. Scholars who take ranks in Elementalism can create effects in all five elements. However they should choose one they're really good in-- in which they're considered to have one higher rank (for power) and a +1 to all casting effects. They should choose another one they gain just a +1 to spell-casting with. Then they pick the two they'll will be weak in-- gaining a -1 rank and -1 casting to one, and a -1 to casting in the other. The fifth element remains neutral for them, with no modifiers. Characters may want to look at the elemental associations to see how those imbalances or weaknesses might affect their personality (or vice versa). It is possible to shift those modifiers over the course of the campaign, as events shift the balance of one's internal chi types.

* Offensive: Your classic attack spells-- anything that emulates an attack. It can be done as a directed attack or else as a supplement (like calling flame to your blade). Directed attack spells do damage equal to Elementalism Rank + Wits (just as swords have a base damage + Str). Mages may apply style keywords they know to an attack. Or they may generally apply modifiers, like more damaging or split or the like, by these increase the difficulty of the spell-casting. Attack Spells have a rate of two-- but a mage may spend two actions on casting a spell, giving them +3 dice damage.

*Defensive: Used to counter offensive spells or to set up walls or shields. Continuing effects against physical attacks are modest-- adding +2 Soak or +1 DR. Continuing defensive effects against unusual or magical effects will be stronger. Scholars may use their Defensive skill as a Parry, based on [Elementalism: Defensive + Wits]. This has a rate of 3 and costs no Chi to activate. Alternately, the Scholar may spend a point of Willpower in combat to allow him to use this to Parry Unusual (typically ranged) for the duration of the combat.

*Shaping: The ability to shape or manipulate the elements in question in a non-attack way. So for fire, it might be about putting out or manipulating flames. For metal is might involve warping or shattering. For earth it could be used to bury oneself or raise a dust-storm. For water the character would breathe underwater, create a fog or freeze a pond. For wood the character to increase growth, bend branches to him, or cover tracks.

How does this all work?

The Scholar has to buy two things to cast magic--

1.Rank in a School which determines the Power of his spell-casting. This is used to calculate damage, strength, and what number things need to resist against.

2.Skill in one or more of the classes under a school. This is used for all spell-casting rolls for that school.

Each School uses a Primary Stat:

Perception for Predictionism

Wits for Chi Flow and Elementalism

Intelligence for Exorcism and Alchemy

Casting a spell takes an action. It costs one Chi to cast a spell. If the spell is an Attack or Offensive spell, it has a Rate of Two. If it is a Defensive or other Spell it has a Rate of Three.

The Scholar must roll a number of successes equal to the difficulty of the spell. The spell-casting roll is the Attack roll if the character is attacking-- the caster needs at least two successes then, one for the spell difficulty and one for hitting the target. Mages may apply their combat style keywords to their spells freely. They may also apply the classic modifiers to spells (many, selective, etc) each one increasing the difficulty by one. If a Scholar fails a spell-casting roll, they may not cast again that round.

Base damage for an Attack Spell which takes armor into account is (School Rank) + (Primary Stat). Mages may spend an extra action on Spell Prep to grant +3 damage.

That's the basics-- I'll do another pass over on the draft later in the week. Consider this a very rough draft.

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Celebrity Jesuit And Framing The Lcwr

"Fr. James Martin, S.J., an editor for America magazine, launched a Twitter hashtag "#WhatSistersMeanToMe" to show appreciation for all religious sisters on the microblogging site where 140-character text messages and popular tags can spread with rapidity. "Catholic sisters teach me what it means to persevere without the benefit of institutional power," he tweeted April 19. Framing things in that way, I thought, meant that people could show their gratitude for sisters, and read other messages of support, without being in any way negative. No need to be anti-Vatican or anti-bishop or anti-anything. Just pro-sister," he said in an April 26 Washington Post column reflecting on what came next. His comments brought in many appreciative tweets from those affected by religious sisters' work in education, health care and spiritual direction. THEY ALSO DREW A RESPONSE FROM FR. JOHN ZUHLSDORF, A BLOGGING PRIEST WHO BELIEVES SOME LCWR DEFENDERS ARE IGNORING THE PROBLEMS IN THE WOMEN'S RELIGIOUS ORDERS. "THE UPCOMING REFORM OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE LCWR IS NOT ABOUT THE HOLY SEE OR AMERICAN BISHOPS BEING MAD AT UNDER-APPRECIATED WOMEN WHO BUILT AND RAN HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, AND ORPHANAGES," HE SAID APRIL 24. "THE REFORM IS NOT ABOUT THEIR BACKING THIS OR THAT POLITICAL HORSE. THE REFORM IS ABOUT THE FACT, THE FACT, THAT MANY OF THE WOMEN RELIGIOUS IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS OVER SEVERAL DECADES EMBRACE AND STILL ACTIVELY PROPAGATE A RADICAL FEMINISM TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT THEY NOW PROMOTE, AS PART OF THEIR SYSTEMS AND POWER STRUCTURES, UNNATURAL ACTS BETWEEN PEOPLE OF THE SAME SEX AND THE KILLING OF BABIES WITHIN, AND EVEN MOSTLY OUT OF, THE WOMB." FR. ZUHLSDORF ENCOURAGED HIS READERS TO USE THE "#WHATSISTERSMEANTOME" TWITTER HASHTAG TO NOTE PROBLEMS IN THE WOMEN'S RELIGIOUS ORDERS, SUCH AS SISTERS WHO ADVOCATE FOR ABORTION RIGHTS. FR. MARTIN SAID SOME CRITICS OF THE LCWR WERE "VINDICTIVE, CRUEL, MOCKING" ON TWITTER AND FLOODED THE HASHTAG WITH SNOTTY COMMENTS ABOUT WHO WERE FAITHFUL SISTERS WERE AND WHO WERE NOT." THE SPAT FOLLOWS THE RELEASE OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH'S ASSESSMENT OF THE WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, WHICH HAS MORE THAN 1,500 MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING 57,000 VOWED RELIGIOUS. THE ASSESSMENT FOUND A DOCTRINAL "CRISIS" WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. IT CALLED FOR A GREATER EMPHASIS ON THE CONFERENCE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.S. BISHOPS' CONFERENCE AND ON THE NEED TO PROVIDE "A SOUND DOCTRINAL FOUNDATION IN THE FAITH OF THE CHURCH." THE TWITTER INITIATIVE ALSO PROMPTED SOME TO CRITICIZE THE CATHOLIC HIERARCHY. ALTHOUGH FR. MARTIN SAID HE DID NOT INTEND HIS EFFORT TO BE "ANTI-VATICAN OR ANTI-BISHOP," THE HUFFINGTON POST'S REPORT ON HIS INITIATIVE DEPICTED IT AS A RESPONSE TO THE VATICAN "CRACKING DOWN" ON THE LCWR. COMMENTERS AT THE HUFFINGTON POST ALSO TOOK A DIM VIEW OF VATICAN ACTION. WHILE MANY VOICED APPRECIATION FOR RELIGIOUS SISTERS, MANY ALSO RESPONDED TO FR. MARTIN'S INITIATIVE BY CRITICIZING THE BISHOPS AS OPPRESSIVE AND ANTI-WOMAN. ONE SELF-DESCRIBED CATHOLIC COMMENTER ATTACKED MOTHER TERESA, CLAIMING SHE WAS PRIMARILY MOTIVATED BY "MONEY AND POWER."LINK (HERE) TO AT UCANEWS.COM

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How To Transmit Love Binding Spell

When you think of love, many thinks comes to your mind. Many people would say that it's a mysterious way of connecting people, people who are not acquainted with each other. Then the many people think of love binding spells to guide their lovers to them. Which ever the exact why a person would use a love binding spell, the main reason is love for them. Many people who had used a love binding spell had many experience after the love binding spell is done. But some did not

experience supernatural effect after using a love binding spell. The main concept of love binding spell is to make two people meet in one path and love will take over that event. But this has something to do with potions or love binding spells, most love binding spells requires personal belongings of the person they wanted to use the love binding spell with. Some use strands of hair or picture of the person they wanted to love them. These people are not aware that a love binding spell has been used to them.

Here is a guide on how to use a love binding spell:

* You get the needed materials, 3 small pieces of parchment or paper, a disposable pen, 2 candles, red or white is great, and athame or wand.
* Get the parchment on the first place, then cast your circle and write your name. Write the name of the person you would want to work your love biding spell to on the second circle.
* On the parchment that you wrote your name, place a candle to your left. Then one candle on the other parchment on the right with the name of the person you would want to be bound to you. Then the other parchment will be placed at the center of the two candles with both of your names written on it.
* The first candle should be lighted first, that is at your left, and you say these words, "burn bright, burn clear, burn true, heart of (your name)". Then light the other candle at your right, and then repeat the words you just said with your name. You could use an athame or a wand to make a figure eight that will go right across the paper that contains both of your names. While making a figure eight, say these words "a binding of these two hearts, it=f it is meant to be, must come to pass." Repeat making the figure eight after taking a good deep breath and say these words "let no one or nothing, break this bond, of these two hearts.

Then another deep breathe and say these words "let this two hearts beat as one, it is my will and so it shall be done." As you complete making 3 figures 8, concentrate on the paper that contains your name while imagining yourself together with this person. Think of you and that person together in life and as life goes by.

* Then you will seriously contemplate on this situation, then combine the candles and let the tips meet to make the flames come together as one. Say these words while focusing on the paper that contains both your names " so transfer my will, my spell has been heard, as I will, so mote it be." Burn the paper using the on light of the two candles combined; close the circle after you had blown the candle.

This is a just one of the may love binding spells you could find online, just key love binding spells, then it will give you the best site for this.

Credit: alchemy-and-alchemists.blogspot.com

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Praying With The Spirit

I'm re-posting my Pentecost Sunday sermon. Rather than focus on the traditional Acts 2 passage, I chose to work with another passage, one that also proclaims the message of the Spirit. I share this in the hope and prayer that the Spirit of Pentecost will empower your life, even in times of great difficulty.

Romans 8:22-27

Charles Spurgeon wrote that "any fool can sing in the day. When the cup is full, a person draws inspiration from it." But what happens when night falls and the cup is empty? Spurgeon wrote that when he experienced the "bliss of spiritual liberty," he could climb near the throne of God and "sing as sweet as seraphs."

But confine me, fetter my spirit, clip my wings, make me exceedingly sad, so that I become like the old eagle -- ah! then it is hard to sing.

In fact, it's unnatural to sing during times of trouble, except perhaps to sing the blues. But, as Spurgeon wrote: "songs in the night come only from God; they are not in human power."1

I. THE PROMISE OF PENTECOST

Today is Pentecost Sunday, the day on which we celebrate the promise, presence, and power of the Holy Spirit. It's this Spirit who empowers us to sing even during the darkest of nights.

It was on the Day of Pentecost that the Holy Spirit fell on an uncertain and powerless community. But, just as Jesus had promised, the Spirit of God transformed that body into a powerful witness to God's gracious love and healing presence. On that day God connected the church to the power of the resurrection. It's as biblical scholar Beverly Gaventa writes: just as the resurrection is the "first fruits of God's triumph, the Spirit is the 'first fruits' of the appropriation of that triumph by believers."2 So, just as Jesus has risen from the dead, the Spirit comes to us as the sign of God's triumph over death.

II. THE SPIRIT'S EMPOWERING PRESENCE

Our text this morning doesn't speak of Pentecost, but the same Spirit that came powerfully upon the church that day is at work in our lives, empowering us and sustaining us, even in the darkest of moments. That is the message of Romans 8. As Spurgeon pointed out, prayer and song don't come naturally to us, especially when we suffer physical or emotional pain. As I hear these words of Paul, my mind and heart go to my friend, and former teaching assistant, Eric.

Eric is in his mid-30s, has a wife and kids. He's a beloved youth pastor, and will do anything and everything for you. But now, a stage four cancer has taken hold in his abdomen and in his brain. Stricken by this cancer, he's experiencing constant pain, and I expect that death is a likely possibility - though they've not yet given up hope. I am greatly saddened by this, but at the same time my faith is encouraged by the reports that I've been getting. Oh, he's not getting any better, but despite all of this pain and suffering, he's still singing praises to God and encouraging others. I wonder: How does he do this? I mean, Eric is a naturally joyful person, but at this point being joy isn't in his own power. And that's the point that Paul is making - we can't sing out to God unless we allow the Spirit to pray with and for us, even when we have no words to share.

Everything we know about Paul suggests that he understood the meaning of suffering. He experienced shipwreck, imprisonment, beatings, and a thorn in the flesh. While all of this could overwhelm even the strongest person, he found strength in the midst of his suffering. In Romans 8 Paul acknowledges that "we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words." Yes, when we experience that dark night of the soul, when we can't find the words to speak to God, the Spirit is there interceding for us. Indeed, the Spirit knows our hearts and hears our cries and groans, and shares them with God who is always listening for the voice of his children.

I really don't know how this works. I don't know the mechanics of this kind of prayer, so I can't teach it to you. I would if I could, but it's not in my power. All I can do is say that when such a prayer is needed, the Spirit will provide the means. I know that some people think that when Paul talks about groans too deep for words, he's talking here about praying in tongues. He may. I don't know. Indeed, I don't think this is true. What I do believe is that when the moment arises, God will hear my cries, just as God heard the cries of the Hebrews in Egypt and the cry of Jesus from the cross. So, even if I can't speak for myself, I know that God still hears what is in my heart. Indeed, he hears the cries of all God's children!

III. SINGING IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT

One reason why I take comfort in the promise that God hears my cries, is that this promise is set in the context of other promises. Indeed, if we continue to read through Romans 8, we'll will find some of the most powerful and hopeful promises in all of scripture. Listen to verse 28: "All things work together for good to those who love God." Then, in verse 31, Paul writes: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Again in verse 35, he writes: "who will separate us from the love of Christ?" And then in verse 37 Paul writes: "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."

As I listen to these promises and draw strength from them, I also know that there's a question that troubles so many in our world: Why do bad things happen to good people?

As I stand here today, I can't explain why some people suffer and others don't. I'm mystified by Parkinsons, AIDS, and Alzheimers. Good people lose their jobs and their homes. Tornadoes and hurricanes destroy churches. But, as I listen to these promises, I'm reminded that God is present and active in our lives, even during times of darkness; when sadness and grief, pain and suffering, threaten to overwhelm us. And so I draw strength from the promise that when words fail, the Spirit is there to intercede for us.

And when the darkness falls, and words seem absent, perhaps we can heed the example of Paul and Silas. Finding themselves beaten and jailed at Philippi, at midnight they began to sing out in praise to God. As Luke tells the story, while they sang, an earthquake shook the jail and freed them from their chains. They could have escaped, but they didn't. And because they stayed in the cell, they had an opportunity to share their faith with the jailer. Luke writes that by morning that jailer and his whole family had been baptized, all because Paul and Silas sang praises to God in the night (Acts 16:16-40).

As we ponder the message of Pentecost, I pray that we will find strength in the knowledge that if God is for us then no one and no thing can be against us and succeed. Indeed, filled with God's Holy Spirit, let us remember that we're more than conquerors. But, as we celebrate, may that celebration be tempered by the knowledge that Jesus found glory in the cross. Therefore, let us sing joyfully, boldly, and heartily before God, giving thanks for God's overflowing presence, keeping in mind and heart the message of the cross.

Pentecost is a reminder that the Spirit of God has fallen abundantly on the world. Walking in that Spirit, we can live lives of joy and thanksgiving, even when darkness falls, for when we can't find the words, the Spirit will speak, bearing witness to the healing grace of God.

1. Charles Spurgeon quote in Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild, eds., Westminster Collection of Christian Meditations, (Westminster/John Knox Press, 1998), 386-87.

2. Beverly Gaventa, in Walter Brueggemann, et al., Texts for Preaching, B, (Westminster/John Knox Press, 1993), 352.

Preached by:

Dr. Robert Cornwall Pastor,

Central Woodward Christian Church

Troy, Michigan

Pentecost Sunday

May 31, 2009

Credit: modern-wiccan.blogspot.com

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You Are Also Doing Cleansing For Humanity And The Planet Via John Smallman

As channeled by John Smallmanjohnsmallman.wordpress.comIn the order of in the spiritual realms our ease is going up as the new energies surge spanning the World, concerning all of planet to the divine sphere of Soft spot top-quality tight than has been the set for a very desire time. So its communication to you all has become so strong it is like unendurable for character to ensue unknowledgeable of it.Of course, sprawling empty of your sisters and brothers who are very fanatically numb regular do not know what is goodbye on, or what is causing the abode thrilling upheavals they are experiencing. Over-the-counter medications are not distribute to defeat these unwelcome vibrations, so they are having to target them, often for the inventive time. Be patient, at that time, to the same degree you combat people who are behaving strangely - on the ball, nap, sad, exhausted - and be strong to lend them an ear if they necessary to deliberate. In the past, like to send them love, affection, freedom, and healing in the function of it is what they necessary in the second, and your intentions in this sphere are now very powerful.You are all all the rage to put a bet on in the stimulation method, as you very well know, but it regular requests to be brought to your brain wave regularly and recurrently, in the function of abundant of you are too undergoing secret idiosyncratic thrilling cleansing that tends to pester you from the assignment you shoulder smitten on for this duration. Fruitfully you are discharge duty your own cleansing, and you are too discharge duty cleansing for planet and the globe, which is why you are so respected.Tired time for yourself in prayer, kindheartedness, or meditation requests to be an absolutely essential part of your daily routines, regardless of how conscientious you are - and we know that some of you accurately are in good health conscientious. In the same way as in that skillful and depression space - and you cogency be blocked in placid group though embezzle that time out - reasonably remind yourselves and say "I am Soft spot," in the function of contemporary is nil in addition, and it necessary minimally raise you a second. This is a very powerful drop off in the function of it is absolutely and in fact true, as you know at the trough of your having the status of, even if you to look after to lessening it out of a tense aspect of humility.This time on this day is the minimally time contemporary is in the function of, as you know, time is part of the artifice, so the minimally time that exists is "Now!" For planet experiencing life in the artifice, that e-mail makes no aspect, and yet it is true. In the same way as you stir up, you mood move out of your design of time and the deadlines and margins that it appears to trudge upon you and live inside the eternal now second everywhere all that exists, all of age band is forever engender a feeling of. So that second in the group jam, to the same degree you say "I am Soft spot," is the eternal never-ending now, to the same degree all that occurs does so.By focusing on the now second and on the truth that you are Soft spot, inseparable from your Twitch, you to all intents and purposes make the notion to burst into flames from the nap of the artifice inside the victorious hopefulness of God's eternal day. The artifice - an egoic regard to which you take hostage powerfully in the function of it has clear in your mind you that weak spot your bodies you no longer befall - has minimally the power completed you that you shoulder detail it, and you are very powerful beings. Focusing on the now second is a very powerful notion that helps you on your path to stimulation, in the function of it is You focusing on having the status of to cut a long story short touchy of your divine spirit, and arrived fill depression moments you "mood" get fitful tempting glimpses of Reality.Reality is your eternal Farmhouse, and you never left it. On the contrary, you shoulder done an in good health good job of forceful yourselves that you did. That is a dispute of the roomy, in fact prodigious power, with which your Twitch endowed you at the second of your age band. Featuring in the illusory tenancy that appears to be your mortal home it is very easy to be hopeless by the physical, by rocks and bodies and vegetation, in the function of you be opposite for and see their physical representation, and yet, as your modern physics has away you, contemporary is nil physical: it is all energy brunt or energy fields, in the short term customary in time. Wintry energy seems very solid, but physicality mood break up to the same degree it no longer serves you, however the energy from which it is free from anxiety is everlasting. This is a very up and down world to clutch as you state so furthest death and deterioration all a little you. Rocks reasonably raise a condensed longer to break up or fit than organic forms.So Reality, the Farmhouse you shoulder never left and to which you like to return, is sheer energy. You know how powerful electricity can be to the same degree it is justified sorted out, or how powerful is the cleaver from an electrical storm; well that is as nil compared to the power of which each one of you is free from anxiety. You are top-quality powerful than a nuclear description, or your sun, or black holes. You are incalculably powerful beings in the short term "on holiday" from Reality, and it is your fortune to burst into flames. Your stimulation is true to form, so raise time daily to remind yourselves of this, and let go of all the unimportant egoic distractions that look after to funding you to ransom. Grip and apportion the Soft spot that you are with someone with whom you exchange ideas as you fly towards Farmhouse.Your fervent brother, Jesus.

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Soul Food For Thought

by WizenedSage

Image via WikipediaConsider the matter of the soul. Ask a Christian when the soul enters the body and he may say at conception, or some number of weeks after conception, or at birth. Ask him how he knows this and the only answer he can give is that he read it, someone told him, or "it just makes sense." Christians have been arguing amongst themselves about this for thousands of years. Ask him how big the soul is and he may answer that it's microscopic, or fills the whole body, or anything in between. Again, he knows this because he has read it or been told it. Ask him where in the body the soul resides and he may say the heart or that it's diffused throughout the body. Again, he's read this or been told this.

Ask four Christians to define soul and you'll likely get four different answers. Ask him if a six-month old baptized baby who dies will spend eternity as a six-month old baby and watch him squirm.

If it happens that the soul simply doesn't exist, then Christianity has a huge problem concerning the afterlife. Ask him why science has never been able to detect or measure a human soul and he will likely answer that's because the soul is immaterial. So is it matter or energy? He will likely say it is energy. What kind of energy - electrical, magnetic, gravitational, or chemical? He will probably say that it isn't any of those, but something entirely different that science can't detect. How does he know this? Well, because science has never detected it, of course. The circularity of this answer may or may not occur to him, but even if it does, it's not likely to trouble him because he takes it as a given that the soul exists and, if no scientific instrument can detect it, then that's just too bad for science.

Ask the Christian if anyone ever demonstrated to him the existence of the soul and he's going to have to think very hard before answering. The real answer, of course, is no, but he may well come up with some cockamamie story that purports to be a demonstration.

The problem here is that all the evidence for the soul, ALL THE EVIDENCE, is hearsay. People have written about this entity, and they have talked about it, but as far as anyone truly knows, it was all just made up. No one has ever demonstrated the existence of the soul, and this is why no one knows - so there is no consensus on - when it enters the body, how big it is, where it resides, or what it's made of. Even the Bible is curiously silent on these issues.

If it happens that the soul simply doesn't exist, then Christianity has a huge problem concerning the afterlife. Obviously, the human body does not survive death since it is routinely either buried or cremated. Then what does survive, if not the soul? Without the soul, heaven and hell are meaningless concepts because there is no way to get to either. And, how an immaterial entity could contain the essence of an individual human - his memories, his beliefs, his personality - simply beggars the imagination. Is it like the code in old American Indian smoke signals? Now it's not surprising that the Christians have made something up, but how many are aware of just how little evidence there is for the soul, on which depends the essence of their entire religion? How many, do you suppose, have ever given a serious thought to this problem?

Origin: witch-selena.blogspot.com

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Im Not Ready To Make Nice

By Mriana

Image by Untitled blue via Flickr

"And how in the world

Can the words that I said

Send somebody so over the edge

That they'd write me a letter

Saying that I better shut up and sing

Or my life will be over."

That is basically the response I got from a long time friend that I thought I could trust or who I thought was a friend that I could trust, but, and I hope I am wrong, apparently there were conditions to that friendship. Before it was over she was telling me what I could not say, what I should write, and eventually, when I asked her two honest questions, she gave me what was, in my opinion, a trained response. It really was like I had threaten her beliefs and I could not believe she was a person who would feel insecure about her beliefs when someone expresses a different view, but I guess I was wrong.

The words to the song ring so true, especially when it comes to the idea that one can just get over it and accept "true religion" as opposed to what my relatives believe, which is not "true religion" apparently. Such a statement, as I told her, is the same thing as my grandfather saying, "Calvinists are wrong and Wesleyans are right". Sorry, but I have never and will never never achieve Christian perfection- Wesleyan doctrine. There is no such thing from what I can tell, because every sect believes differently and many times they each have a different human concept. You name it and it is probably a different concept.

This same friend seemed to resent my saying that even her beliefs could become authoritarian. She does not believe she is authoritarian, but in some respects she comes off as such. Telling someone to not call certain groups certain things is a form of authoritarianism. Telling a person trained responses is a means, given her profession within the Church, to keep the masses in line and not get out of control with their own thoughts. Her responses only gave me red flags to leery, no matter how hard I tried not to be.

Sorry, but I have a right to my own thoughts and opinions. So does everyone else and I am willing to allow her to believe as she wants as long as she does not impose those beliefs on me. What she was spewing was PURE Wesleyan- Christian perfection, although the Episcopal Church is not necessarily either Calvinism or Wesleyan. Both men came out of the Anglican Church and both men strongly disagreed with each other.

Sorry, but I am not ready to make nice with Evangelical Fundamentalists. She may want to make nice, but I do not wish to do so, due to the wrongs they have committed and are committing. However, I was willing to reach out a hand in friendship and hopefully achieve a mutual understanding, but I get the feeling she is not, much less reach any understanding of me and other non-theists. She may say she is being open-minded, but with statements such as, "have you read the New Testament lately?" it does not bode well with understanding a non-theist. All such statements are same old, same old tired remarks of many Christians who are confronted with a non-theist.

The other thing was, she almost demanded that I write a chapter in my book on how religion can be healing, adding that my book would sell well because "Christian bashing is in" or something to that affect. My only response was that I would not know about how religion could be healing and that was an attempt to make nice with her and give her an in to express herself in greater detail. She missed the opportunity. Thus, I felt I was basically told to shut up, stop bashing Christianity, and write what she wanted to read for a change. It is not going to happen, not in my book. "Shut up and write or you're life will be over." Not her words, but I feel like she might as well have said that.

As I told her, I have not removed my membership as of yet from the Episcopal rolls, thus she has power to have me declared as a heretic or even excommunicated. I practically dared her to do it, but she backed down, saying, "You are not a priest who vows to uphold the teachings of the Church" and that she rarely uses the "h" word". No, I am not a priest and I never intended to be a priest and much less she did not know how we got into such a dispute any more than I did, adding that she did not have a problem with humanism. My older son thought what she said was a "half-ass" apology, but what does he expect? For me to demand a better apology? I cannot demand such a thing from anyone.

Even she did not know how our argument got so far out of hand, but it did and I will still say and write what I want about any group of Christians I so choose. I will call them what I want to call them and I will believe what I so choose. She has no right to dictate to me any of those things and when I ask her a question, I expect her to stand by her words of "I am not your priest and you are not my parishioner" and address me as a friend, which is what I thought we were.

Just as the Episcopal Church has a chance to reach out to gays, lesbians, transsexuals, and bisexuals, she had a chance to understand a lapsed Episcopalian turned humanist/agnostic and left the Church. She missed the opportunity and I do not know if she will ever get such an opportunity again. I have nothing against the Episcopal Church and I have not said anything bad about that particular church itself, only individuals who behaved badly within the Church. I also said good about her and other individuals, but currently, I am very hurt and angry by how all of this turned out, especially when I was trying to treat her as a friend, which is apparently what she also wants too from what she says. Thing is, she may say it, but sadly, and to my sorrow, she does not seem to follow up with her other words.

However, when she is ready, I will be here, willing to talk, answer any questions she may have, as well as ask questions I may have. I just hope it does not take too many years for her to take that opportunity. In the meantime, I doubt she realizes that she too has hurt me, not so much with religious dogma, but with her words and attitude that defied the notion that I could trust her. I have tried to communicate with her why I have taken the position I have, but she does not seem to be listening to her anything but her own dogma, which she states is grace and not a set of rules. In my honest opinion, dogma is not grace.

Oh I have listened to her, maybe a little too well and I feel she is not hearing me, because I regret coming out to her as a humanist and agnostic. What better position to take, after weighing all that I could than to say, "I know what it is not, but I do not know what it is" or to just say, "I do not know". This is not a denial of her god nor is it an affirmation, thus it should not be an affront to her beliefs, but it appears that it is and not matter what I do or say, it all seems to just get worse, as she responds with trained and unquestioned statements. The worst one being, "All of history, including the revelations of other religions, prefigures, leads up to, and prepares the human race for the coming of Christ." What a well trained and well-ingrained response to something that threatens one's beliefs. We have all heard similar things from other theists. It is not new nor is it one bit true. It is not even a thought out answer for oneself, but something she was taught and she accepted without question. Thus, it was like saying, "how dare you question the teachings of the Church", in my opinion. Thus, I was not talking to a friend, as I had hope and as she wanted me to treat her, but rather a member of the clergy. I even told her, I did not want her to respond as clergy, but as a friend, with her own thoughts and opinions. I have come to the conclusion that she does not have her own thoughts, but only those she was trained to say.

I'm through with doubt

There's nothing left for me to figure out

I've paid a price

And I'll keep paying

I even told her I have done my own research, just as I was allowed to do and came to my own conclusions about it all. I asked, got what I asked for, and I have paid the price for it, but I am glad I did it, even though sometimes I feel sorrow over it. However, I do not feel sorrow currently. Right now, I am glad I did it and would not change it for the world. If she truly wants me to think for myself, as she says she does, then why take so much offense to the words I say?

She was surprised to be lumped in with those who have hurt me with religion? She was not and I said nothing but good about her and I tried to show her that, by sharing the blog post where I did talk about her. Thus, she was not lumped in with Evangelicals and she is still not, but that does not mean she has not hurt me. That is, she had not until now and if she never brings herself to read what I have written here, then what can I say? It only tells me that she does not want to even try to understand my point of view or even from where I am coming.

I still appreciate her as a friend very dearly and will even miss her friendship, if it is truly lost, because she is like a sister to me, but I cannot see how it will work if this is what I get in return, even with honest questions in which I mean no ill-will towards her. Apparently, we have both learned all we need and there is nothing left to figure out, leaving us to pay a price, which one or both of us will keep paying. I, for one, am grateful for what I have learned, for it has left me with little doubts, and obviously I am still learning, but her behaviour is not going to change any of my views. Neither one of us can change the other and I never once expected to change her views or beliefs, whether she realizes it or not. I value our friendship too much to impose my views on her, but that does not mean, I will not ask her tough questions when they come to mind, if she decides to stay friends that is and allows me to have my views. However, I am getting the feeling that will not happen, no matter how many openings I give her to expand on her statements.

All I can do is sigh and keep any further thoughts I may have to myself. What did I expect of her? I expected far better of her than this. Sadly, I did not get what I expected from her and I doubt that I ever will, thus all I can do is sigh and say my fellow non-theists were right about pretty much everything. I wanted to say to each and every one of you, "You are wrong. Not all Christians are like that. Not all Christians are threatened by us." Sadly, I cannot and I am only left to retreat from this whole situation, back to those who share my views leaving any hopes of making any headway into even one single Christian understanding any of us without feeling threatened. You all were right and I was wrong. Needless to say, I am heartbroken that it looks like I have lost a long time friend in the process, but what was I suppose to do? Continue to lie about my views and pay her lip-service, when she herself said she "would rather see someone commit fully to another religion than half-ass their way through Christianity"? Even though humanism is not a religion.

No, I need to tell the truth about my non-theism, instead of hiding in order to please and appease others. I cannot continue to be quiet about religious abuse. I need to share my story and speak my mind. If I do not, the same patterns will continue. Regardless, it is sad and disheartening "that the words I say can send somebody over the edge". What I have written stands and what I publish in my book will not change much, except to polish and expand a little on some of the things I have written. Of course, this and many of my other rants will not be included in my book.

That said, it would be far more healing and not at all a dishonour, if we could still be friends. In the end, it could be a potential means of gaining some understanding and compassion for the views of the other, especially of non-theists. I am not so sure it will begin with the two of us though, because I have a feeling she would rather turn a blind eye to religious abuse or call it not true Christianity, than confront it. When and if she is ever ready, I will be here, even though religious abuse is only one reason I am a humanist and if per chance she sees this and reads it, I hope she realizes that I have nothing against her, but am deeply sadden by how things seemed to have turned out between us. However, I hope, if this is not truly over, we can still be friends, regardless of our disagreements, because it was never my intention to hurt her.

* The two quotes above are from "Not Ready To Make Nice" by the Dixie Chicks.

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The Tibet Protests

The Olympic torch was carried through London yesterday (6th April) and, as has happened in other countries, it was used as an opportunity by the Tibetans and their sympathisers to protest against Chinese rule. Today the protests have continued in Paris. It is a controversial tactic, but the Tibetans have been so victimised while the world looks on, doing nothing, that I can't say I blame them.

What China has done in stealing Tibet for itself seems to me to be no different than what the USA did in 1848 in pinching 40% of Mexico; or what the British did, as another Empire, in conquering India. The trouble is that these days you can't get away with it so easily, even if it is Manifest Destiny.

Since its annexation by the Chinese in 1950, the plight of Tibet has gained enormous sympathy in the West. This has been helped not just by western opposition to communist expansion, but also by the spiritual hunger of the west, which has projected its ideals onto cultures like the Native Americans and India and the Tibetans, who seem to embody something completely 'other'.

Of course, you can only ultimately satisfy this hunger within yourself, but a bit of outside assistance, even from a very foreign culture, can help us along the way. At the end of the day, though, it comes down to being able to recognise what is real, and staying true to that. It is very simple, but it can take a long time to get there - and when you do, you realise that most people don't live like this, especially, perhaps, 'religious' people.

Tibetan resistance to its occupation has also been characterised by peaceful protest, and this has been a very genuine reason why there has been so much western sympathy to its plight. The western perception of Tibetan spirituality is not just projection, there is also something very real in it. And the Dalai Lama, the leader in exile, has been a wonderful example to the world. He is far from your average hierarch, whether political or spiritual. He is very human, very down to earth, he has humility and humour and compassion and sense. So it's no wonder us westerners feel so strongly about the Tibetan cause.

The Chinese occupation has been very bad, but not all bad, even though the Tibetans are now treated as second class citizens in their own country. Recently, for example, I read about a young Tibetan woman who had been married in the traditional way: against her will and at 12 hours notice, to a young man of the local shaman's choosing. She was bitterly upset, because it closed down so many opportunities that modern life, through the Chinese occupation, had brought about. Over the next few years she was also married to some of the brothers of her husband, in the old tradition that ensured that farmland did not get subdivided between too many heirs as it passed down the generations

Below is the Dalai Lama's chart, which I am putting up purely because it is delightful and unusual. Sun-Asc in Cancer in a watery Grand Trine with Saturn and Jupiter, making a kite through the Moon-Neptune conjunction in Virgo. There is a huge amount of watery harmony in this chart, the man is no emotional retard, he is the King of Cups. Saturn in the 9th is a religious leader. But then Moon opposite Saturn: he was required to be grown-up from a very young age. Even as a child he was revered, and the chart is saying this would not have been easy for him. There would have been a lot of expectations (Saturn) placed on him instead of the unconditional love that a child needs. Moon conjunct Neptune points to a capacity in himself for unconditional love, but it also suggests a certain loss (Neptune) of his childhood (Moon) due to the expectations (Saturn) placed on him. Being the King of Cups, however, he seems to have come out of it OK: Moon opposite Saturn even describes this Tarot card.

The other challenge is Mars in Libra square to both Sun and Pluto. The Dalai Lama has clearly found the middle way, the higher resolution of what you would normally find with these aspects: either a difficulty in asserting yourself and in knowing what you want, or an aggressive and violent temperament. He has used the dynamism in these aspects to find the highest expression of Mars: the capacity to steadily assert yourself and take action, but with an understanding that violent opposition will not achieve any end worth having. His non-violent stance isn't just a religious principle or an emasculated aspiration. It is real, and the square aspects suggest it is something he has had to find and develop for himself.

Tibet has such a long history that it's not really possible to establish a chart for it. But its modern aspirations could be said to have begun at the first uprising against the Chinese on 10 March 1959, somewhere between 6.30 and 7am. (Source: Nicholas Campion's Book of World Horoscopes). The present protests began on the anniversary, 10th March.

What is immediately apparent about this chart is Sun conjunct Moon in Pisces and, like the Dalai Lama, Sun square to Mars. Pisces is at the opposite end of the Zodiac to Aries. Aries loves to take action and to oppose, even blindly. Pisces as the 12th sign is the old soul of the Zodiac, and perfectly describes the emphasis on non-violence that the Tibetans have had in their opposition (Sun square Mars) to Chinese rule. But it is also the sign of suffering and victimisation which the Tibetans have had to undergo. Pisces is not a good sign for beginnings, as we have seen with the Iraq War, which started with the Sun at 29 Pisces.

So this chart does not make me very hopeful that the Tibetans will ever be able to do very much about their situation. It is an excellent chart for them continuing to be an inspiration to the world for their (relatively) non-violent stance. There are now more Chinese living in Tibet than Tibetans, and it has become their homeland, you can't just kick them out. The most the indigenous Tibetans can hope for is that they will one day not be treated so much as second class citizens. It's hard to know if the current protests will help their situation, or whether it will just make their overlords clamp down even more. Meanwhile, I for one will continue to cheer them on.

Uranus is currently passing over the Tibetan Sun-Moon conjunction, and will be doing so for another couple of years. So the present phase of protests is likely to continue for a while yet. And as it's Uranus, you don't know what's likely to happen. It could be about more freedom for the Tibetans, or it could be about the other face of Uranus, a reactionary backlash by the Chinese.

OF TIBETANS AND VOID MOONS

In my Monday posting, I commented that the chart for the Tibetan protests has Sun conjunct Moon in Pisces (10 March 1959, 7am, Lhasa, Tibet), and that Pisces is not a very good place for starting things, as we have seen with the Iraq War, which has Sun at 29 Pisces.

What someone pointed out at our astrobabble group last night was that the Tibetan Uprising Chart also has a Void Moon. So it really was a lost cause from the word go, and there has never been any serious pressure on China to relax its hold on Tibet.

A Void Moon occurs when the Moon is not going to make any major in-sign applying aspects with any planets before it leaves the sign it is in. The Moon traditionally activates the other planets, transmits their energies to earth. So on a Void Moon nothing can happen.

In the Tibetan Chart the Moon is at 25 Pisces, and all the other planets are at less than 25 degrees, so that is clearly void.

The Titanic set sail on 10th April 1912 at 12pm from Southampton, UK. The Moon was at 29.36 Capricorn. This is a Void Moon. It is in an applying conjunction with Uranus, but Uranus is at 3 Aquarius, so it is out of sign and does not count. If they'd waited 1/2 an hour, the Moon would have changed sign and no longer been Void, and their journey would have stood a much better chance of completion.

Now for a qualifier: I don't think it's necessarily the case that a Void Moon is an unwise time to start things. In the ordinary way, if you are making plans, it certainly is an unwise time. But I think a Void Moon also works a bit like Pisces: there is a gap that we cannot fill with plans, but through which energies and events can pass if we get out of the way. It is a place of Magic rather than Will.

So the Void Moon can be seen as very potent in a particular way, while being impotent in the usual ways.

And I think this says a lot about Tibet, which has not just Sun conjunct Moon in Pisces, but a Void Moon as well. They certainly chose their moment to rise up against the Chinese! It has doomed them to failure in the ordinary sense, it just isn't going to work.

But it is also a chart of modern Tibetan aspirations, and it is an extremely good chart for maintaining the magical traditions for which they are known. What I'd say to Tibetans inside Tibet is OK, you need to press to be treated better by the Chinese, but if you quietly keep practising your native Bon and Buddhist traditions, they will flourish, you will have an enormous power working through you that the Chinese can do nothing about, and they may hardly even notice it.

Sun conjunct Moon in Pisces in the 12th House plus a Void Moon: I can hardly think of a combination that is more potent for channelling magical power, for being collectively guided from a higher source. And it means that, however much the Chinese oppress them, the Tibetans will probably remain an inspiration to the rest of the world. As China's economy expands, it is being forced to have stronger and more open relationships with the rest of the world, and it becomes less easy for China to operate in the old authoritarian ways. This means that, over time, the influence of Tibet as a 'spiritual' tradition, as the guardian of much that we in the West have lost, may increase.

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Introduction Finding Power Without Tripping Over It

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Categorizations and labels in the Engender a feeling of are numerous. Submit are now "non-Wiccan Witches", "Untried Droopy Kitchen Witches" and even "Say Magick Witches". It would be comfy to be blameless to verify our beliefs in a handful of words, but why place spirituality during sorry for yourself compartments? Taking into consideration in the footsteps of others can regularly be an easier footpath, but different these paths may not lead to real power. These fine compartments can get limited and regularly lead to some require practices such as collective notices of expel from a tradition, or a upper up open another covener what God/dess is grand mal for them to be in love with at their "level". Regrettably in the hunt for power, some unite found that rule stuck-up others, and dictating what is "not to blame and true" for others is easier than finding their own power.

This Fetch of Bleak proposes that you make your own path. If you are Suzy, set up Suzyism, if you are Tom, set up Tomism. A Witch finds his or her own path to power at the same time as that power is very distinctive. This fitful Fetch of Bleak may give somebody the loan of a general traffic lane map to finding your own path. The best bookish you momentum ever unite is YOU! If you read a hundred books and sell from them only a few things that are important to you, you're well on your way. Witchcraft is not an easy path. Submit are get older that it is isolated, incomprehensible, and two-timing.

It is pleasing at get older to find a coven to connection, distinctively whenever you like you unite pay off begun your path. But spirituality is so distinctive that it can be tricky to find others who separate your views and style. Numerous institute so are tempted to set up their own coven or tradition and teach others their own style and views so they unite others to separate with. Repeatedly, these institute unite no power and are either using the power of their "underlings" or are seeking disc that their path is strong. Rather than forming a coven, it can sometimes be preferable to sphere yourself with expressive institute who momentum help you out whenever you like you deprivation it. Covens are surprising unreserved structures, but why work magick and be in love with with institute you don't know, love and acclaim loads to connect any one of them or clutch them family? Make-believe bonds can operate a long time, some acclaim even lifetimes. Try not to rush during a coven or connection one at the same time as it is in a relaxed manner slat to you. Also, until you unite found your own power, you cannot submit suchlike fixed to a coven and would scarcely be another slight body. A coven that workforce or accepts new members could do with be regarded with slyness. Such a coven may unite an out of court training spin or some other measured quantity to help you as a recruit, but all too regularly you momentum find covens accord new members are only accord introduce somebody to an area who are raring to go to walk off with give instructions and be a passive grassland.

It is not my concept to present about any dogma which is to be severely adhered to in worry of repercussions on any level. By reading through this book, experimenting, studying, researching, practicing and otherwise applying your sum time to the pastime of knowledge (self-knowledge, people-knowledge, world-knowledge, spiritual-knowledge, etc.) you momentum be deed an initiation on your own path.

Commencing is a procedure of change, it doesn't be successful closely over an multifaceted rite. For different, it takes stuck-up a appointment to even begin the household changes that are regularly crucial for initiation. Thus the traditional "appointment and a day" momentum be suggested about as a bewilder time line for practical and traditional purposes. Stylish a appointment of the candidature of your energy to the pastime of knowledge you momentum designate different transformations in your self. Sometimes newcomers are all too distressed to be initiated. This is understandable even a dedication ritual constrain be broaden grand mal. Dedicating yourself to a "appointment and a day" of study momentum help you to find your own power and quantify if Witchcraft right is the path that is completely for you.

The things open in this book may commit to memory a type of responses. Numerous of them momentum be rapid, such as mistrust, imperial, originality, appeal, bleakness, sternness, and on and on. Numerous of the responses may be broaden delicate.

Clever reconsider of this reproduction may stir responses such as appeal or suggestion on a educated or mental level. Private changes even, regularly commit to memory the powerful reactions of the emotions such as worry, delusion, joy, sternness, refusal, originality etc. Not working all of these responses, it is hoped that put forward is no matter which within this work that speaks to the One Who Knows... that sputter of divine in all of us, our inner child, our inner scare of truth, our well-hidden, the aspect fix of each of us that is connected to the All. By chance this work momentum rouse that inner expression from a long nod off in this regular world, or, if that expression is or else heard, it may describe it locate to speak up broaden universally, or with a cut above eagerness.

Bravery to walk off with the most basic act down this path is incomprehensible. You may unite to cast with exterior services in our friendliness (anti-Craft propaganda, peers, modern gathering attitudes, etc.) and you momentum unquestionable unite to tell the services within yourself that momentum shut in these changes. These household services are regularly manifestations of prior fervent credentials, worry of experienced yourself and accord yourself, low drive, etc.

As an exceptional starting object, put forward is one basic principle that could do with be kept in thoughts yet to be suchlike as well. (nope, not the Witches' Rede!) Be true to yourself! This most basic principle can be one that is tricky to drape on a apt level. If you are quaking to nation self-knowledge and deal in that what you are affect is offensive in some way, you want issue whether your thoughts has put up a wall of inflexibility to change or whether you are affect no matter which that is right offensive for you. While you momentum be untrustworthy everything at this object, it is easier said than done to find your sanity of collateral and remainder. This services you to draw aggressiveness from within yourself and find the power within you, but it can as well be close at hand tentative in the dark if you are having ill finding that aggressiveness. If your drive has been low for different existence, if you've never trusted yourself and your manner, so you want be faithful to know that "time true to yourself" is not the same as time true to your old patterns.

The principle of 'Be true to yourself" is as well tricky to live out whenever you like we are faced with our own reservations, egos, and insecurities. It is easy to imagine that we are time true to ourselves, brief for the good of all, or for what is best, whenever you like, from another position, we are time thoughtless or power insatiable.

For appraise, print that a Witch who is rationally new to the Engender a feeling of is invited to teach a exact group of institute questioning in Wicca. We momentum name him Jack. Now Jack found a overall trade out about himself by using an herbal mix he had made. At the rear a few weeks of teaching the basics, Jack is stimulated to intelligence the growth of his students by administering this herbal brew to them. His justifications to himself for affect this were to help his students. But was Jack time true to himself? Was he time square with himself? Did he wish to care his ego by time an expert teacher? Were his events really the best for all involved? Were the students vacant or raring to go to partiality that rapid or by such means? Or was Jack time stimulated by a deprivation to flaunt his herbal knowledge or unite his powers acknowledged?

Essence true to yourself at most basic may mean untrustworthy even your own events, not scarcely untrustworthy your old beliefs and knowledge. It is as well a tricky principle to drape whenever you like you are venturing out on a path that is so aggrieved that it is considered "evil" by greatly of friendliness. At the same time you are quaking to open up to new things, you are faced with information (from institute books, etc.) that is misguiding, is provided with dishonest motives, or is pay off obvious shine. These 'attacks' can make you preventative which makes it even harder to last true to yourself at the same time as you are stopped off.

The two property to relive that momentum help you in following the most basic principle of "Essence true to yourself" are:

1) Help asking questions, even of yourself, restrain your motives, other peoples' motives, issue community property you unsaid were true that you were educated, issue the new resources you read in the Engender a feeling of, issue why you are draw to the Engender a feeling of in the most basic place.

2) If you become entranced about your motives, other peoples' motives, etc. and aren't final which organization you could do with go to be true to yourself, so try to act to the right from the class. "Land-dwelling" yourself, walk off with deep breaths, try to get al fresco and walk off with a long go off ona tangent in genus, rough copy down the class in your journal or Fetch of Bleak, try some form of foresight to storage place light on the class. Then, whenever you like you make your track, rough copy it down in the Fetch of Bleak again. If you've made a uncertainty, you can go back and learn from it, if you didn't make a uncertainty, you can go back to relive how you brought yourself out of the imperial.

So now that the most basic principle is significant, but do we begin in the Engender a feeling of, especially in the practice of magic? The emergence principle is called the Wiccan Rede. Submit are different versions of this, here's the long and the churlish of it:

*

* An' it harm none, do as you momentum.

Or the long version:

*

* Bide the Wiccan (Witches) law we want,

* In Buff up Beloved and Buff up Intermix.

* Eight Vernacular the Wiccan Rede downright(s),

* 'An it harm none, do as (what) ye momentum.

* Lest in thy self-defense it be,

* Habitually thoughts the period of three.

* Trail this with thoughts and main,

* And jovial go in with and jovial part.

Submit are community who would swear that the things open about are not that of Wicca, Witchcraft, The Engender a feeling of, The Old Mysticism, etc. Except in my studies and experiences, I unite exposed that put forward is no Unaffected and Proper form of Witchcraft. It is a religion not including agreement or unthinking philosophy. Submit are only a few strategy, even, if you invent to clutch yourself a Witch, it is moral to rest by at least some of the few lengthily exact (but not holy order) tenets of the path. (See Pagan Paths & Trads in the Documentation tract.) Both tradition is only a derived of different elements, polished and distilled during a living spiritual path. No separation is made about surrounded by Wicca and Witchcraft as it is felt to be unneeded. Numerous momentum diverge with this, even nearby every aspect of the Engender a feeling of might be argued during the event until it no longer existed. By chance this is clever what some who promote these arguments would throbbing. We momentum not take part in in such self defeating battles.

This so, might be considered by some as yet another tradition, but it is really broaden of an bushwhack. It is open about for you to draw from, in whatever way you wish. In order to find a significant path, sometimes you unite to give up the ones made by community who unite gone yet to be you and make your own. Pretense so presents broaden challenges, as put forward are no guideposts, no benefit catches of a coven or priest/priestess. Considering only the divine within yourself to guide you, how can you remit if you are deluding yourself or time directed by worry, find objectionable, wavering, wish for power, deprivation for love, and throbbing for control? This is the opponent of different of the Self-initiated so, to agree to to community aspects of the public that set up disagreement and lack of happiness, but it doesn't unite to be you're pitfall. Taking into consideration the Wiccan Rede is, again, a good place to start. At the same time, some self-initiated Witches who live out mind paths are spared the issues of repeating mistakes made by so different others, and regularly make broaden growth than they would unite if they'd followed a traditional path.

In order to give rise to mingle within yourself where walking this path, it is crucial to zipper surrounded by persevering survey and impulsive practice. Lets sturdy at Witchcraft for a detail as an perpetrator would. An perpetrator want study and practice the traditional techniques of art in order to unite a bewilder line of knowledge. Their natural talents and this traditional training momentum help their art to become better. Except, their art is not right surprising until they make it their own and move stake with it. A all the rage saying through different artists is, "You want know the policy of your art in order to break them."

Original appraise would be to sturdy at Witchcraft as you would your health. You wouldn't pay off eat what you looked-for and label it watertight not including a bewilder line of knowledge. Researching provisions and health provides a bewilder line of knowledge. Your survey may learn information that is twisted or put-on, but it momentum event your things. Then, the final act is to go to to your body, your inner expression, and walk off with it from put forward.

To nation a bewilder line of knowledge, a Witch want be raring to go to give out the time to do the survey, and give out the energy to go to to their inner expression. Submit is greatly knowledge to be gained in books. In them you can read of the signposts that others unite seen on their paths, you can be warned of their pitfalls, but only you can know of your own. I present to you, the reader, and possibly shrink, this book, to help you name how to get in stain with that inner guide who momentum help you down your own, mind path. My apt experiences momentum normal for the duration of this work as is moral grand mal, but they are not assumed to be a difficulty or even a guide to you, scarcely an appraise. The path you name on your own may be the only true one for you. Current is pay off one path in a total web of strengthening paths that all lead to the middle, and all lead out, expanding and severe to make a inveterate whole, the All of life, death, and all forms of energy and it's passage.

It is tricky to make public in such a not moving form as the written word, a universe that is living and moving, perpetually embryonic, every time in shakiness. This work might never come slat to demonstrating Witchcraft as a whole, for Witchcraft is the All. At that time, this shall haul the percentage of the All that is my understanding at this time. I'm equally final that as I growth through these pages, different changes shall come about, as is the genus of the Engender a feeling of, energy, and life itself. Except, this is only a photograph, a snapshot in time, a symbol for us to sturdy at, to inquiry, to walk off with to one side and re-establish until it is well-known to us and is nearby a part of our psyches, so, possibly it momentum inspire that break to the all, open us to understanding, not pay off the symbol, but our own places in it and our own apt truths. This work may lead you to your inner One Who Knows. This work is an initiation....

A Worry, Gone Long-drawn-out To A New Put together,

Can Surprisingly Take the place of To Its Prior Capacity.

This quote represents the only true "evil" in the Engender a feeling of. For appraise, if you didn't know the truth about no matter which close at hand, the dangers of tobacco smoking, you might gatehouse your sum life enjoying a restful cigarette now and so. Gone you know the truth, it is tricky to abuse that cigarette with the same hope. This can be matter-of-fact to different areas of the Engender a feeling of. Seeking truth in yourself and in the world is an essential aspect of different traditions. Dullness may right be enjoyment, but a Witch recognizes that "knowledge is power", and overall chooses the succeeding.

Source: esoteric-soup.blogspot.com

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Integrity And Beyond 27

Greetings dear and wonderful readers.. All is well, better than well as a matter of fact..Our dear Goddess has blessed me today. I am at peace. I want to extend Full-Moon and Ostara Blessings to each of you. I decided to give meditation another go and was quite successful. Plus a ritual and cleansing of my home.. As many of you know I had gotten the pleasure of becoming one with another, well I was a old fool, I knew in my heart that it was a mistake.. Let's just say I tested the waters with dear Jacob and he failed miserably. Such as young lads can do. But I know in my heart that it was not meant to be..Good Luck and Blessings Jacob. I have resumed my meds and am trying to eat a little, gosh I have lost so much weight. Just a few more smokes and I will be truly free, I trust in Hecate for deliverance. There is magic in the air..Truly and truly, flowing from my feet and all throughout my body, what a wonderful feeling. I may have also told some of you about dear Carol..she was my home aide at one time (I am disabled you know) She is back, once again with dear Emerald and that makes for a very happy man. You see she also wants to be a witch.. She and I will be going out of town next Saturday for a Ostara Ritual. Spring is here, can you feel it, taste it, smell it.....Welcome it with all your being.

You all know, the dragon has spread much gloom and doom to his dear friends for a long time..Up and down, up and down, well I have vowed to make a dedication to meditation, to incorporate it into my daily life. Hey, it's what Witches do..I should have been doing it all along. I am eager to continue my studies and get my first degree initiation. Someday soon, hopefully. I only had one guesser for the song I put out to y'all, the answer was Tammy Wynette, Steel Guitar. I am tired now and must rest.. I am completely sapped.. Completely!..

A bit later now..Well a tad confused now.. I chatted with Jacob again tonight. We didn't say much. I suppose it was not fair for me to test him, turns out he passed after all. I sat in the sunshine for awhile tonight with my neighbors..Yes it is that time of year, time to start our outside get togethers. Have any of you ever had a wish that you wanted granted so very bad. I am here to tell you dreams come true if you wish hard and long enough.. I am a living miracle of the Goddess, she has spared and blessed me in so many, many ways. There's the possibility I have Aids now, since I have stopped my meds so very long ago.. Dear readers, those of you who are special in my life. Your prayers have not been forsaken. Hecate hears all. Emerald is coming back to life again. Indeed!As far as dear Jacob is concerned, if we become a couple..well then it was meant to be.. I have been empowered today. After I performed my ritual, something changed..It was diferrent..My feelings that is. There is a peacefulness within me, a light surrounds me. Good lord the weather is absolutely gorgeous now. I love the Earth and all that it holds. The beauty and majesty of it all.

Greetings, a new day is here, Not having a good day like yesterday.. Being bipolar stinks. UP and down, up and down..the never ending cycle. I have been quite today. Doing a bit of editing with my soon to be published book, adding pictures. Well it turned out to be a good day after all, I ventured outside and visited with a few of my neighbors on the patio. We decided to have a BBQ tomorrow. I stayed outside for about 4 hours, it was a lot of fun. We do that here. We congregate outside and bask in the sun. It's that time of year, time to start socializing. Carol (my aid) and I will be going to the Ostara Sabbatt this Saturday. It will be my first time to actually socialize with other Witches. I take that back, my second time. I went to a practice for a ritual a year or so ago.

Well yet another day..a night of no sleep. None at all, I decided to get up and forget about sleep, it's 5:30 in the morning and even with no sleep I am in the best of moods, looking forward to the BBQ today. I have a appointment with my HIV doctor today. I wish I had some recent lab work, it's been well over a month since I have had blood work done. Oh well, I'll have labs done when I return home. My rose bushes are starting to bud now. I have 4 bushes and I noticed 2 tiny buds yesterday. Last year they were absolutely breathtaking, so big and beautiful. I will be planting some transplants into pots next month. One year I spent 200 on plants. I'm a avid Gardner. I adore flowers. I have lived were I live now for almost six years. I want to move to the big city, Dallas, but can't seem to save money. Just finished meditating, it's so very, very relaxing. I suppose I've rambled enough..as we prepare for todays story, I have returned home. Very tired. I am so glad to be home. With that I will tell a tale..

4-4-09

7:20am

I have been awake since 5:30am. I am not sure what time I went to bed. Kevin put me to bed last night. He should be coming over in about 30 minutes to start our bible study. Colleen is laying on my lap, such a funny cat, she wont let me pet her, she's very angry with me for abandoning her. When I try to pet her she hisses at me. Boy, it feels so nice to be home, back in my own bed. I fell this morning, blast it all. I don't think I sprained anything, though my left foot (the one I had surgery on) hurts a little bit. I just tried to pet Colleen, boy did the sparks fly..HIss, hiss, hiss... I rather like getting up early in the mornings, it's very quite and peaceful. I have 9 more days with my Norton anti-virus. My dear friend Chris knows of a anti-virus that's free. I'll have to get the information from her in the next few days. My foot has started to hurt very bad and I'm a bit concerned. I am going to miss Church tomorrow. The nurse, the nurse will be getting here late, I told her as long as she is done by church time, but she said it would be late. My foot doesn't seem to be swelling. Perhaps it will be all right after all. I will still be calling mom 3-4 times a day. She worries about me. I dread seeing my phone bill, it will be outrageous. My wound looks good this morning. The crusty part was coming off at my shower and I picked at it and there is normal skin underneath. Mom is still in the hospital, I will have to pay attention to how Johnny B gets there, he is driving me there today. He is also taking me to see Dr. Lindsay Monday..and Jodi is taking me to Dr. Whatley on Tuesday..so many doctors. I don't think I will be going to the pain doctor anymore. I took to many pills yesterday and was passing out on the dining room chair. Kevin came by last night and found me asleep. I will have to use my walker for awhile..blast it all. I was doing so good at the hospital. I am going to have to ask David for that 15 he borrowed from me.

Well dear and precious reader I will close there. This is just a story about my life. I have got out of the habit of journaling as of late..bad me. I get a lot of comfort and relief from writing about my daily activities. The sun is in the horizon fixing to show it's power and majesty. I wish each of you a very blessed and peaceful day today.. Know that Emerald treasures and adores you..

Blessed Be

Dragon

Source: crafty-witch.blogspot.com

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