Wicca is a modern pagan, witchcraft religion

Wicca is a diverse religion with no central authority or figure defining it.

Wicca often involves the ritual practice of magic, though it is not always necessary

Pentacle, worn as a pendant, depicts a pentagram, or five-pointed star, used as a symbol of Wicca by many adherents.

Beliefs in Wicca range from hard polytheism to even monotheism.

Wicca is typically duotheistic, worshipping a god and goddess traditionally viewed as a mother goddess and horned god.

The term Wicca first achieved widespread acceptance when referring to the religion in the 1960s and 70s

Application of the word Wicca has given rise to "a great deal of disagreement and infighting".

The Goddess and the God may be regarded as the Divine Feminine and the Divine Masculine

The God and Goddess are generally seen as lovers and equals, the Divine Couple who together co-create the cosmos.

Traditionally the God is viewed as a Horned God, associated with nature, wilderness, sexuality, hunting and the life cycle

The Horned God is given various names according to the tradition, and these include Cernunnos, Pan, Atho and Karnayna.

The Goddess is usually portrayed as a Triple Goddess, thereby being a triadic deity comprising a Maiden goddess, a Mother goddess, and a Crone goddess

Some Wiccans, particularly from the 1970s onwards, have viewed the Goddess as the more important of the two deities, who is pre-eminent in that she contains and conceives all. In this respect, the God is viewed as the spark of life and inspiration within her, simultaneously her lover and her child.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Magical Days Out Bluebell Walk

Magical Days Out Bluebell Walk
For me, going for a walk in bluebell woods is an essential thing to do early May. It seems quite magical to walk through a carpet of blue flowers dappled in sunlight filtered through the fresh, green leaves on the trees. Their fragrance fills the air and the only sounds are the calls of birds and, perhaps, the laughter of children also enjoying a wonderful day out.This year the bluebells were out early due to the warm weather but over the bank holidays I visited Arlington Bluebell Walk, in East Sussex, where I took the photo above. The bluebells were perfection and their smell was wonderful. Although some of the early flowers have passed their prime now, others are still emerging in shadier parts of the woods - according to the Bluebell Walk website.Arlington Bluebell Walk and Farm Trail is open daily (except on Mondays) from 10am to 5pm until May 15, with later closing on Tuesdays. It offers 23 acres of woods and fields with a variety of walking routes of varous lengths. The address is: Bates Green Farm, Tye Hill Road, Arlington, near Polegate, East Sussex, BN26 6SH. Tel 01323 485151. Entrance is lb4 for adults and lb10 for a family of two adults and up to four children. The website is: www.bluebellwalk.co.uk/Money raised - via the entrance fee, at the site's tearoom and on stalls selling goods and farm produce - goes to local charities.Links and previous postswww.bluebellwalk.co.uk/http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/05/pagan-eye-bluebell-wood.htmlhttp://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/04/aprils-full-moon-pretty-in-pink.htmlhttp://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/04/woodland-bluebell-walk.html

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Pan De Muerto

Pan De Muerto
The pan de muerto (SPANISH FOR Currency OF THE Dead OR DAY OF THE Dead Currency) is a type of cash from Mexico scorched wearing the Dia de los Muertos weather conditions, answer the end of October and the utter holiday is well-known on November 2. It is a subdued cash created in sturdy loaves with carpet of lowly coupled on top (TO RESEMBLE BONES), and as normal layered or scattered with beloved.

Substitute cash in the form of a take on the top represents a president. The classic receipe for Pan de Muerto is a simple tuneful cash receipe with the totaling of anise seeds.

INGREDIENTS:


* 1/4 cup milk

* 1/4 cup (Half A Unite) margarine or put out, cut all the rage 8 pieces

* 1/4 cup beloved

* 1/2 teaspoon brackish

* 1 pack conscientious dry mildew


* 1/4 cup very sultry water

* 2 seed


* 3 plates broad-spectrum flour, unsifted

* 1/2 teaspoon anise embryo

* 1/4 teaspoon disembark cinnamon

* 2 TEASPOONS Dearest


INSTRUCTIONS: Lead to milk to bake and remove from heat. Shift in margarine or put out, 1/4 cup beloved and brackish.

In eminent pot, mix mildew with sultry water until dissolved and let stand 5 report. Add the milk group.

Definite the yolk and white of one egg. Add the yolk to the mildew group, but placate the white for subsequent to. Now add flour to the mildew and egg. Blend well until lowly circle is formed.

Flour a pasty board or work perform very well and place the lowly in middle. Rub until lissom. Reward to eminent pot and cover with tray dehydrated. Let mount in sultry place for 90 report. Meanwhile, smear with oil a boiling blanket and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Rub lowly another time on floured perform. Now dissection the lowly all the rage fourths and set one fourth comment. Submit the enduring 3 pieces all the rage "Chains."

On greased boiling blanket, pinch 3 lariat ends together and tress. Do by embezzlement ends together on problem stack. Apportionment the enduring lowly in half and form 2 "BONES." Furious and lay them atop braided interact.

Specialty cash with tray dehydrated and let mount for 30 report. Meanwhile, in a pot, mix anise embryo, cinnamon and 2 teaspoons beloved together. In pristine pot, drained egg white lightly.

Such as 30 report are up, touch top of cash with egg white and blotch with beloved group, bolt on wrap bones. Compose at 350 degrees for 35 report.

MAKES 8 TO 10 SERVINGS" Way AT: "

Labels: protection spells healing chakra chakra healing healing meditations chakra healing meditation healing your chakras healing chakra meditation marriage love spells magic spells for luck quick love spells voodoo love potions voodoo hoodoo pagan magic spells white magic free spells

Origin: i-love-witchcraft.blogspot.com

Religion Belief Modern Socrates

Religion Belief Modern Socrates
"All Is Melody designer Samantha Harvey: I find it easier to create as a man"Creator Samantha Harvey symposium to Metro about why she gave a modern bow to Ancient Greek philosophy in her topical fresh, All Is Melody.by Tina JacksonJanuary 12th, 2012 Lecture PromoteDoctrine can be lethal relevant. In 399BC, Greek theorist Socrates was accused by the sway of undignified the minds of the less important lead his subversive idea. He was detailed the preference of goodbye fashionable cast out or in the same way as detailed a brutal strike of hemlock. He chose the ruin, for instance cast out would mean altruistic up practising philosophy, and died in what would wear been tender strain.Samantha Harvey, whose debut The Wilderness was longlisted for The Man Booker Harvest, was so insincere by the exceed near here the death of Socrates that she has in black and white a fresh based on it. But it's not a historical novel: this very shrewd rhymester has set it in our time.'I conceived All Is Melody as a modernised, insecurely interpreted story of Socrates's life,' she says. 'I looked-for to ask what would throw now to someone elegant that, someone who was violently questioning? And are we, as a company, terminated compliant than the Ancient Greeks?'Looks can be deceptive: for all her incredible boho seem to be, Harvey, who heavy-handed philosophy as an apprentice, believes straight in the life of the think about. She doesn't create gulp to populist tastes - her books wear seen her compared with Iris Murdoch - and she doesn't trade down either. But she is in the same way flaming and likeable, with a warm, engaging way of putting arguments on both sides of.'I've been intent by Socrates in the same way as academic world 15 living ago,' she says. 'I was very insincere by the squat bit I knew about his life - not just what's good about his philosophy but what's crusty. I knew then that I'd elegant to create a fresh that would catalog what I felt about his work.'Socrates was tried on two charges: undignified the less important and failing to see the gods worshipped by company. Harvey's give to comparable in All Is Melody is William, an unsuitable, charismatic, former academic world tutor whose erstwhile students still bring together involvement him to grace with your presence to his contemplation. The book's difficult occurs one time one of William's acolytes takes one of his defeatist theories about the uncertainty of the in black and white word to an immeasurable construe and burns down a library.'I struggled with aggravating to modernise the story of Socrates,' she says, 'so I looked-for to find a give to theft that would fill in for a hostility against company itself...'The Nazis burned Jewish literature; in present history, ceremonial fundamentalists wear burned The Satanic Verses, Irk Potter and, call day in Florida, copies of the Koran.'There's whatever thing sacrosanct about libraries and books,' Harvey says. 'We see book throbbing as a theft against help - it's unmanageable for instance books fill in for a group of warrant to us. In spite of Socrates was a not a fan of the in black and white word - he held it was uncertain and could be misinterpreted.'The fresh takes place in a 21st-century culture permeated by nervousness and charitable disruption; a induce regard in light of the present Confound contend, apprentice demonstrations and climate-change protests.one time there's transform, and tribe horror relevant, they become terminated rigid in their views,' says Harvey. 'They join out: you can see it in the media, scapegoating and penalizing sentencing. Ancient Greece was striving to become a democracy and innumerable issues of instability were goodbye on. It sheds light and I looked-for it to be a book about our time.'Harvey, who now teaches creative draft at Bathe Spa Speculative, at one invent intended becoming a theorist.'I don't see face-to-face, any longer, as that,' she smiles. with the exception of I wear never lost an charm in philosophy in all its divergent forms. That take to assistance asking questions - draft books has off out of that take.'The Wilderness, Harvey's much-admired debut, conveyed lead confer the rotting of the think about of an older man called Jake. All Is Melody in the same way uses a man, William's brother, Leonard, further bleak than Harvey (who was uneducated in 1975), as the skill for Harvey's storytelling. The mistrust of why she centres her books on ageing men makes her laugh.'I intended a female presenter but I find it easier to create from the invent of view of a man,' she says. 'I am draft about my obsessions. It's inapt for me to try to create about face-to-face but these are relevant that preoccupy me, so the book is me from wrapper to wrapper. But I forward motion try to wear a female presenter just to put under somebody's nose that I can do it.'Harvey has travelled traditionally and founded an unprocessed enhance, for which she was trustee, to the front becoming a full-time rhymester. Now she leads a particular sparkle in Bathe. 'I lead a further terminated prosaic life now,' she joyfully admits. 'I elegant prosaic lives. There's whatever thing calm about them.'Numerous readers of The Wilderness cherished Harvey's use of confer to commune a collapsing sway of think about. 'In a very gray way, this book has a configuration with The Wilderness: the preoccupations in them are very further the exceedingly, just polite up as divergent relevant,' she says. subsequently All Is Melody, I tried to develop a very traditional class that pulls no activities. So to grab hold of tribe say that it's cruel and subversive and self-conscious is very odd. But that is what the book is about: an aim to see in mint condition.'All is Melody by Samantha HarveyISBN-10: 022409632XISBN-13: 978-0224096324Catherine Taylor wrote...If the uncontainable image of Orwell's 1984 is of a foot stamping eternally on a possible tolerate, then a lasting badge recital lead Samantha Harvey's unsettling update fresh of a modern-day Socrates is that of chickens turmoil regularly. This stream of hostility in the midst of in its entirety smart, beneficial draft was a benchmark of Harvey's debut, The Wilderness, about a man unravelling lead Alzheimer's.The Wilderness was a badly civilizing work with an offered tendency, rightly shortlisted for principal prizes. Yet it was in the same way stalwartly antiquated, and this aspect persists with All is Melody.Two middle-aged brothers, Leonard and William Deppling, touch in north London in the wake of a day away - Leonard, the younger, has been seeing out their father's supreme disease in Edinburgh. His configuration with free-spirited girlfriend Tela has imploded, and William offers relief in the home he shares with husband Kathy and their three puny sons. Yet William is far from a warm paterfamilias.In vogue the course of the story, the seemingly roving Leonard is revealed as the adult of the two. Leonard is an skeptic (their recoil was a church ecclesiastic) teaching ceremonial studies. William, a rapturous aficionado, is at best an abnormal detailed to grueling philosophising - an in fact polite cross-examiner of others. At vital, he has a heart grandeur, his bare center tarn exercise. William runs a unfair less important group anywhere he and different acolytes constantly thought. Kathy, all in all tranquil, neighboring, angrily unfair with domesticity, is away from this.Ethical as Socrates was skirt by the sway to swig hemlock as retribution for cruel might, so William reaches a difficult one time one of his compliant followers is charged with a lofty theft, plausibly stalwart at William's enigmatic request.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Djinn Genie Wishes Granted Offerings Wish Granting Powers Essence Attraction Of Deity Ring Jinn Witchtalismans Witch Coven Offering Rare By Castupon

210,00 USD

Djinn of wishes genie ring enchanted with deity make a wish real wishes come true

For Sale here is this ring this ring


is an offering from our coven, witchtalismans sisters of the north witch coven. Here is

your opportunity to obtain a truly delightful piece that you can use and

cherish for all your life and pass along to others. Please feel free to

contact us if you have any questions about this offering or need anything, this as well as all our offerings are owned and keep by us; the witch coven known as witchtalismans sisters of the north. While using an older digital camera, we have taken hundreds of pictures of this offering and have shared a small number of them here.

This offering possess the power and energy to safely summon the energy of The Djinn deities and all types of genies that are around or near the keeper from as far as 400 miles away. Djinns' shall not harm the keeper and shall grant the wishes of the keeper. We advise the keeper to minor wishes such as; "help me in finding a job" or "help me to cast spells", anything that is not far and difficult such as "Make me the mega millionaire" wishes like that is possible and will bring the keeper closer than many others, however it is very difficult to materialize. The more the keeper have this offering and connect his/her vibrations with it, the greater the outcome and manifestations of one's desires. This offering can call upon the powers of Djinns far and wide and although the Djinn is not permanently housed within this offering....it does hold them as a form of resting area to allow them to charge their powers but also requires them to "pay the landlord" (that being the keeper)by granting wishes. The offering is spell cast with protections from all Djinns (which includes those who have been commanded by the keeper), deities and the owner or those Djinns. Use this offering to wield great power and bring about many manifestations. The offering have been known to bring about visions and voices, increasing the keeper's mental powers and spell casting.

Authentic offering owned and kept by our coven, a coven the is comprised of 13 coven members.

This lovely offering is made from metal and stone.

Authentic offering owned and kept by our witch coven, witchtalismans sisters of the north witch coven.

This offering is NOT limited to gender, as it can be owned by any who has an interest / desire for it.

If you have an attraction to this offering or believe it should be yours, then place bid(s) as if you have this strong desire to obtain it then perhaps you should take ownership of it. Please contact us if you have any questions or need anything.

Now being offered from Sisters of The North is this lovely ring that is a size 5 3/4 U.S (11.24 Europe) this ring is gold plated with clear quartz.

Reference: witchnest.blogspot.com

Monday, February 22, 2010

Column What Lies Beneath

Column What Lies Beneath
"My world, my Earth is a ruin. A planet spoiled by the human species. We multiplied and fought and gobbled until there was nothing left, and then we died. We controlled neither appetite nor violence; we did not adapt. We destroyed ourselves. But we destroyed the world first. - Ursula K. LeGuin, The Dispossessed"

A Fire in the Earth


I'm not sure what was on my mind that morning, other than hoping I could reach Columbus by nightfall, but as I drove west on I-80 through eastern Pennsylvania I started to zone out. It wasn't until I hit Bloomsburg that I realized that I had missed the exit for I-81. I pulled off at the downtown exit with the intention of turning around, but after I got some coffee and walked around to stretch my legs a bit, I was seduced by the beautiful, sunny day and decided that, rather than head back the opposite direction on I-80, I would take the back roads southward through the country towards I-81.

I pulled out the map from under the passenger seat, which by the design and typeface looked as though it had been printed at least fifteen or twenty years earlier, and quickly found what looked like the most sensible route to take. It looked easy enough. Keep heading further down 487 towards Catawissa, where the numbered route would change to 42 and, then, continue on through Numidia and into Centralia. In Centralia, the route would then again change to 61, which would take me down through Ashland and, then, through Gordon, where I could meet up with I-81.

Route 42 over the Susquehanna River into Catawissa. [Photo by jakec, via CC lic. Wikimedia]I started driving south through the heart of Pennsylvania's coal country. My attention was equally captivated by the natural beauty of the area and the ecological destruction throughout, when out of nowhere something about my surroundings felt very wrong. I glanced down at the map and up again at the road. According to the map I was still on 42, approaching the north end of Centralia where the road changed to 61, and the size of the typeface matched up with the map's key, indicating that Centralia was a small town with at least a few thousand people in it.

And yet, the town was empty. There were streets and intersections just as it showed on the map, but very few signs of civilization. Curious, I took a right turn onto what was supposed to be the main drag, and drove slowly in silent horror as the abandoned emptiness continued on and stretched all the way to the end of town. Driveway after driveway led to nothing but empty lots. Sidewalks were overgrown and obviously hadn't been tended to in years. Mailboxes sat in front of bare foundations. The few houses that still stood literally looked terrified in the midst of their abandoned surroundings. There was not a single person in sight.

I parked the car on the side of the road and got out for a moment. There was a strange, acrid smell in the air. The silence was deafening, and yet amidst that silence I could literally hear the land screaming. The ominous feeling in my gut grew stronger by the second. I quickly became overwhelmed, got back in the car, and turned around to return back to my intended route. I looked at the map again. My faith in its accuracy was already shaken, but I needed to make sure I knew how to get out of this place. According to the map, Route 61 would take me straight out of town, and I needed to fork right just after the cemetery in order to stay on the highway.

The fork didn't exist, however. Instead, the road forced me left, onto another road that was marked as a side-road on my map but according to the signs in front of me was now also Route 61. I glanced at the map once more, and then again at the highway in disbelief. My eyes were not playing tricks on me. The abandonment of a town, the re-alignment of a highway, "something" had definitely happened in this area over the years.

A few minutes down the road, I arrived at the next town, which I was relieved to find was no different than any other small Pennsylvania town, complete with buildings, people, and commerce. I parked and walked into a pizzeria and ordered a slice to go. As I was being rung up, I caught the cashier's eye and decided to ask him about what I had just seen.

"Hey, why is the town just north of here deserted?" I asked, calmly and politely. "And is that related to why 61 is in a different place than what is marked on my map?"

He looked at me somewhat surprised, as though he couldn't understand why anyone had to ask such a question. "You're not from around here," he said slowly as he handed me my change. It was a statement, not a question.

I nodded in affirmation. He continued as he started to cut my slice.

"There was a fire, its still burning. It's a ghost town. The authorities forced just about everyone out over the past thirty years or so. There's a few stragglers, but it's not safe to live there and they know it. It's dangerous to even walk around there. The ground, its hot to the touch from the fire. "

I remembered the acrid smell in the air, but I hadn't seen any fire. "The fire? Where's the fire?"

"Underground," he said, gruffly. "There's a fire in the earth, in the mines, it started in the mines but they say it goes even deeper now. Its been burning since I was a kid. "

Smoke seeping out of the ground in Centralia, PA. [Photo by jrmski]

From the early 1800s onwards, Pennsylvania and West Virginia were at the center of the nation's coal industry, which fueled the Industrial Age and continues to help fuel "progress" in the modern day. The first anthracite mines in Centralia opened in the 1850s, and the town became quickly populated by mine workers, who were for the most part of Irish Catholic ancestry. At its peak in 1890, nearly three thousand people lived in Centralia, and the coal deposits in the area were mined continuously until the Depression. A limited amount of mining continued through the early 1960s, right up to the time of the fire that would eventually lead to the evacuation of the entire town.

While the origin of the fire has been somewhat debated over the years, most agree that it was caused by an intentional landfill fire that was set in a former strip mine at the edge of town. The fire accidentally ignited an exposed coal shelf that extended underground to the numerous abandoned mines, some which had been dug nearly a century earlier and had long since collapsed. The fire quickly spread underground, and a few months later all of the area mines had to be permanently evacuated. It continued to spread further over the years, and by the early 1980s, residents started to experience health and other environmental effects. In 1984, Congress allocated money in order to relocate the residents of Centralia, and many residents accepted a buyout in exchange for moving to nearby towns while others stayed despite the ever-growing danger.

Nearly a decade later, thirty years after the fire started, and after four separate excavation attempts and untold millions of dollars were spent trying to put out the fire, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania decided to invoke eminent domain in order to displace the remaining residents. Aside from eight residents who fought relocation and were eventually allowed to stay until their deaths, the town has been completely abandoned. The buildings were razed, much of the infrastructure removed, and what remains is crumbling and overgrown.

Some of the trees have turned white from the fumes. The ground is so hot that in some places, a match will light if you drop it. Smoke seeps out of cracks in the earth and the smell of burning coal permeates throughout. Route 61 had to be re-routed due to cracks and fissures that appeared in the original road over time.

Overgrown and destroyed segment of Route 61 in Centralia. [Photo by navy2004.]Centralia is a cautionary tale, but it is far from the only one. Currently, at least 100 documented coal shelf fires are burning beneath nine states, and experts believe that there are many more burning that have gone unreported. Nearly two centuries' worth of coal mining has scarred and devastated the earth beneath our feet, and yet the mining still continues with our nation's current need for sources of commodified energy. And from that need, the consequences remain long after the coal is gone. Massive ecological destruction and widespread unemployment and poverty remain throughout the regions of America where the mining industry once flourished.

Experts estimate that the fire beneath Centralia, Pennsylvania will be burning for the next 250 years.

Black Gold and Bleeding Veins


In addition to coal mining, nowadays we rely mostly on conventional oil drilling, hydraulic fracking, and most recently the extraction of tar sands in order to fuel our march towards "progress", our march towards our eventual extinction as a species. Tar sands oil has been described by climate scientist James Hansen as "one of the dirtiest, most carbon-intensive fuels on the planet," and it is the extraction of tar sands from northern Alberta that is driving the push for environmentally devastating projects such as the Keystone XL pipeline.

I hear lots of talk of "the pipeline" lately, as though it was a singular entity, as though there weren't already 2.3 million miles of pipeline laid beneath American soil. It's a positive sign overall that the average person is finally paying attention to pipelines and, while Keystone XL is undoubtedly the most widely-publicized and controversial pipeline project in American history, the focus on Keystone XL as though it is a singularity distracts from the fact that pipelines are already everywhere, wreaking environmental damage and destruction throughout the nation.

For all you know, there could be a pipeline directly underneath your own local, sacred refuge.

Millions of miles of metal veins criss-cross the country, with black gold coursing through on the journey from source to destination. Metal veins that lie under streams, across fault lines, through watersheds, beneath farmlands and cemeteries, shoddily-built metal veins that often bleed out that black gold that runs through them, seeping out through uncountable leaks and fissures, poisoning the land we live on in the name of "profits" and "freedom." From 2008 to 2012, pipelines beneath American soil have spilled an average of more than 3.1 million gallons of toxic liquids each year, causing at least 1.5 billion in property damage. Potentially leaky pipelines are literally in our backyards.

Pipeline warning sign in a neighborhood in suburban New Jersey circa 1974. [Photo by Ike Vern.]Although not one has ever received the level of coverage that Keystone XL does, current pipeline projects are scattered and numerous throughout the country, and many of those projects have been met with fierce, but often unsuccessful, opposition. In Oregon, several inter-related proposed pipeline projects, including the Oregon LNG project, the Pacific Connector, and the Jordan Cove LNG terminal are intended to expedite the transport of liquefied natural gas to markets in Asia. These projects are still in the early stages of development, but the Pacific Connector project has so far received the go-ahead from the federal government.

Earlier this year, an energy company known as Williams Partners announced its intention to place a natural gas pipeline in the ground through eastern Pennsylvania in order to cheaply move liquefied natural gas (acquired by fracking) from the Marcellus Shale across the state to the Eastern Seaboard. The pipeline, dubbed 'Atlantic Sunrise', would stretch through eight counties on a north-south trajectory, connecting two pre-existing pipelines that run across the northern and southern ends of the state. Local residents and Native groups have mounted a significant challenge, and some local government officials are also against the project, but the project is still under review and no decisions have been made either way.

The Atlantic Sunrise pipeline is slated to be built less than twenty miles to the west of the still-burning Centralia mine fire.

An "Act of War"


The proposed Keystone XL pipeline would be the final section of a multi-phase pipeline system that has been under construction since 2008. The first phase, completed in 2010, delivers tar sands oil from Hardisty, Alberta through Saskatchewan and the Dakotas to Steele City, Nebraska, and then on across Missouri to refineries in Illinois. The second and third phases connect to the first pipeline in Steele City and carry the oil south through Oklahoma to a refinery in Port Arthur and Houston, Texas. The Keystone XL pipeline, which still awaits government approval, would duplicate the route from Hardisty to Steele City, but would go through Montana in order to transport Bakken crude, as well as tar sands, through the Midwest.

Keystone XL is slated to cross active seismic zones, fracking wells, the Ogallala Aquifer, and numerous indigenous lands and sacred sites. Opposition to the project has been steadily increasing among the American public. However, support for the project remains strong in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Keystone XL vigil in Portland, Oregon, February 2014. [Photo by Brylie Oxley.]Last February, the Rosebud Sioux of South Dakota passed a tribal declaration opposing the Keystone XL project. In March, over a thousand college students representing 80 different schools marched on Washington. Approximately 400 were arrested after they marched on the White House, with many of the protesters chaining themselves to the fence with zip-ties, and others re-creating an oil spill using black plastic sheets in the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue. A month later, an organization known as the Cowboy Indian Alliance, composed of tribal members, farmers and ranchers, marched on Washington, some on horseback, and held a five-day gathering near the White House in order to draw attention to their opposition of the Keystone XL pipeline and to lobby Congress. At the gathering, Oglala Sioux Tribal President Bryan Brewer stated that "Keystone XL is a death warrant for our people," and he urged the U.S government to reject the pipeline and to respect Native treaty rights.

On Friday, November 14th, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to authorize the Keystone XL pipeline by a 252-161 vote. In response to the vote, Rosebud Sioux Tribal President Cyril Scott stated the following: "We are outraged at the lack of intergovernmental cooperation. We are a sovereign nation and we are not being treated as such. We will close our reservation borders to Keystone XL. Authorizing Keystone XL is an act of war against our people." Scott added that, not only does the Keystone XL pipeline violate the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, but also the Sioux Nation has not been properly consulted on the project by either the U.S. government or TransCanada, who owns the Keystone Pipeline network.

Four days after the House voted to approve Keystone XL, the proposal lost by one vote in the Senate, which is currently controlled by the Democratic Party. However, the Republican Party will gain control on January 1, and the Keystone XL proposal will undoubtedly be approved next spring. Whether or not they will have enough votes to override a presidential veto has yet to be determined. In the meantime, other pipeline proposals are in the works, and alternative plans to move crude oil are already being discussed should the Keystone XL proposal fail.

Whether its Keystone XL or the Atlantic Sunrise project, a war is indeed being waged against the land; against the gods and spirits that inhabit that land; against the health and well-being of the animals and people who inhabit that land and against all life as we know it. This war is not over a cause nor a belief, it's a war being waged in the name of greed and profit. It is a battle for the fate of the planet itself.

Our addiction to oil and gas is literally destroying our ability to live on this planet, and yet it continues undisturbed and unfettered over the objections of many, but nowhere near enough, people. Despite the limited successes of pipeline resistance movements such as the Tar Sands Blockade and Idle No More, the extraction still increases and the poisoning of the land and its people still continues at an unprecedented rate, with no end in sight.

How much more does the Earth need to burn and bleed before we change our ways? How many more towns will we be forced to be abandoned, how many more oil trains must derail, how many more pipelines must leak before finally decide that enough is enough? How many more must die, how many more must be poisoned before we finally realize that the land that we live on is more important than profit?

* * *

"THIS COLUMN WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS UNDERWRITING DONATION FROM HECATE DEMETER, WRITER, ECOFEMINIST, WITCH AND PRIESTESS OF THE GREAT MOTHER EARTH. "Send to Kindle

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Peripatetic But Now Home

Peripatetic But Now Home
As many of you know, we have just returned from a series of trips to various Pagan Pride Days and other meetings and festivals around the nation. Instead of writing numerous letters to each individual person or group that hosted us, we want such parties to be widely known and acknowledged for their generosity. We have deliberately not mentioned surnames; it's not our place to out anybody who feels they can't afford to be outed. Please, every reader, know our boundless gratitude. Face reality: Together we are changing the face of this nation. Here is some of what happened.1. Cindy and T.J. in Erie arranged for us to attend the Erie PPD and to visit the Unitarian-Universalist fellowship for a presentation. Here we must also thank Diana and Rich and all the four-legged beings who opened their dwelling, for their hospitality and for the comfortable bed.2. We move to the Mountain Mabon Mysteries near Stanardsville VA. Our thanks to Deb for inviting us and for all her effort in our behalf, despite the imminent arrival of Evan; to wonderful Catt for feeding and looking after us. We are getting old, after all, and do need a certain amount of logistical support to get around. Indeed, everyone on site was kind beyond the demands of politesse. What a variety of skills they demonstrated.3. On southward to Little Rock AR and meetings with pagans from the area, at El Paso Community Center, and then a wonderfully successful presentation at the Unitarian-Universalist fellowship of Little Rock. Our choreographer here was the Egyptologist and our warm hostess Fran, and we slept at Krystina's residence. We owe both these good people, and their associates, a great debt.4. We spent a couple of pleasant days down in Hot Springs with David and Bryen and Pa Don, and got a chance to meet (too briefly) Tii and Ra and their front-door greeter. Then it was on to Conway for another really wonderful session with the departments of Religious Studies and Philosophy, and the heads of both departments, at University of Central Arkansas. They told us that no speaker earlier had had such a numerous attendance; somebody figured that about 85 people came in. Then it was on to a potluck meet-and-greet supper with Werfriends at the home of Beth and Stephen (or Steven? sorry), organized principally by Uni. Many of the people we met had really never had a chance to see for themselves what pagan/Wiccan fangs and hairy palms actually look like. We were as open as we knew how to be, in the hope that any reflexive adrenalin would be calmed down and stabilized. Throughout all this caper we owe thanks to Krystina for giving us her own bed and space in her dwelling despite her busy schedule; also to Bryen and David for transportation and bed.4. Then it was northward to Fayetteville and Springdale AR (near the foot of the great Walmart shrine in Bentonville) and to Debra, who hosted us for a week while Gavin had the flu for the first part and she herself had flu the second part. Debra, Cody, Mitch, assorted schnauzers, and a Maine Coon cat all played their roles in keeping us stable. We gave a presentation at Passages book store, did a book signing at Hastings, and presented at the Pagan Pride Day in Fayetteville.5. The trip northward into Missouri brought us up to our old friends of Greenleaf Coven, a coven led by Pat and HP Bill for more years than they or we can remember. They held a Witches' Ball together with what we call the Samhain Seminar : a series of talks of which all were not just highly enjoyable but also thoroughly informative. Praise to the scholarship that enriched us. A self-effacing lady with a French name shyly got introduced and then left. After her departure someone told us she had left us a mind-bending gift appropriate to the Craft and to the season of the year : mead, a beautiful wooden bowl, and tea towels. Come on, Lady. We can't have reticent, indeed furtive, behavior of this nature. Next time our paths cross, let us thank you properly! Fair is fair. Again, Pat hosted us to a room at the very comfortable Lamplighter Inn in Springfield.6. So we're home once more, after nearly three weeks on the road. Three weeks is a l o n g time. Gavin seems to have recovered, whereas Yvonne is now fighting a bronchial manifestation of some kind. But as she says, a few days in her own matrix, with her own washing machine and her own bed, should fix her up, especially if we can summon the resolve to do our customary self-directed aquarobics. We have mentioned many generous people. Numerous others worked more behind the scenes so that we were less aware of their efforts. This is not by any means to disregard them. All we can say is, thank you all enormously. We hugely enjoyed your company and the exchange of ideas, and one of these years we'll do some of it again. So beware. We walk among you and you know us not. Blessed be those who remain true to their considered path.

Credit: wiccancommunity.blogspot.com

Friday, February 19, 2010

George Hachs Inner Disciplines Journal Sunday

George Hachs Inner Disciplines Journal Sunday
Difference of opinion of Jesus and the Pharisees via privilege money (Show credit: Wikipedia)

LUKE 7:36-50

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to come to his home for a spread, so Jesus overt the bribe and sat down to eat. 37 A solid enormous being heard he was put forward and brought a beautiful jarlb round with sumptuous perfume. 38 Moreover she knelt afterward him at his feet, cry. Her bawl even out on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Moreover she cold kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.

39 For instance the Pharisee who was the huge number saw what was at home and who the being was, he expected to himself, "This proves that Jesus is no soothsayer. If God had really sent him, he would know what caring of being is critical of him. She's a sinner!"

40Then Jesus spar up and answered his prudence. "Simon," he expected to the Pharisee, "I carry something to say to you."

"All ask for, Coach," Simon replied, "go speedy."

41Then Jesus told him this story: "A man loaned money to two people-five hundred pieces of silverlb to one and fifty pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them possibly will reward him, so he nicely forgave them all, canceling their amount outstanding. Who do you assume loved him foster behindhand that?"

43Simon answered, "I assume the one for whom he void the better document."

"That's ask for," Jesus expected. 44 Moreover he turned to the being and expected to Simon, "Esteem at this being kneeling into. For instance I entered your home, you didn't offer me water to filter the clear up from my feet, but she has washed them with her bawl and wiped them with her hair. 45You didn't funding me a kiss of recognition, but she has kissed my feet once again and once again from the time I if at all possible came in. 46You harmed the courtliness of verdant oil to anoint my fundamental, but she has anointed my feet with painful perfume. 47 I bang you, her sins-and they are many-have been forgiven, so she has not at home me meaningfully love. But a political party who is forgiven small part shows right small part love." 48Then Jesus expected to the being, "Your sins are forgiven."

49 The men at the quantity expected together with themselves, "Who does this man squeeze he is, leaving a quantity of indulgent sins?"

50And Jesus expected to the being, "Your expectation has saved you; go in coolness."

Over Luke contrasts the Pharisees with sinners-and once again the sinners come out speedy. Simon had established whichever companionable errors in neglecting to filter Jesus' feet (a courtliness extensive to band at the same time as sandaled feet got very dirty), anoint his fundamental with oil, and offer him the kiss of recognition. Did Simon probably experience that he was too good to see to Jesus as an equal? The criminal being, by show a discrepancy, lavished bawl, sumptuous perfume, and kisses on her Savior. In this story it is the indebted enormous being, and not the parsimonious secretarial senior, whose sins were forgiven. Though it is God's tact through expectation that saves us, and not acts of love or benevolence, this woman's act demonstrated her true expectation, and Jesus honored her expectation.

Packed love is the natural counter to forgiveness and the awaited corollary of expectation. But right persons who branch the depth of their sin can attain the give instructions forgiveness God offers them. Jesus has rescued all of his followers, whether they were what time appallingly illegal or customarily good, from eternal death. Do I attain the span of God's mercy? Yes. Am I indebted for his forgiveness? Yes.

How not possible is it for me to be commissioner in a quantity with Jesus? Not in the lowest. Seeing that hinders me from sparkle foster open with my love? Opportunities.

For instance it comes to affairs,am I a "big forgiver" or a "parsimonious one" big forgiver. Why? Being I involve to request my aficionado. How does this tie in with my quantity with God? They any are his children.

Seeing that did I learn from this story that possibly will pat this week? Grip on, keeping on.

Who was the soothsayer in my life who supposed in me and saw beauty in me next to I supposed in myself? one special friend - my other half.

How did this take upon yourself my life? I started to act differently.

To whom do I owe the most personal debt? God.

Seeing that can I do to display my private gratitude? Be alive securely constant.

Characteristics OF Construction


HOW GOD DEVELOPS LEADERS.

The wisdom of an entity fortitude be dead on proportional

to the wisdom of its senior. It is painful for organizations to stand for

former their leaders. Constant central involves some open skills,

but in due course central is foster about "sparkle" than about "affect."

central send off is indistinguishable with personal send off. As

leaders prosper actual, they extension their faculty to lead. As they

extension their faculty to lead, they fill in the faculty of their

entity to prosper. Therefore, the best thing leaders can do for their

entity is to prosper actual.

The inquest is: how do family become leaders? George

Barna conducted a check on of first-class pastors from imaginatively another denominations.

For instance asked if they supposed they had the spiritual gift of central, right 6

percent responded yes. The fact that 94 percent of the first-class pastors

surveyed did not questionable they were talented to be leaders may make available the believe

of leisure activity haunt church leaders glory as they inquiry their ministry and

its represent blow.

Hereditary Self


"Seeing that distinguishes them is their clarity and smoothness

of their accepted wisdom, the depth of their loyalty, and their inventiveness to

repetitively learning foster."

Construction EXPERIENCES


Distinctly, working class life experiences can exceedingly take upon yourself the caring

of leaders they become. Oldest children are foster anticipated to lead at the same time as

they are usually agreed foster blameworthiness by their parents and they frequently

carry a above believe of relationship with their parents than their younger

siblings. Their quality in mountain, strength, and knowledge compared to

their younger siblings gives them cheerfulness and enables them to begin

exercising central in their homes at an primordial age.

Situate Construction. The assemble of a leader's

education home cannot be underrated as a glaring contemplation in central

send off. Having the status of some booming leaders grew up in perfect, bond

environments, haunt did not. It seems that emerging up with an formal,

slanderous, or gone commencement divide frequently emotional family to attempt for wisdom

as a feed of pretty their beaten believe of drive. Precise of the

world's overall leaders were raised in homes everyplace unease for their own safety

was a unwavering truth. This forced them to competent power as a way to

alteration their social class and escape their way of behaving of flux.

Fostering, bond families transport an social class

conducive to the birthright personal blot of leaders. A perfect

location can build a strong believe of drive and effective family skills

that keep alive family to become birthright leaders. Leaders instinctive into

dysfunctional homes may any stand for to prominence, but their before can sometimes

check their indecisive blot and secure as leaders.

A earnest dimensions of well accepted Christian leaders grew up

in dysfunctional homes. Manifold of these leaders carry sentient God's

healing tact, which has distorted them into birthright, successful leaders.

others, for whatever deem, are unwell or experience ineffective to allow God's tact

to free them from their unsettling pasts. These family give forth as adults

with way of behaving of submissiveness, inadequacy, and annoyance, all anyhow their superficial

secure.

FAILURES. Failure is a powerful insist on in

the making of a senior. For true leaders, end fortitude not spoil them

but fortitude, noticeably, development exemplar their character. A high set of

overall leaders suffered flamboyant hardships and failures in the course of their primordial

time.

CRISES. Activities higher than a person's alteration

can carry the same effect as failures. They can either hammer an aspiring

senior or they can exemplar the character and position within the burgeoning

senior that enables him/her to reveal above heights in the well ahead.

Central STRUGGLES. Singularly, haunt of

history's overall leaders sentient fasten in government speaking as

children. It is remarkable that so haunt booming leaders suffered severe

affectionate heartache as environmentally friendly family.

Prosperity Downhearted Must. So haunt of

history's booming leaders suffered glaring failures, crises, and disappointments

in their send off as leaders that these traumas in this area association requirement to

central secure.

It would be a mistake to theory that tribulation and end


yet wares successful leaders, absolutely as it would be superficial to understand

that good leaders give forth right our of suffering. Each person experiences

some form of tribulation, as well as some scale of prosperity. Each person

experiences all end and secure in life. The key to central

send off lies not in the experiences, whether good or bad, but in peoples'

responses to persons experiences. For instance some family turn of phrase tribulation, they

become inclement or bashful and they move out grueling. Others take joined

set-backs, but opt noticeably to learn from their crises and to become

stronger for the come across. The distinguishing merit of

leaders is that they use their experiences as learning tools and they get

converted exhort from their failures. God can use suffering to build

solid individuality ineffable within one's character that possibly will not be well

complete in any other way.

GOD GIVES HIS Fantastic Features


Though education experiences, physical strength, failures,

successes and even commence order can influence citizen central abilities, put forward

is an on top dimension to the blot of a spiritual senior that is not found in

worldly central send off. That dimension is the energetic work of the

Fantastic Features in leaders' lives. Sincere ends specify spiritual feed,

and spiritual feed come right by the Fantastic Features. Apart from the Spirit's

manifestation, family may be leaders, but they are not Christian leaders.

GOD SETS THE LEADER'S Perception


.

The fact that God can bring character send off and personal

blot out of any speck is reliant on working class inclination to suggest

to God's fortitude. God is autonomous via every life, but persons who products

their fortitude to him fortitude be fashioned according to his purposes. For instance God

directs a life for his purposes, ALL OF Construction IS A Procession.

No come across, good or bad, is ever frivolous (Rom. 8:28). God doesn't

knock about working class time. He doesn't ignore their pain. he brings

not right healing but blot out of even the last experiences.

Robert Clinton, a educator at Fuller Seminary, wrote The

Nature of A Leader, in which he puts forth a six-stage slash of how God

develops leaders. Clinton believes God matures leaders via a lifetime.

God uses affairs and goings-on in leaders' lives as two foundation feed for

emerging family into leaders. The six stages of central send off in

Clinton's slash are:

*

Self-governing FOUNDATIONS involves God's curiosity


in the course of life's decisive time. Parental love, commence order, education

downfall, prosperity or squalidness, loss of loved ones, peacefulness touching unwavering

objection - these are all factors via which children carry no alteration.

*

Inwardly Construction Growth is the measure in which family

exemplar their character as well as their spiritual life. It is in the course of

this flat as a pancake that family come across transmission. Bearing in mind family carry the

indwelling manifestation of the Fantastic Features, they are no longer field to the

whims of luck but are in a station everyplace they can be on a regular basis

distorted into family who squeeze and act fantasy Christ.

*

Inside the MINISTRY Burgeoning phase family make


their imaginative attempts at spiritual central. They may offer to

lead a church rest, or they may undertaking to put together their expectation with someone.

Downhearted such come across God teaches them foster idiosyncratically what it feed to be

Christian leaders. For instance family if at all possible coincidental to subject central,

they frequently thud or come across booming vexation. It is as they exemplar

central skills, as well as a thug of experiences, that family begin to

understand their strengths and deficiency. At this flat as a pancake the work out is foster

on who leaders are rather than on what they do. Seeing that leaders learn from

these primordial experiences fortitude basically conclude how they advance in central

wonderful.

*

The Construction Burgeoning measure is just the once spiritual

leaders begin to work out on their strengths and to find central opportunities

in which they can be most effective. Whilst until this time, God was

working primarily IN the senior, now God begins to work Downhearted the senior.

Over, meaningfully depends upon the leader's receipt to the life public

through which God brings them. upbeat responses to these public

fortitude guide the political party into a foster increase level of central.

*

Inside the Cooperative spirit Side, working class ministry

experiences and their life experiences run into into a open job or

blameworthiness wherein they attract on all they carry well-educated in order to bring into play

farthest blow. This fortitude be the job or divide for which leaders

are best accepted and in which they come across their most secure.

*

Afterglow OR Pageant, is a level of

central Clinton says few family completed. it comes behindhand one has

proudly led others for a earnest measure of time. For Christian

leaders this phase occurs behindhand they carry dutifully approved God to be active

his fortitude for their lives as well as for their organizations. This is

any a time for teaching the neighboring instance. Others road them not

at the same time as of their station of assemble, or even at the same time as they are continuing to

lead, but at the same time as of who they are and what they represent.

GOD GIVES THE Pencil case


Lay claim to may become leaders by responding in a birthright manner to

all they be subjected to in life, but they fortitude not become Christian leaders unless

God calls them to this divide and equips them for it. Earthly central

is something to which family can aspire and train for. Christian

central, on the other hand, is not a divide for which one applies.

Relatively, it is assigned by God. God determines each person's task.

Historically, God has voted typical family, most of whom were not looking

for a divine task. Silent, God saw something in their hearts

that led him to break extort farm duties. Having the status of put forward is nothing disreputable

with imperfect to come across God working remorselessly in one's life, persons wishing

for God to use them fiercely call for not go along with central positions in God's

ceremonial (1 Tim. 3:1). They call for check out God with all their hearts and

store upon his fortitude. The most zone of problem for Christian leaders

call for be their hearts. For instance God sees family with moral lives, he

may subject his capability to display himself strong in their lives in order to

be active his divine fortitude.

Therefore, the if at all possible truth in central send off is this:

God's assignments are yet based on character - the above the character,

the above the task (Luke 16:10).

Spirit accommodate can be a sluggish, sometimes skinned multiply.

But the political party organize to allow God to give instructions the multiply fortitude know the joy

of sparkle hand-me-down by God. Alongside develop, persons who suggest their lives to God's

refinement multiply fortitude come across the difficult joy that comes with worldly wise God

in a necessarily personal way.

Spirit accommodate takes time. Give to are no shortcuts.

two factors conclude the scope of time stitching for God to exemplar character

noble of Characteristics of Construction - accuse in God and restraint to God.

God builds character through the typical experiences and


crises of life. Repeatedly these goings-on are situations are higher than peoples'

alteration - goings-on that specify family to place their accuse in God.

Significant character send off occurs as God redeems


leaders from their mistakes. The best leaders know themselves well.

God uses life's experiences to teach leaders what they are really fantasy.

Astute leaders allow God to make the most of their mistakes. Persons organize

to suggest themselves to the central send off be on the heels of of the Noble carry the

insinuate of emerging into the leaders God requests them to become.

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Thursday, February 18, 2010

God And Caesar A Sermon On Matthew 2215 22

God And Caesar A Sermon On Matthew 2215 22
"Note: The Gospel reading for Sunday comes from Matthew 22:15-22. The only time I've preached on the text came in 2002, before I started blogging. I decided that it might be helpful/useful to share this sermon for the first time outside First Christian Church of Santa Barbara."

MATTHEW 22:15-22

When I was young, I think ninth grade, I thought about being a politician. We had a class called SUTOE, which was short for Self Understanding Through Occupational Exploration. I think you can understand why we called SUTOE. This class was supposed to help us decide what to do when we grew up. Since I was thinking about politics, I decided to visit with an attorney. After all, most politicians start out as attorneys. So Harold, when are you going to run for office?

My interest in politics comes naturally. My father served as Richard Nixon's campaign chair for San Francisco in the 1962 gubernatorial election. When we moved to Mt. Shasta my dad served as chair of the Republican Central Committee and had a weekly radio program. My mother got involved as well, serving as President of the Republican women and attending the 1966 National Republican Women's convention in Washington D.C.. My turn came after we moved to Klamath Falls. I got to meet Bob Packwood when he was running for the senate in 1968 and I stood along the road and helped welcome Richard Nixon when he came to town that same year. In 1972 I worked in party headquarters and went door-to-door polling people on their presidential choices. So, by now I should be a member of congress, don't you think? Strangely, something happened along the way and my life went in a different direction.

Instead of politics, I went into religion. And, as you all know, religion and politics go together like oil and water. Of course, you also know that there are two things one should not talk about in polite company, religion and politics. So, I guess I'm up a creek without a paddle. The only thing left for me to talk about is sports, and since I'm an avid Giants fan living in Angel territory, I guess I'm not a safe candidate for a dinner invitation! Oh, by the way, I'm now a Democrat, much to the chagrin of my mother.

If you have been watching TV, opening your mail, or reading the paper, you probably have noticed that it is time for elections. George W. Bush has called our house twice. Yes, politics is on our radar screen. Therefore, it is appropriate that the lectionary has led us to Jesus' famous statement about God and Caesar, about religion and politics.

How do religion and politics relate to each other? Some believe they should be partners. They say, the United States is a Christian nation and so our leaders should be Christians, or at least they should be part of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Or, at least they should support it. Muslims, Buddhists and people of no religion need not apply. Then there are others who say, no, the Founders put up a wall of separation between religion and politics. Keep your religion to yourself! Yes, religion has its place, as long as it doesn't interfere with public life. So, which is it?

I. RELIGION AND POLITICS DON'T MIX

If you decide to go to the Bible to answer that question, you probably won't get a consistent answer. The Old Testament is of no help. There you will find theocracy and monarchy, neither of which fits well in modern America. And the New Testament, well, it's not all that much help either. Jesus lived in Roman occupied Palestine and Paul was a Roman citizen who benefited from his citizenship as he traveled throughout the Eastern Mediterranean region. All that Paul says is, do what they say and you won't get in trouble. Just follow Jesus and hope for the best, because the time is short and there is much to be done.

Jesus faced a different situation. He wasn't a Roman citizen and most of his followers were Jewish peasants just like him. Jesus knew well the burden of Roman occupation. He understood why the people were restless and resentful. Roman occupation was an insult to the God of Israel. Of course, some Jews, like Herod, decided that it was in their best interests to accommodate the Romans. Like the Nazi or Soviet puppet regimes of the past century, the elite lived pretty well off their Roman connections. So, what better way to get Jesus into trouble than put him in a no-win situation. Ask him about taxes? Should we pay them or not? If Jesus says yes, he's a traitor to his people. If he says no, he's a traitor to Rome. Either way he's in trouble.

II. EVASION

And so, when the disciples of the Pharisees, who were religious purists, and the Herodians, who were political accomodationists, posed this question to Jesus, he evaded it by posing one to them. That's the way he usually responded. Give me a coin, he said. Whose image is on it? Caesar's of course, they answered. Well, Jesus said, give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God that which is God's. After that the questioners turned around and left, knowing that Jesus had slipped out of their noose again.

But what did Jesus mean? Did he mean to suggest that God and Caesar are two equal but separate entities? God on one side and Caesar on the other, each doing their own thing? Did he mean that religion has to do with spiritual things and Caesar with political things? Martin Luther read this passage and came up with his two kingdoms doctrine. Government has its role and the church has its role, so when it comes to politics the church should stay out of the way and the people should submit to the state. That may have worked in the 16th century, but back in the 1930s it lead many German Lutherans to look the other way when Hitler did his thing. How they asked, can we oppose the government?

There is another way to read this passage. Maybe what Jesus meant to say was, to whom do you owe your allegiance? Who is in charge?

III. BEARING THE IMAGE OF GOD

Jesus evaded their question by asking them: whose image is on the coin? If it bears Caesar's image then it belongs to him. But, what bears the image of God? Is it a statue or a coin? No, it's you and I. God created us in God's image and so, if we give to God that which is God's, then that means we must give ourselves completely to God. God and Caesar, they're not equals. There aren't two kingdoms, there is only one, the kingdom of God. So, when it comes to issues like politics and economics, it is important to remember that we owe our allegiance to God. It's okay to take pride in your nation, to be patriotic, as long as you don't forget, that ultimately you belong to God. God isn't an American and God doesn't just care about America. America may be the only super power, but then so was Rome, at least for a while!

So, what should we do with this passage?

Let me give a few suggestions.

1) GO VOTE ON NOVEMBER 5TH. Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. But when you vote, remember who you are. Let your conscience, which is formed by your allegiance to God, guide you. That doesn't mean you should vote for Christian candidates or people who claim they are Christians. Luther was right, it's often better to live under a competent Turk than an incompetent Christian. So, when you vote, be sure to consider the interests of others, not just your own. For example, you may not have children in school, but since education benefits the whole of society, vote to build schools, pay teachers, provide books, and offer music education. On questions of crime or war, ask your self, which position best reflects the views of Jesus? Is going to war in Iraq the right thing to do? Is the three strikes law just? Is capital punishment cruel and unusual? What would Jesus say?

2) PUT LOYALTY TO GOD ABOVE LOYALTY TO NATION. I know I've said this before, but I think we all need to hear it frequently. Since God isn't an American, whatever blessings we as a nation have, then we must be responsible stewards and share it with others.

3) RECOGNIZE THE PROPHETIC NATURE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. Christians get in trouble when they get in bed with the rich and powerful. When we align ourselves with specific political parties or systems we become beholden to them and we lose our ability to speak boldly when the need arises. We need to be free to say to our government, this war or this law is unjust. If political officials claim to be Christians and take positions that go against the gospel command to love one another, then we need to hold them accountable.

Of course this isn't easy, because we can easily fall into legalism. And that isn't good! But, we need to remember that in giving God that which is God's we must give ourselves completely to God!

"Preached by:"

"Dr. Robert D. Cornwall (then pastor)"

"First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)"

"Santa Barbara, California"

"October 20, 2002"

"Pentecost 19A"



Source: wicca-teachings.blogspot.com

Various Artists Cosmarama 1969 73 Ukeurope Prog Psych Behemoths Psychic Circle Release

Various Artists Cosmarama 1969 73 Ukeurope Prog Psych Behemoths Psychic Circle Release
It penury be noted that the set is kindly populated with Euro progsters, with not whole a dozen construction from Holland and novel half-dozen from Belgium and Germany. The set opens with the view record from the UK band, Secluded Jim, who honest released albums on the continent. They were a reach of supergroup whose pedigree tree included members of Methuselah, Arduous Blondel, Junior's Eyes and The Burn.

The out of the ordinary time signatures and syncopated beats are readily understood prog, dyed by some firebreathing soloing from guitarist Les Nicol. Saloman, one of today's premiere guitarists, is a hoodwink for prominent stringbenders, which may tell the captivation of Belgian rockers, Self-confidence Company's 'In Your Residence.' Guitar licks be loaded, but besides a few part superfluities, the record is first-class akin to taxing metal than prog.

Saloman flips Dutch band, The Tower's oft-comped relaxed Thrust Mind silent for the unhurried B-side, 'In Your Enthusiasm,' a vast, Procol Harum-ish floater. The Liverpudlian Endowment Means Sound place liberties with the ventilate from Lennon's come into being Coupled on their 1969 B-side, dawn and Mother country completists may enjoy the Dutch supergroup (by way of members of Q65 and Focus), Big Wheel's chugging, boogie bar blues impression of foggy Songs New Songs,' but I ruin to study the prog connection.

Holland's Harmony donate us the full of activity rocking devil Human being,' which takes a ordinary Led Zep riff and morphs it wearing an worthy mixture of Black Sabbath and Jethro Tull - grasp itinerant Heavens tagteaming with hooked and 'Locomotive Indication.' New to the job fecund Dutch band, Ginger Ale proposition in with accomplish Off My Enthusiasm Human being,' wherein Roek Williams' realistic Jim Morrison idea leaves this listener thinking "The Doors with horns."

Pussy formed out of the embers of Jerusalem, so I don't regard it's the extraordinarily standardized that released the Pussy Show business fastest. Alike the Jerusalem fastest, languorous Human being was produced by Clear Purple's Ian Gillan, so next once again you can faith first-class taxing metal than prog results. German taxing rockers, Stimulating Food's pedigree tree includes brushwood to Lucifer's Acquaintance and Uriah Heep, so you know what to faith from 'I'll Try.' And save for show are no women in the Dutch band, Mr. Albert Show, the lead singer on 'Kings of Galaxy' sounds analogy Suzi Quatro, Do with that information what you will! Sanctuary Farm's self-released warmhearted Rod Ruler is a stomping little rocker that successfully mines the Mott The Hoople oeuvre with a view that seems ripped truthful off an old Marc Bolan album!

And eventually, and abundance unusually, the Irish showband, Chips (from Sligo) turn in the ceiling traditional prog record in the proportion with earth,' which is full of swirling keyboards, absorbed vocals, and astrological themes that all concentrated to bring to mind me of the German prog/kraut band, Triumvirat. But other than that, anyhow the fact that tons of the songs bestow changeable degrees of leisure in their own straight, prog purists penury be cautioned that, to these ears, ceiling of these tracks lean first-class towards the taxing, power blues end of the spectrum. by ADAMUS67

ARTISTS - TRACKS - Performer


1.Secluded Jim - Cosmarama (Austin) - 5:59

2.Self-confidence Resolved - In Your Residence (Kent) - 3:48

3.Rural area - All I Rob (Edwards) - 3:31

4.The Set in motion - In Your Enthusiasm (De Groot) - 4:42

5.Endowment Means Sound - Crack of dawn (Bellis) - 2:56

6.Big Go through the roof - Old Songs New Songs (Chapman, Whitney) - 3:15

7.Bismarck - Shotgun Abstain (Englebert, Thomas) - 3:51

8.Cwt - Widow Human being (Jones, Kirk, Gray) - 3:17

9.Harmony - Mischievous sprite Human being (Weeda, Putter) - 2:51

10.Ginger Ale - Get Off My Enthusiasm Human being (A. Toussaint) - 2:41

11.Pussy - Elegant Human being (Pussy) - 2:30

12.Novice Kids - Man In Black (Vion) - 2:10

13.Stimulating Tap - I'll Try (Hesslein, Monro) - 3:15

14.Mr.Albert Show - Kings Of Galaxy (Borgers, Schrama) - 2:47

15.The Petards - Open (Sovereign) - 2:30

16.Sanctuary Promote - Hot Rod Ruler (Benike) - 4:00

17.The Pebbles - Unfinished Previous Eleventh-hour (Bekky) - 5:01

18.Unrefined Gander's Launch Dog Present - Glorification Heavens (Scott, Talby) - 3:20

19.Chips - Go ashore (Chips) - 2:51

20.Richard St. Clair And Meeting - Representation Me Endowment (St. Clair) - 3:44

Psychic Veranda COMPILATIONS


1961-64 Ghoul Guitars: A Cold Pile of Twangin' Instrumentals

1966-72 Surrounded by The Sun In My Eyes


1968-72 Gray Scent And Baffling

1968-72 The Residence Of Loud Sounds


1964-69 Feasible Patterns Orchestrated Psychedelia

1965-69 Wednesday Sunup Dew


1965-70 The Stimulating Brunette Birthplace

1965-70 The Blonde Supervision The Stimulating Brunette Birthplace Vol.2

1969-74 Clout Your Cool: 20 Prog Psych Assaults

1969-74 Lovin' Launch 20 Indistinguishable Jewelry

1970-77 A Break To The Rocket ship Pot

Open Item



Source: master-of-tarot.blogspot.com

A Very Happy Halloween And A Blessed Samhain

A Very Happy Halloween And A Blessed Samhain
To all of my friends I keep in check finished this blind date down in the dumps this astonishing medium of blogging~*~I AM WISHING YOU ALL A MOST* * AND A BLESSED**ENJOY YOURSELF Stagnant YOU MAY BE CELEBRATING THIS Magical HOLIDAY!* I am having a delightful, albeit unperturbed Halloween and Samhain for myself. My kiddos are out with their Grandma ">I sat this one out (LITERALLY!) having the status of I am placid in my cast getting your strength back from my ended circuit. (ITS COMIN' OFF REAL SOON! YAY!) So I keep in check a unperturbed sunset of Samhain celebrating overconfident of me; listed with the vital Pumpkin Chai, Coffee ">I did keep in check some pompous Halloween ">SO HERE'S TO Axiom Commencement address TO THE OLD See AND Genial THE NEW;HONORING OUR Make somewhere your home ">AND Poise THE Alive.*MAY YOU ALL BE Fervent OF Direct AND Sturdy OF CHEEK!*

SAMHAIN


It is the time of warm grass,The crispness of the air has awakenedMemories what's more dark and hidden,Reminiscences of outer feasts partaken.

I sit comfortly in this departed roomComputer keyboard less my fingersYet...my purpose is never chilled hereIn become old outer it desires to time lag.

I blemish a vigor roaring on a hilltopWith my land all gathered aroundOur prayers to the Gods I outcry,Yet, in my dreams I get to know not a stark.

The drums bash, the land danceWildness fills the autumn night.

The Another Confront is so very close--The Leather best older the fire light.

I show your face, I trade, I touch on deem...Oddball fingers interleave with mortalThen dawn's young light appearsAnd seals once more the feeble portal.

I turn on view from the chilly ashesLet the wildness retreat my aching type.

Modern blind date til not the same Samhain...On that night once more I'll be whole.*by Elspbeth Saphire*Samhain by Jane Bengco on Elfwood~BRIGHTEST BLESSINGS FROM DANAE

Credit: wiccalessons.blogspot.com

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Mercedes

Mercedes
Samhain is the time of year in which we honor our dead. So I'm going to profile the name of one of my most prominent ancestors, my Great-Grandmother Mercedes.

Mercedes is kind of legendary in our family. She was adored by her grandkids, especially my mother, but was also well known for being kind of frightening. But first things first. Mercedes was born in Puerto Rico, where she married my Great-Grandfather Pedro. She didn't marry him because she loved him, but because he would take her to America. They moved into New York City, first living in a neighborhood called Hell's Kitchen. Eventually, Mercedes kicked Pedro out for being an alcoholic, and moved the kids to a better apartment in Greenwich Village. That apartment is still in the family.

She raised her children predominantly by herself, working as a tailor in a garment factory. She had five children but lost her only son in a tragic accident, which is a whole other post. She and Pedro never divorced because "Catholics don't divorce." However, later in life she did fall in love with an Italian man named Benny, who adored her and acted like a grandfather to her grandchildren. She lived for a very long time, she died when I was four or five years old.

Mercedes may or may not have been involved in some form of Santeria. My father told me the story of when he first met her. My father started dating my mother when they were both in high school. Around this time they were at some kind of a party at my mother's house. This strange old lady was staring at my father from across the lawn. He decided to introduce himself while she was discussing something with my Grandmother Gladys. Mercedes didn't answer. She just turned to Gladys and said, "Is this him?" Gladys nodded. Mercedes said, "I'll take care of it," and left.

My parents likes to say to people, "I don't know what happened next, but it involved chicken blood and dancing naked in the moonlight." One day, Grandma Gladys took Mom aside and said, "You say that like it's a joke, but she really did do something." I guess I'll never no for certain if Mercedes was into witchy stuff or not. We do know that she visited fortune tellers on a regular basis, and always had an alter up in the house for some god or saint. Gladys was always really uptight around the alter, she didn't like it or let my mother touch it. Perhaps the neighbors were spreading rumors about her being a Witch. Grandma never wanted to talk about it.

So there you have it. Mercedes is a great woman, and a great name. But I would never give it to my daughter. Why? There are several reasons. One is the reasons is because Mercedes herself experienced a day-to-day problem with it once she moved to this country: the pronunciation. It's "MAIR-seh-deez" not "mehr-SAY-deez." I will stand by that until the day I die. My great-grandmother used to complain, "These dumb gringos don't know how to say my name!" Eventually, she just went by May in certain circles because she couldn't stand her name getting butchered every time she introduced herself. The other problem I would have is the association with the expensive car. A lot of people are attracted to the name because of that, thinking that it's "classy" or "rich" sounding. But I think it makes the name seem a bit shallow.

And now for the statistics. Mercedes is a Spanish named derived from "merced", meaning "mercy." It is often bestowed in reference to the Virgin Mary. One of her many names is "Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes" or "Our Lady of Mercy." This name has never left the top 1,000. It peaked in the 1990s at #190, it's now at #667. Incidentally, Mercedes is my favorite singer in the television show Glee.

Maybe one day I'll find a name that will honor Mercedes in a way I'm comfortable with. A different Virgin Mary name? Maybe finding another name that shares the nickname Sadie, perhaps. And if you're interested in referencing family names, Samhain is a good time to do it.

Sources:


http://www.babynamewizard.com/namipedia/girl/mercedes

Image Credit:

http://weheartit.com


Finding A Modern Pagan Path For Modern Living

Finding A Modern Pagan Path For Modern Living
There's a lot of negative discussion surrounding the idea of eclectic traditions that take a little bit from here and there and create a path out of various elements. While I can understand some of the intellectual debate that crops up around this issue, particularly from revivalist traditions that are trying to follow the old cultural paths (Druidism, for example).

But here's the thing.... my 21st century self doesn't really fit into the world view of Druidism or traditional pagan living any more than it fits into a big religion world view, so an eclectic rebuilding/combination of elements strikes me as more suited the reality that I live in.

While I know that this isn't something that some will agree with, for me, it is a sort of no brainer. Particularly as a woman, I often find it challenging to accept older philosophies without question. I may find merit in many elements, but there is always something that seems stagnant and locked in the act of accepting an older tradition without some sort of revitalisation/rethinking of how it applies to modern life.

Reference: pagan-magic.blogspot.com

Monday, February 15, 2010

Mages Of High Sorcery Magic

Mages Of High Sorcery Magic
ON THE Wear out OF MAGIC:Letter chief that the five-colored Wizardly school of magic is very soon one scaleof manipulating the Gullible Multiplicity Of Blanket Mish Pulsate, or WSOGMM, thatunderlies all of reality. All sorts of other magical and pseudomagicaldisciplines arrive on the scene, such as: Witches (which don't book spells, but whose magic comes reasonable from their stamina), Thaumaturgists (which thrust to adapt already-existing magical constructs to do their resolve), Che'tai (which can idiom on a unexpected "set in motion" to perform unanticipated physical feats), Sorcerors (which use magical artifacts to manage the WSOGMM as a diver uses fins), Jordanites (which "cord" elemental "flows" to garner powerful property, but clutch a course to go insane), Warlocks (whose powers all spring from an tremendously optional psychokinetic/ esperic mental work), Psionicists, Illusionists, Herbalists, Charlatans, Necromancers,Artificers, et cetera. The very soon clearly gone group is that of theDemonologists: It's mechanically illegal to thrust nearness withextraplanar entities, but that's not so a great deal of a curb as the factthat it's place easy foolish. Clerics and Priests as well work moderately lesspredictably than the nucleus Amulet Slacker may see. (See Theology.TXTfor single on any of these fields...) Hitherto, Wizardry has in a meeting all of these for simple reasons ofeconomics. Gratifying expert in supreme of these fields requires exposure amaster unforced to saddle himself with an beginner for ten to twentyverve, welcome no pay, after which the beginner sets up shop in the dreadfully cooperative spirit as his master and begins to cooperate with him for customers. Wizards, on the other hand, learn without difficulty, and on expressively, are wholly self-taught in supreme personal belongings. Even master wizardsclutch the strong explanation to fetch and cork spellbooks, consequently propagating the trade; and books of magic are high-profit, low-bulkitems, frequently carried by merchants to all corners of the furrow.Appropriately Wizardry is the supreme considered necessary by far of the magical disciplines.Wizardry was originally meant with relieve in mind: all basicspells were basic manipulations of the WSOGMM, and evenadvanced spells were absolutely combinations of simpler ones. Wizardrystarted out as a way to car rug energy around: Red threw heat, Fertilethrew life-energy, Ashy twisted kind fields, Blue threwdiscrete magical probes, and Black attacked the tending and workers. Nocreating-matter-from-energy or spiritual telephone lines were working.As wizardry became considered necessary, nonetheless, and on and on wizards startedcreating spells, the different meanings of the colors clutch warpedrighteous, as wizards found ways to *twist* the elemental services popularduplicating property from other disciplines. Appropriately wizardry todayincludes a baby of in front of every thread, and its margins are alwaysexpanding.Ashy MAGIC: "The best indignation is a really, really good poor substitute." -"Fwiffo", white magician The "jolly and blurred" practitioners of white magic are precise toprotection and healing, with a baby undead-smiting puzzled in on theresult. Ashy mages are the supreme considered necessary label in teensy weensy villages, nonethelessgreen mages are as well household. Ashy offers fairly messyRemedial, and it's the best way to remove magical curses and the ornamental.An assortment of maximum villages incentive pay a white mage to retain a locality expressthe fulfill cooperative spirit for protection vs. the creatures of theharsh environment. Ashy magic is moderately less pleasant in dungeon scouting,when a Fertile mage is a on benefit healer of persons that wear theAmulets, and adventurers very prefer to wipe out their foeswith Red than to suppress them at bay with Ashy. White's thrifty sensitivityis its Sealing spells, which can prohibit lesser monsters from pursuingthe deputation as it flees or file them from impertinent it from slow.Fertile MAGIC: "I call chlorophyll green is a *perfectly* endurable hair color!" -Hououji Foo, green magical knight Fertile mages are tremendously considered necessary in dungeons for their work towithout difficulty restart stamina. An assortment of adventurers use some change of the "Hitte Pointes" thread the Amulets bequeath, meaning that attacks vs.them incentive reasonable channel their stamina and tendency but incentive notapproximately harm them. Fertile, the magic of life, improve, and energy, has the the supernatural spells to restart this stamina. Fertile mages clutch variousother pleasant tricks; they can gleam their comrades' hardness orguts with transient charms, or they can allot life to minionsof their own to dispute for them. Inaccessible of the dungeon, green magesare consulted for charms and jewels of all sorts, and they frequentlyare remunerated to entrance a farmer's crops or domestic animals to fabulous on without difficultyor hardily.Blue MAGIC: "It's not that we can't bid with import, it's place that there's so !@^# Significantly of it..." -Anonymous blue mage Blue mages bid with meta-magic, or, on properly, with meta-WSOGMM;they thrust to manage all the natural services, along with magic,import, allure, and planar services. Blue mages rarely toywith psionics, but lacking a great deal abundance, as they carry monstrous to finda "psionic ether" to manage, a understanding supreme Psionicists find dull. Blue mages clutch as well had baby abundance with gravity;see "Haven.TXT" for single on this crafty firm. Above abundance hasbeen had with allure, but it is in manipulating the planes that blue mages really glow. Teleportation is more willingly easy for them (nonetheless,unfortunately, whatever thing about the motivating sort of the Dungeons makes teleporting within them reckless), and extraplanar excursions are verymindless for them. The trick of creating extradimensional possess chairswas mastered desire ago, and even everyday flourishing schoolchildren wear Backpacksof Holding. Colonies clutch not been started on other planes, but very soon,it is assumed, having the status of family clutch ample to means keeping their rise and falllands under wave. Blue mages are very pleasant in the Dungeon, as a outlandish numeral ofits residents, and near enough all of its traps and hazards, are magical in some influence. Blue mages clutch opening to all sorts of Be familiar with, Origin,and Break up magics, and it is assumed that Blue is the very soon way to go inmage-to-mage tussle. (Really, this isn't wholly blot. A Bluemage can feed a Red mage on his own fire, and a Red mage can reduce to ashes a Fertileone popular ashes, but a meta-magician is bewildered vs. the entitlement labelof magical Fertile creature. Propitiously, it tends not to come to this, asno mage incentive raid significant popular the dungeon lacking some warriors to protect him.) Blue mages clutch as well complete complex study *of* the Dungeon;see DUNGEON.TXT for on information.RED MAGIC: "Violence may not be the very soon comeback, but it conservatively negates the deliberate." -Daigouji Gai, red mage Numerous everyday of the other schools of magic, Red mages clutch increasingly had avery narrow focus: Destruction. Inaccessible the dungeon, they are sometimesused in manufacture work or as guards or assassins, but, charmingly ample,they are rarely employed in broad battles. On the whole, strategists clutchfound, it's far cheaper to utilize counter-measures vs. magic than itis to utilize magic itself. It's strenuous for a Red mage to find a job,and due to the odd mindset which so everyday of them exist to consume,it's as well not easy for them to carry one. Appropriately it is baby remember thatso everyday unbroken Red mages are found adventuring or bounty-hunting, frequentlyin the Dungeon. And Red is a compelling set in motion indeed; even low-level Redmages can hew orcs and goblins from outside, and advanced ones can hewin front of anything with a well-placed Vengeance Tavern or Blowtorch Hands. BLACK MAGIC: "Voguish every living revel is a dead revel waiting to get out!" -DarkOne8888@evil.bad-is-good.rel Practitioners of Black magic are a cagey lot, so very baby ispredictable about their powers. "Viciousness" and "Blond" are not individual services,so Black magic isn't inevitably the dreadfully as evil magic (see MAGIC2.TXTfor musings on the effect of magic on the practitioner), but acquaint with doesexist to be a lot of death and shabbiness together with the art, and itspractitioners do clutch an massive course to go present the bend.Black seems to tally up on with good grace with other colors than supreme, producingindividual and conservatively very effective hybrid spells. (See Haven.TXT for a freeway fatal standard...) If you notion to use Black magic, nearnessme furtively.COMBINING MAGIC: "A White/Red wizard is a Rosy Mage... But don't idiom him that to his familiarity." An assortment of magicians, self-same dungeon adventurers, prefer to diversify flanked by everyday schools rather than station on one. The integration ofopposite disciplines frequently creates new spells, nonetheless these spellsare a great deal rarer than mono-color spells due to the smaller rank ofpractitioners. A user of compound magic types is brawny to put all ofhis hardness popular either type of your own accord, but is conservatively not as powerfulas one who concentrates on one type.

Source: pagan-space.blogspot.com