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In Brannon House's this week's Worldview Weekend Hour TV Program Topic he covered 20 Characteristics of False Teachers. The teaching was one hour. I wrote down the points and their attendant verses which support the point he was making. Here is THE LINK TO THE VIDEO but the WVW videos are only live for a few days and then they go behind a paywall. He put up half the teaching to the public, and that's why if you count them, there are only 13 and not 20.
The bible says, "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them." (Romans 16:17). The KJV says to "mark them." To those who claim we are unloving to point out false teachers, or that a true Christian is not supposed to do that, I refer you to the Romans verse. Also we read another instruction from the Apostle John, found in 2 John 1:10-11, "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works." And again, Paul instructs in Ephesians 5:11, "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."
20 CHARACTERISTICS OF FALSE TEACHERS, Here are Mr Howse's points:
-False teachers are insincere and use the Word for personal gain. 2 Corinthians 2:17 says, "For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ."
-False teachers appeal to the flesh and the sin-nature of people in order to build their following. 2 Peter 2:18 says, "For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error." Acts 20:30 says "and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them."
-False teachers deliberately take verses out of context to attract a following.
-False teachers have a form of Godliness but deny God. 2 Timothy 3:5 says, "having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people."
-False teachers openly reject truth. 2 Timothy 4:4 says, "and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."
-False teachers willingly embrace unbiblical philosophies. 2 Timothy 4:4 says, "and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths (philosophies)." Colossians 2:8 says "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."
-False teachers are arrogant and self-righteous. 2 Timothy 3:2-5, "For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
-False teachers embrace mysticism. (Mysticism is the pursuit of communion with, identity with, or conscious awareness of an ultimate reality, divinity, spiritual truth, or God through direct experience, intuition, instinct or insight. Mysticism usually centers on practices intended to nurture those experiences. The seek after experiences by Contemplative Prayer, soaking prayer, visions, dreams, labyrinth, yoga etc...) Colossians 2:18, "Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind."
Note that the people promoting mysticism often speak of their regular angel visits (Todd Bentley's 'Angel Emma', Rick Joyner "
I hope that this list will be a starting point for you to delve further into the Word. Compare what is said here through Mr Howse and see if these things are so. False teaching can be powerful, plausible, smooth, and easily ensnaring. Please be wise and always cling to Him who has prevailed against every lie (Colossians 2:15), in whom deceit was not found in His mouth! (1 Peter 2:22).
Credit: http://asatru-religion.blogspot.com
Kundalini life force energy, also called Holy Spirit, Pranic energy, Chi, or Shakti, is often depicted as a snake in many shamanic and religious traditions, including Christianity. The story of Eve being tempted by the serpent to eat the apple is really about biting fully into life and embodying the wisdom of the Gods, which we have the right to do because we are their children. Life force energy is like a serpent that uncoils up our spine and opens up our minds, bodies, hearts and spirits, connecting them with divine source, vibrating and shaking out anything that needs to go. It is only dangerous to the ego mind and if you hold on too tightly it can be very painful. But if you can let go of ego attachments day by day and surrender to source and open your heart all will be well. I have had many kundalini awakenings, some gentle, some not so gentle. When the great snake comes she is claiming you. When she sinks her fangs into you, you are hers and there is no turning back. If you are interested in learning more about Kundalini and the Serpent energy, check out my Anubis Oracle Deck or my Shamanic Mysteries of Egypt book read about Wadjet. She is the great Kundalini Mother serpent who destroys ignorance and greed and shakes us up so we can move towards our divine purpose. You can follow the rituals in the book to help you on your way. You can get a free reading from the Anubis Oracle at www.anubisoracle.com.
In Love and the Sacred Breath,
Star Wolf
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Above: two hour tapers and the cat candle
Reasonably priced altar candles are SO hard to find these days! I've been going all over town trying to find the traditional dinner-style candle in variations of colours in Melbourne and it is SO hard!
This website sells candles at a really reasonable price
The above two hours tapers are 6.50AUS for 20 - and you can choose 20 of one particular colour if you need heaps for some kind of celebration or handfasting.
They also have packs of small, lean 'wish' candles at 20 per box for 7.50 if for some reason you want to have a lot of gold or silver candles.
I am rather keen on the cat candle found in the Spell Candles section (below - 7.50AUS)
Go to the site and click on 'Candles' on the left hand side from the home page:
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Beautiful poppy I thank the Goddess for the strength and the courage that you give to me this day.
I saw my first poppy of the year by the side of the road today. There is something about the poppy that always makes me feel optimisitc. The poppy springs up by the sides of our roads and brightens up our journey and our day. Seeing a beautiful poppy, so bright yet ephemeral reminds me of the need to practice gratitude and so I wrote this simple little prayer. Allow the poppy to remind you how strong, beautiful and courageous you are. You are able to ride through all of life's ups and downs and there is always something to feel grateful for at the end of everyday. Today I am grateful to that simple little poppy reminding me that hope, abundance and love are all around me. Mother nature is beautiful and abundant and it is all around for everyone to enjoy, so do enjoy, look for your poppy.
Many blessings to you all, AstarteAlison
Origin: http://just-wicca.blogspot.com
Fate, it is said, may be influenced in your favor if you know your personal magic word.
To find it, light a white candle and sit facing south. Take a dictionary; close your eyes and turn the book around several times so that you are unaware of which way it is facing.
Eyes closed, fan the pages until you feel compelled to stop at a certain page.
Eyes still closed, wander about the page using your forefinger until you feel inclined to pause. Open your eyes, look at the word under your finger. If there is more than one word, pick the first that jumps out at you from the page. This is your magic word.
You can remind yourself of your magic word mentally or verbally whenever you wish to tune in to a situation, or whenever you feel you need a boost of energy. It will change the vibration around you and attract good influences.
It is better not to talk about your word too much - if at all. The more you verbalize about it, the less power it will have. Too much talking about something, particularly something sacred and magical, tends to dilute the energy. This does not mean that your word must be a "secret". It does mean that it is important to keep your "magic word" to yourself, and for sure do not share it with anyone who would make light of it, or belittle you in any way.
Found in:
The Good Spell Book by Gillian Kemp
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[This is the first draft of the introduction to an essay I'm working on. (c) 2008]
INTRODUCTION TO EKAYANA
The thesis of this essay is that Zen is the heart of Ekayana Buddhism, that is, the Buddhism known as the One Vehicle or more accurately the Vehicle of Oneness. While many have heard of Zen Buddhism and of the major branch of Buddhism known as Mahayana (Great Vehicle) Buddhism, within which Zen is usually located, and heard also of the Mahayana charge of Hinayana (Small Vehicle) views against opposing branches of Buddhism, few in the West have heard, fewer still have appreciated, and even rarer have been those who realize the meaning of Ekayana Buddhism. By Zen I do not mean Zen as a religious institution but the Zen of awakening that is the unity of meditation ("dhyana-chan-zen") and wisdom ("prajna") within the context of one's straightforward daily activities ("sila"). The primary purpose of this paper is to inform English speaking Buddhists about the importance and centrality of Ekayana Buddhism as it relates to their own Buddhist practice in whichever tradition they find themselves. Secondarily I hope to speak to non-Buddhists who are wondering how Buddhism relates to their own spiritual practice.
Though the Ekayana is Shakyamuni's true and direct Dharma, the basic problem is that even most Buddhists have failed to see and acknowledge the central role of Ekayana. This is a problem of failing to see the forest for the trees. This problem is explained by the Ekayana as being the result of that essential aspect of consciousness that divides the world into the images of separate categories and things and turning this divisive mental process onto Buddhism as well. Thus, instead of having a clear appreciation of Ekayana Buddhism and how it functions as the complete unification of Buddhism, we have Buddhist sectarianism and arguments over the centrality of one sutra or another, the methods of one sect over another, or even sometimes the nature of the goal of Buddhism itself. The history of Buddhism is in large part a history of the resurgence of the Ekayana spirit and its subsequent re-fracturing when the spirit is overtaken by the religious politics of the day.
There are certain myths in Buddhism and Buddhist studies that Ekayana does not accept. Among them are the notions that Hinayana and Mahayana are irreconcilable, that Chinese Buddhism is not based on Indian Buddhism and that the Chinese development of the sects of Tiantai, Huayan. Zen, and Pure Land are inherently different from each other or have different goals. And there are beliefs about Buddhism in Buddhist studies circles that make no sense without an understanding of Ekayana. For example, it is often said and commonly believed that Zen and other forms of Buddhism "look to Hua-yen for their philosophical foundation." ("Hua-yen Buddhism: The Jewel Net of Indra", p. xii) However, this implies a sectarian reliance that doesn't make sense. It is not that Zen looks to Huayan as a separate school for its philosophy, but that both Huayan and Zen are parts of the Ekayana as a perennial spiritual movement within Buddhism. The teaching of the Huayan Sutra may be said to represent the grand philosophical aspect of Ekayana while Zen presents the direct practice aspect of Ekayana. In this way, all of the Ekayana Sutras and their schools of study (not just the Huayan) are the lobes of the brain-mind of Ekayana as Zen is the heart-mind.
A caveat: One of the most primary ways we learn is by assimilating strange ideas and images through metaphors relating to something we are already familiar with, e.g., body parts like brain and heart. The downside of that learning method is that we may take the metaphor too literally and come to falsely believe something about the strange new thing that is not true simply because the idea is contained in the transitional metaphor and not in the new thing. For example, someone who had never before seen or heard of a lion or tiger may learn something accurate about a lion or tiger by being told it is like a very large house cat. But then the person would be misled upon taking the metaphor to mean that the usual lion or tiger was as docile as the usual house cat. Metaphors are good for making strange things familiar, but they are not substitutes for the facts themselves.
To be introduced now to Ekayana may seem strange to many if not most Western Buddhists who have heard frequently of Mahayana and of the debate over the uses of the term Hinayana, and who even may have heard of Vajrayana (Diamond Vehicle), but have not heard the term Ekayana before or having heard it not really registered it as a term of significance. This sense of strangeness might be reduced by learning that Ekayana is a little like Gnosticism within Christianity; it is an essentially ecumenical movement within Buddhism that refuses to allow itself to become a separate sect and so, to deal with the sectarian mentality of human beings, it appears within all the sects to greater or lesser degrees. In other words, while there are the sectarian divisions known as Zen, Pure Land, Huayan, Theravada, Vajrayana, etc., just as the word Buddha means the Awakened One, the threads that weave the tapestry of the Ekayana movement will be found throughout Buddhism wherever an individual in a particular sect has had a real and genuine awakening which is the one goal shared throughout all Buddhism.
Another caveat: to see Ekayana Buddhism as the "One Vehicle" or "One Path" does not mean what it may seem to imply if taken narrowly: that Ekayana is an exclusive form of Buddhism. For example, those Buddhists who are already familiar with the term Ekayana, or the One Vehicle, through the Lotus Sutra may be surprised to learn that the Ekayana doesn't mean believing in the Lotus Sutra as the one and only best teaching of Buddha. This mistaken belief about Ekayana - taking it to mean only one framework of belief based on one sutra as the "One Vehicle" - is as mistaken in the Buddhist context as the mistaken notion that taking Jesus as personal savior is the only "one Way" in the Christian context while denying that every other view of Christianity has any legitimacy. Such narrow mindedness is best known under the label "fundamentalism" which, as a human dilemma, affects Buddhism just as much as it affects every other religion. Taking one sutra or another as "the One Vehicle" is the mistake of literalizing the Ekayana and seeking the Buddha's Dharma of Ekayana in the words of the Buddha and not in the practice, realization, and manifestation of Buddha's awakening.
Woven in the history of Ekayana are several common themes which may be outlined as: (1) Buddhism is the religious science of the One Mind, (2) the One Mind is known by many names such as "Dharmakaya" (the body or essence of Dharma), Buddha-nature, "Tathagata-garbha "(the womb of the One-Who-Comes-Thus), "Sunyata" (Emptiness), "Alaya-vjnana "(the Storehouse of Consciousness), etc., (3) since all the teachings of Buddhism, including both Mahayana and Hinayana, are essentially teachings about the One Mind they must be taken as an organic whole and this reconciliation of apparent oppositions or contradictions within Buddhist teachings is the synthesis of Ekayana, (4) as all beings share equally the One Mind there is an absolute basis for human equality, (5) realizing this absolute basis of the One Mind is not accomplished as an intellectual pursuit but must be accomplished by experiential practice, and (6) since all people share This One Mind there is no fundamental distinction between monk and lay practitioner in the potential for - or actual realization of - awakening in Buddhism.
The Ekayana has played a crucial role at every stage in the outward movement of maturing Buddhism from its birthplace in the borderlands between India and Nepal. Ekayana was central to the development of what became known as the Mahayana when Buddhism spread to Southern India and northwest into Kashmir and across the Hindu Kush where it met the Silk Road in what is now Afghanistan and Central Asia. The Ekayana also played pivotal roles in the transplantation of Buddhism to China, Korea, and Japan. Now that Buddhism has come to the West, and especially with an emphasis on lay practice, it is necessary for Western Buddhists to at least understand and appreciate - and hopefully realize - the meaning of Ekayana for Buddhism to become meaningfully alive within our Western cultural framework. It should not be a surprise that the religion of Buddha's enlightenment has met fertile soil in the West today where we can see the ecumenical spirit of Ekayana working unconsciously in the Western Buddhist communities as it touches those aspects of the Western psyche that are Ekayana in spirit and grounded in the psychological and philosophical traditions of gnosis, the Age of Reason, and the Western Enlightenment. When individuals awaken and express their awakening, which then comes to a shared awareness in a living community, then that is the presence of the living Ekayana of Buddha Dharma.
#end Introduction#
The outline of the essay continues with the following section headings:
Bodhidharma's Ekayana
Ekayana in Pali Scriptures
Ekayana in Mahayana Scriptures
Ekayana in Chinese Buddhism
Fazang's Ekayana
Huineng's Ekayana
Zongmi's Ekayana
Ekayana in Japanese Buddhism
Prince Shotoku's Ekayana
Hakuin's Ekayana
Ekayana Today
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El prop'osito de este ritual, es agradecer a los Dioses por sus bendiciones durante todo el d'ia, y pedirles que est'en con nosotros durante el d'ia que vendr'a. Para meditar sobre las actividades del d'ia y prepararse para el d'ia siguiente. Pues bien, veamos qu'e necesitamos y c'omo se realiza
Herramientas:
* Vela roja
* Hierba/s para el t'e
* Tetera
* Taza
* Recipiente para el agua
* Contenedor para hierba/s
* El agua pura de manantial
Preparaci'on:
Primero limpiaremos la taza y la tetera, mezclaremos las hierbas, si es que usaremos una mezcla, herviremos el agua de manantial y luego nos propondremos para la creaci'on de un lugar tranquilo y privado en el que no se ver'a afectado nuestro ritual. Colocaremos la vela, el contenedor de hierbas, la tetera y la taza en el lugar en el espacio ritual, junto con el agua hirviendo. Luego de preparar todo esto, encienderemos la vela, y elevaremos la siguiente oraci'on a la Diosa:
Diosa de gracia,
T'u que eres la Reina de los Dioses,
L'ampara de la noche,
Creadora de todo lo que es salvaje y libre;
Madre de la mujer y el hombre;
Amante del Dios Cornudo,
Protectora de todas las embarcaciones;
desciende, te ruego,
con tu rayo lunar poderoso
a mi rito.
Luego le diremos al Dios:
Ardiente Dios,
T'u que eres el Rey de los Dioses,
Se~nor del Sol,
Maestro de todo lo que es salvaje y libre;
Padre de la mujer y el hombre;
Amante de la Diosa Luna,
Protector de todas las embarcaciones;
desciende, te ruego,
con tus rayos solares poderosos
a mi rito.
Luego, con la punta del athame inserto en el agua hirviendo, o se~nalando con el dedo 'indice de la mano h'abil, entonaremos esta bendici'on:
Oh, Se~nora de los arroyos de la monta~na,
Oh, Se~nor de los claros del bosque,
pido a ustedes que bendigan y purifiquen esta agua
con los rayos solares y los rayos lunares.
!Que as'i sea!
Con la punta de su athame -o con el dedo 'indice-, tocar las hierbas, entonando esta bendici'on:
T'u has crecido en favor del Sol, la Luna, y del roc'io.
te ruego que me bendigas en este rito,
por tus virtudes que son infalibles.
T'u eres el roc'io de todos los dioses,
el ojo del Sol,
la luz de la Luna,
la belleza y la gloria del cielo,
el misterio de la Terra:
yo te purifico para que lo que haga contigo en este rito,
utilizando tus poderes,
tenga un buen efecto y sus resultados sean r'apidos.
Que as'i sea!
Poner las hierbas en la tetera y a~nadir el agua. Mientras que el t'e reposa, podemos decir una oraci'on a los Dioses, d'andoles las gracias por las bendiciones al final del d'ia, y pedirles que nos bendigan en todo el d'ia que vendr'a.
Servir el t'e, y mientras se lo bebe, meditar sobre las actividades del d'ia y c'omo se reflejan en nuestra vida; meditar sobre nuestros planes para el d'ia siguiente y para el futuro. Cuando hayamos terminado, le daremos gracias a la Diosa y al Dios por su presencia durante el rito diciendo:
Oh, Sagrada Se~nora de la Luna,
Reina de la Noche;
Oh, Sagrado Maestro del Sol,
Rey que iluminas mi camino cada d'ia:
les doy las gracias por su presencia
y por las bendiciones dadas.
Feliz partida.
!Benditos sean!
Reference: http://master-of-tarot.blogspot.com
Major Happy Dance!
Today President Monson announced a new temple for Meridian Idaho!
I am thrilled!
Ground breaking with President Monson!
Watching the temple being built!
Open house!
Dedication and celebration!
I just can't wait for this blessing!
We are blessed to be close to the Boise temple - a 15 minute drive. But to have one in our own town, I can hardly contain my excitement for the blessing!
I wonder where it will be.
Will it look like the Twin Falls temple? Beautiful picture of Brady after he toured it during the open house. I love temples and the spirit it brings to all people who surround it! Yea! I'm happy!
I loved the first session of General Conference. I love those who spoke. I've been inspired to do better in my life and in my home. I'm thankful for my membership in the Lord's true church upon the earth day.I am thankful for living Prophet and Apostles who lead and guide us in these days. It's wonderful to be a member of the Lord's church on the earth today and to associate with all the wonderful saints who strive to do what is right.
If you would like to know more about our church check out www.mormon.org.
Great story about the announcement for a new temple in Meridian from our local news station KTVB. You can read it here: According to Mayor Tammy de Weerd, a location in Meridian has not been announced.
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Record keeping has always been an essential part of Divination and Spirituality. The power of sound, the written word carries magic, energy and power. All things emanate from energy, the sound of the word and the grace with which they are spoken.
The Mystical Egyptian God Thoth is also known as Tehuti, which means action. When words are matched with action, there is balance and wisdom. In other others, when you walk your talk you are in alignment with your truth. You become a reflection of all that you are in the light, in truth.
It is said Tehuti is the first to create the written word, becoming the scribe for the Ancient Gods and Goddesses of Egypt.
Thoth is the record-keeper, having created the word which became language. In creating words from sound energy, birth was given to desire. Desire opened energy portals for the ways of magic, wisdom and knowledge. Wisdom and knowledge caused movement in the speaking of words. The speaking of words became a way of generating movement into manifestation from the Realm of the Gods and Spirit into physical form.
This Mystical God created the measurement of time into cycles or cyclical time. Time was measured by the phases of the Moon and the movement of the Sun. Thoth maintained order in the heavens and among the children of the Nile.
He is depicted with the head of an Ibis bird whose beak is shaped like a Crescent Moon. Tehuti mapped the stars, the shimmering roadway of the Gods and Goddesses. The colors of the feathers of the Ibis are white and black, symbolic of shadow and light, the Sun and the Moon.
A Message from Thoth
Among the heavens seek your name. Among the heavens seek wisdom. Among the heavens hear your name for you are created in the image of love and light, wisdom and knowledge. You have among your many gifts the use of the word of sound, the power of the energy deep within your Soul. You have the gift of re-creation of that which your heart and your mind conceive. There is nothing held from you except that which you hold from yourself child of the Nile. All are children of the Nile as the birth place of creation in the time of the Ancient Ones. Become as you were created in the likeness of the Divinities, the Spirit Ones who remain awakened to assist you in all you came to do.
The Crown Chakra energy center is the opening through which you are connected with the Ancient Divinities, with Spirit in all its many forms. Crystals and Mineral associated with the Crown Chakra energy center are Herkimer Diamonds, Quartz Crystals, and Amethyst.
Call upon Thoth to assist you in unlocking the creative power within you. Speak with love, wisdom and knowledge of all that you desire to manifest into physical form.
Connect with Terrie Marie, Angels and the Realm of Spirit every day when you click this link
Source:: http://alchemy-and-alchemists.blogspot.com
What follows is a list (in alphabetical order) of the names given to the November moon. Also listed is the tradition and/or origin of that moon name:
All Gathered Moon ~"San Juan, Native American"
Beaver Moon, ~"Algonquin, Native American, Colonial"
Corn Harvest Moon ~"Taos"
Dark moon ~"other"
Dead Moon ~"Janic (dark)"
Deer Antler Shedding Moon ~"other"
Deer Ruting Moon ~"Cheyenne"
Falling Leaves Moon ~"Sioux"
Fog Moon ~"other"
Fledgling Raptor Moon ~"Hopi"
Freezing River Moon ~"Arapaho"
Frosty Moon ~"Algonquin, Native American, Colonial"
Geese Going Moon ~"Kiowa"
Itartoryuk Moon ~"Inuit"
Mad Moon ~"other"
Mourning Moon ~"Janic (full)"
Oak Moon ~"other"
Poverty Moon ~"Mohawk"
Snow Moon ~Mediaeval English
Snowy Morning Mountains Moon ~"Wishram"
Storm Moon ~"other"
Trading Moon ~"Cherokee"
Tree Moon ~"Neo Pagan"
Source
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Handfasting: A Practical Guide
By Mary Neasham
Green Magic, 2003
ISBN 0954296311, 26.95
"Handfasting: A Practical Guide" gives a good solid overview of handfasting, including historical roots, traditions, rituals, ceremony planning, ritual logistics, and modern spiritual considerations. It looks at betrothals, as well as handfastings for set periods of time, for life, or for eternity. It also includes information on handparting and unbinding rituals. Although written for a British audience, it works just fine for Canadians as well.
For clergy, the author goes through ritual structures and standard stuff like that. However she also touches on the role of the Priestess, the differences between a spiritual and non-spiritual ceremony, as well as practical considerations like whether to raise energy during the rite, and how, considering that many participant may be non-pagan.
For the celebrating partners, Neasham describes many different historical types of rituals, and gives tips on planning, preparation, location, altar set-up, music, feasting, and much more. The book even has some blank planning pages with key words on each page to help get you started.
This is the first book that I've seen that really takes the reader through the historical roots of handfasting, as well as different handfasting traditions over time and geography such as Medieval Druidic, Celtic, Viking, Irish, Saxon, and Tudor Weddings. To my delight, the author starts her section on history with a disclaimer, stating that "like many ancient British customs and traditions, the origins of handfasting are hard to pin down with any degree of chronological accuracy," reminding readers that in questions of history nothing is known absolutely and the best we can do is to look critically at the evidence available.
Another unique section in this book is one devoted to tying the handfasting knot itself, and the different symbolisms that could be worked into the different types of knotwork. This section could have used some illustrations though, especially for the more complicated knots.
The author has done such a good job pulling the content of the book together, it is a real shame that the editing is truly horrendous. Sections of text are occasionally ambiguous, and I found myself rereading passages to make sure that I understood them properly. Worse yet, in some places the text refers the reader to earlier information that was must have been removed in the editing process, or simply not included to begin with, making the book read like a second draft.
Apart from the poor editing, which really detracted from my enjoyment of the book, "Handfasting: A Practical Guide" is very good with lots of interesting information and food for thought for people planning or considering a handfasting ceremony, whether spiritual or reconstructionist, as well as for Pagan clergy asked to Priestess the event.
"(c) 2004. This review originally appeared in the Midsummer 2004 issue of WynterGreene."
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Phenomenology of World Religions (c)Chapter 46THE APOSTLE SAINT PETER "What little is known about SIMON PETER, known as Peter "in the Gospels, as JESUS referred to him and chose to be one of his twelve disciples, is that he was a fisherman by trade and lived in house shared with his brother, ANDREW, who also became a disciple of Jesus and later beatified by the Roman Catholic Church.
It was ANDREW who discovered Jesus and who returned one day to Peter who was fishing along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and told Simon Peter that he had found the "Messiah", as foretold by the prophets of the Hebrew/Greek scriptures of the Old Testament. Upon hearing this, Simon Peter dropped his fishing net and went to see for himself.
Nothing has been recorded, or at least survived in history, any reference to Simon Peter's life before that time. Much of what we do know was recorded in the Gospels of the "New Testament" scriptures of the canonical "Holy Bible". Sometime after Simon Peter had seen and heard Jesus preaching, Jesus visited shore of Galilee and came across Simon Peter there, and who Jesus conversed with.
Jesus stated, upon the first meeting, according to JOHN 1:42 (KJV):
"...AND WHEN JESUS BEHELD HIM, HE SAID, THOU ART SIMON THE SON OF JONA: THOUS SHALT BE CALLED CEPHAS, WHICH IS BY INTERPRETATION, A STONE". It has been proposed by scholars and theologians that Jesus meant that he would be the foundation of a new Jewish religious sect that would come to be called Christianity.
However, passages in "New Testament"scriptures reveal that PETER and PAUL clearly states that Jesus was the founder. (1 Peter 2:4-9) and 1 Corinthians 3:11). In the 20thcentury, archaeologists discovered and restored the ancient Roman town of Capernaum. It has been the most visited spot in modern tourism, but few realized that it was the site of the apostle Peter's home, as well as the site of visitation by other apostles and Jesus himself.
Ancient church history provided clues that led to the discovery of Peter's home.The area had become an established Christian community that previously was dominated by orthodox Jews, until about 350, when Count Joseph converted to Christianity, he was awarded the governorship of Tiberius by EMPEROR CONSTANTINE, just before his death in 337.
An imperial decree was declared to build a church on the site of Saint Peter's home in an area called" Kfar Nacum". [VIRGILO CORBO; "New Memoirs of Saint Peter by the Sea of Galilee"; Jerusalem, 1969; pp. 21-22].The octagonal basilica was erected as a place of worship, not for any ordinary needs of a Christian community, but as a memorial.
It was built over the ruins of a house which, from very ancient times, revealed proof of veneration on the part of the local Christians of Capernaum. All this had been long attested by tradition and was proven true by archaeological excavation.The archaeological dig revealed that beneath the octagonal basilica there was a complete group of small buildings buried there of great antiquity.
The architect of the basilica took care to preserve the site underneath that was directly beneath the central octagon room of the basilica, which was held in great reverence and even followed the older site's dimensions. While removing the upper parts of the ancient buildings, the architect too care to preserve the former home of Peter (and Andrew, his brother), as he had earth filled in around them.
One discovery on this site was most interesting and surprising. In order to preserve the doorstep-doorway of Peter's home, a small bridge was built over it. The architect was unknown, but through his reverence of the historical importance of the revered site of Peter's home, archaeologists who unearthed it were thankful.
The basilica was designed and built as an octagon and its floors were built "one metre and one half above the ancient buildings", leaving space as to not disturb the original site. [VIRGILO CORBO, "New Memoirs of Saint Peter by the Sea of Galilee"; Jerusalem, 1969; pp. 21-22].Some interesting and vital information had been discovered:"THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION BENEATH THE PAVEMENTS OF THE BYZANTINE CHURCH HAS NOT ONLY BROUGHT TO LIGHT A NETWORK OF HABITATIONS OF THE FIRST CENTURY OF OUR ERA, BUT HAS DEMONSTRATED WITH THE SAME EVIDENCE ALSO THE EVOLUTION OF A CULTIC CHARACTER WHICH MADE ITSELF KNOWN IN THESE HABITATIONS AROUND THE LARGEST ROOM OF THE COMPLEX.
THE SACRED CHARACTER OF THIS HALL IS KNOWN FROM ANCIENT CHRISTIAN TRADITION, WHICH HAS REACHED US THOUGH THE TESTIMONY OF PILGRIMS; TODAY WE KNOW THIS INDEPENDENTLY OF THE TESTIMONIES, ALSO FROM THE TESTIMONIES OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS..."PETER THE DEACON REPORTS AN ANCIENT TEXT ASCRIBED TO EGERIA.
"IN CAPERNAUM, HOWEVER, A CHURCH HAS BEEN MADE OUT OF THE HOUSE OF THE PRINCE OF THE APOSTLES' ITS WALLS STANDING UNTIL UNTIL TODAY AS THEY WERE. THERE THE LORD CURED THE PARALYTIC. [VIRGILO CORBO, "The House of Saint Peter at Capharnaum"; Jerusalem Franciscan Press, 1969; pp. 53-54].FATHER CORBOalso describes the rooms of Peter's home:"THE PRINCIPAL AND LARGEST ROOM OF A VERY POOR HABITATION WAS VENERATED BY THE JEWISH CHRISTIANS OF THE FIRST GENERATION AND IN THE FOLLOWING CENTURIES BY ADAPTING SOME DEPENDENCIES INTO A PLACE OF REUNION AND OF PRAYER IN ORDER TO PRESERVE IN THIS PLACE THE SACRED CHARACTER WHICH IT DERIVED BOTH FROM THE PERSON OF THE PROPRIETOR PETER AND ALSO FROM THE CONSECRATION GIVEN TO IT BY THE LONG STAY OF THE LORD.
SO WHILST AROUND THIS HALL THE CULT OF THE PRIMITIVE JEWISH CHRISTIANS OF THE COMMUNITY OF CARPHARNAUM WAS CENTERED, AND THE OTHER SURROUNDING ROOMS CONTINUED TO THROB WITH THE ORDINARY LIFE OF MEN. AMONG THE OBJECTS FOUND ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE-CHURCH I MENTION TWO FISHHOOKS AND BEHIND THE EAST WALL OF THE CENTRAL OCTAGON A SMALL AXE FOR CUTTING STONES".
[VIRGILIO CORBO, "The House of Saint Peter at Capharnaum"; Jerusalem, 1969; pp. 70-71]."Peter officiated at the first apostolic council where he defended the inclusion of Gentiles to the Christian religious sect; in compliance of Jesus' instruction that they be fishers of men". The demand that Jewish Christians in Jerusalem demanded to be separated from the Gentile Christians was blamed upon Peter by the apostle Paul, a convert who never met Jesus.
Peter became angered and Paul backed down from making any further public condemnations. This and other passages clearly show there was animosity between Peter and Paul; possibly because Peter had not only been a disciple, but was apparently Jesus' favorite disciple. EUSEBIUSrefers to Peter at Antioch in the "Epistles of Ignatius":"ABOUT THIS TIME FLOURISHED POLYCARP IN ASIA, AN INTIMATE DISCIPLE OF THE APOSTLE, WHO RECEIVED THE EPISCOPATE OF THE CHURCH OF SMYRNA "(modern-day Izmir), "AT THE HANDS OF THE EYE WITNESSES AND SERVANTS OF THE LORD.
AT THIS TIME, ALSO, PAPIAS WAS WELL KNOWN AS BISHOP OF THE CHURCH AT HIERAPOLIS, A MAN WELL SKILLED IN ALL MANNER OF LEARNING, AND WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THE SCRIPTURES. IGNATIUS, ALSO, WHO IS CELEBRATED BY MANY EVEN TO THIS DAY, AS THE SUCCESSOR OF PETER AT ANTIOCH, WAS THE SECOND THAT OBTAINED THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE THERE".
"[EUSEBIUS; "Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History"; Baker House, 1962; p. 120].The text of Eusebius and the agreement of historians have concluded that Antioch was the headquarters of Peter. HUGO HOEVER, Catholic scholar wrote:"CHURCH HISTORIANS AFFIRM POSITIVELY THAT SAINT PETER FOUNDED THE SEE OF ANTIOCH BEFORE HE WENT TO ROME.
ANTIOCH WAS THE THEN CAPITAL OF THE EAST. ST. GREGORY THE GREAT STATES THAT THE PRINCE OF THE APOSTLES WAS BISHOP OF THAT CITY FOR SEVEN YEARS. "[HUGO HOEVER,"Lives of the Saints"; NY, 1967; p.82]In an article by V.K. GEORGEentitled "The Holy See of Seleucia - Ctesiphon", traditions of the eastern church is recorded:"MEANWHILE, THE APOSTLES SET OUT TO PREACH THE GOSPEL.
THE FIRST MISSIONARY FIELD OF THE APOSTLES WERE THE JEWS. THEY WERE THEIR OWN RACIAL KINSMEN. THEY WERE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE WAITING FOR THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH. HENCE THE WORK AMONG THEM WAS VERY EASY. THE APOSTLES HAD ONLY TO ADD A FEW ARTICLES TO THEIR EXISTING FAITH THAT THE MESSIAH HAD COME; THAT HE HAD DIED FOR THEIR SINS AND RISEN FOR THEIR SALVATION; THAT HE HAD ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND HAD SENT HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO HIS DISCIPLES; AND THAT HE WAS TO BE WORSHIPPED AS GOD.
"In that passage one can see that Jesus, born of Mary, had become deified at an early stage within the Christian Church. This would lead later into a great argument within the Christian sect, with the Church ultimately declaring that Jesus "was to be worshipped as God"- not as any replacement, but as God's equal, and as the biological "Son of God "as the "Immaculate Conception"dictated.
The Apostles missionary activity took them far across the known ancient world with St. Peter leading and as inspirational leadership. ST. THADDEUS(Mar Addai) went to Edessa to evangelize King Abgar of Edessa. St. Peter preached the Gospel in Babylon, as cited in 1 PETER 5:13:"THE CHURCH THAT IS AT BABYLON, ELECTED TOGETHER WITH YOU, SALUTETH YOU; AND SO DOTH MARCUS MY SON.
"ST. THOMAS worked among the Jews of Mesopotamia and later to the Jewish colonies on the coast of India, and into Granganore by the year 52. ST. BARTHOLOMEW and ST. THADDEUS were also founders of the Church in the Far East. Cities in the Roman Empire and the Persian Empire became important places of conversion: Antioch, Corinth, Ephesus, Alexandria, Rome, in the Roman Empire; and Edessa, Arbil ("Erbil"), Selucia-Ctesophon, and other cities of the Persian Empire.
Historians of the Coptic Church and the Roman Catholic Church agree:"MOREOVER, EUSEBIUS ASSERTS THAT THE CHURCH OF ANTIOCH WAS FOUNDED BY ST. PETER, WHO BECAME ITS FIRST BISHOP EVEN BEFORE HIS TRANSLATION TO THE SEE OF ROME. ACCORDING TO TRADITION, HE PRESIDED FOR SEVEN YEARS OVER THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED ANTIOCHENE CHURCH, FROM 33 TO 40 AD, WHERE HE NOMINATED ST.
EVODIUS AS HIS VICAR BEFORE DEPARTURE TO THE WEST. WHILE THE CIRCLE OF PREACHING THE GOSPEL WAS WIDENED TOWARD THE EAST IN EDESSA, NISIBIS, AND DISTANT MALHARBY THE APOSTLE THOMAS AND MAR ADDAI (ST. THADDEUS), THE FALL OF JERUSALEM IN THE YEAR 70 COULD ONLY HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF CHRISTIAN JEWISH EMIGRANTS TO ANTIOCH".
[AZIZ S. ATIYA, "A History of Eastern Christianity"; London, 1968; p. 172]Some historians and theologians disagree with EUSEBIUS that St. Peter was in Rome as early as 44 AD; and believe he was in Babylon, as the Eastern churches have established. In the first book of Peter, it is clear that Peter came from Babylon to Rome.
He could not have been in Rome before the "Epistle of Romans"was written, looking at it logically and chronologically. St. Peter also stopped in Corinth after Paul had been there, as recorded in 1 Corinthians. It is assumed and apparent that St. Peter took his wife with him as he journeyed, as is recorded in 1 Corinthians 9:5.
St. Peter had been in prison two times while in Jerusalem; and from there he went to many parts of the ancient world. In Peter's epistle notes he mentions Babylon, a large center of Jewish colonists and a place that St. Peter ministered. The Eastern churches trace their lineage to Babylon, St. Peter being their patriarch to this day.
In Acts 12:17, it is written that Peter "went to another place", but the name of the place is unknown. According to Galatians 2:9, the apostles in Jerusalem, including St. Paul, continued preaching to the Gentiles, while missionaries from Jerusalem, which included St. Peter, went preached to Jews.It has become a theological controversy whether or not St.
Peter had visited Britain, the western territory of the Roman Empire.GEORGE F. JOWETT, a researched of early Christianity, takes from tradition and speculation and wrote in his book, "The Drama of the Lost Disciples":"PETER FLED TO BRITAIN. THIS IS AFFIRMED BY CORNELIUS IN LAPIDE IN HIS WORK "ARGUMENTUM EPISTOLAE ST.
PAULIS AND ROMANA" IN WHICH HE ANSWERS THE QUESTION AS TO WHY ST. PAUL DOES NOT SALUTE ST. PETER IN HIS "EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS". HE REPLIES: "PETER, BANISHED WITH THE REST OF THE JEWS FROM ROME, BY THE EDICT OF CLAUDIUS, WAS ABSENT IN BRITAIN"..."THERE IS PLENTY OF EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT PETER VISITED BRITAIN AND GAUL SEVERAL TIMES DURING HIS LIFETIME; HIS LAST VISIT TO BRITAIN TAKING PLACE SHORTLY BEFORE HIS FINAL ARREST AND CRUCIFIXION IN NERO'S CIRCUS AT ROME.
"IN GAUL, PETER BECOMES THE PATRON SAINT OF CHARTRES, BY REASON OF HIS PREFERENCE TO PREACHING IN THE FAMOUS DRUIDIC ROCK TEMPLE KNOWN AS 'THE GROTTO DES DRUIDES', THIS IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE OLDEST DRUIDIC SITE IN GAUL, ON WHICH IS BUILT THE OLDEST CATHEDRAL IN FRANCE".DEAN STANLEYwrote of the vision that foresaw the doom of St.
Peter:"KNOWING THAT SHORTLY I MUST PUT OFF THIS TABERNACLE, EVEN AS OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAST SHEWED ME. "(2 Peter 1:14)", APPEARED TO ST, PETER ON HIS LAST VISIT TO BRITAIN, ON THE VERY SPOT WHERE ONCE STOOD THE OLD BRITISH CHURCH OF LAMBEDR; WHERE STANDS THE PRESENT ABBEY OF ST. PETER, WESTMINSTER".
PETER IN ROMEThe traditional legend that Peter founded the Church of Rome has not been verified, as of this writing.Like the biography of Jesus, Peter's biography has periodic gaps.JEAN DANIELOUwrote:"WAS PAUL'S THE ONLY MISSION TO THE WEST? THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES TELLS US THAT IN 43, AFTER THE DEATH OF JAMES, PETER LEFT JERUSALEM "FOR ANOTHER PLACE (Acts 12:17)".
HE IS LOST FROM SIGHT UNTIL 49 WHEN WE FIND HIM AT THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM. NO CANONICAL TEXT HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT HIS MISSIONARY ACTIVITY DURING THIS TIME. BUT EUSEBIUS WRITES THAT HE WENT TO ROME ABOUT 44, AT THE BEGINNING OF CLAUDIUS'S REIGN "(HE II, 14:61). "IT SEEMS CERTAIN THAT ROME WAS EVANGELIZED DURING THE PERIOD FROM 43 TO 49.
"SUETONIUS SAYS THAT CLAUDIUS EXPELLED THE JEWS IN 50, BECAUSE THEY WERE GROWLING AGITATED "AT THE PROMPTING OF CHRESTOS". THIS SHOWS THAT DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN JEWS AND JUDAEO-CHRISTIANS WERE TAKING PLACE, LEADING TO CONFLICTS WHICH CAME TO THE EAR OF THE EMPEROR. IN FACT AT CORINTH IN 51, PAUL MET SOME CONVERTED JEWS DRIVEN FROM ROME BY CLAUDIUS: AQUILA AND PRISCILLA.
IN 57 PAUL ADDRESSED THE COMMUNITY OF ROME, ALREADY CONSIDERED IMPORTANT. IN 60 HE FOUND COMMUNITIES ESTABLISHED IN PUTEOLI AND IN ROME. "[DANIELOUand MARROU; "The Christian Centuries"; p. 28]Christian tradition has established that Peter died in Rome. Excavations under the Church of St. Peter in Rome at the end of the second World War has brought evidence to match traditions.
It was archaeological digs that provided physical evidence and the Pope announced that the grave of Peter had been found. It is believed that Revelation 11:3-13 contains "A CRYPTIC ACCOUNT OF THE MARTYRDOM OF PAUL AND PETER IN ROME". [Dr. WM. S. MCBIRNIE; "The Search for the Twelve Apostles"; p. 35]Tradition dictates that Nero had Peter crucified head-downward on the Vatican Hill.
MCBIRNIE, who often uses his own translated words instead of accepted original language like in the King James version text, stated that John 21:18 is a prophecy made by Jesus as to the prediction of Peter's crucifixion. JOWETT; "The Drama of the Lost Disciples"; p. 176:"MALICIOUSLY CONDEMNED, PETE WAS CAST INTO THE HORRIBLE, FETID PRISON OF THE MAMERTINE.
THERE, FOR NINE MONTHS, IN ABSOLUTE DARKNESS, HE ENDURED MONSTROUS TORTURE MANACLED TO A POST... "HISTORIANS WRITE OF IT BEING THE MOST FEARSOME ON THE BRUTAL AGENDA OF MANKIND. OVER 3,000 YEARS OLD, IT IS PROBABLY THE OLDEST TORTURE CHAMBER EXTANT, THE OLDEST REMAINING MONUMENT OF BESTIALITY OF ANCIENT ROME, A BLEAK TESTIMONY TO ITS BARBARIC INHUMANITY...
IN CLASSICAL HISTORY IT IS REFERRED TO AS GERNONIUM OR THE 'TULLIAN KEEP'. IN LATER SECULAR HISTORY IT IS REFERRED TO AS THE MAMERTINE... THE MAMERTINE IS DESCRIBED AS A DEEP CELL CUT OUT OF SOLID ROCK AT THE FOOT OF THE CAPITOL, CONSISTING OF TWO CHAMBERS - ONE OVER THE OTHER... IN THIS VILE SUBTERRANEAN ROCK THE FAMED 'JUGURTHA' WAS STARVED AND WENT STARK RAVING MAD.
VERCINGETORIX, THE VALOROUS DRUIDIC GAULISH CHIEFTAIN, WAS MURDERED BY THE ORDER OF JULIUS CAESAR. IT IS SAID THAT THE NUMBER OF CHRISTIANS THAT PERISHED WITHIN THIS DIABOLIC CELL IS BEYOND COMPUTATION... ONE CAN RE-READ THE DENOUNCING WORDS OF THE NOBLE QUEEN BOADICA... SHE BRANDED THEM FOR THEY WERE.
THESE PEOPLE OF THE ROMAN PURPLE, WHO SCORNED ALL THEIR ENEMIES AS BARBARIAN, WERE THE GREATEST AND MOST CRUEL BARBARIANS OF ALL TIME."HOW PETER MANAGED TO SURVIVE THOSE NINE MONTHS IS BEYOND IMAGINATION... HISTORY TELLS US THE AMAZING FACT THAT IN SPITE OF ALL THE SUFFERING PETER WAS SUBJECTED TO, HE CONVERTED HIS GAOLERS - PROCESSUS, MARTIANUS, AND FORTY-SEVEN OTHERS...
HE REFUSED TO DIE IN THE SAME POSITION AS OUR LORD, DECLARING HE WAS UNWORTHY. PETER DEMANDED TO BE CRUCIFIED IN THE REVERSE POSITION, WITH HIS HEAD HANGING DOWNWARD. IRONICALLY, THIS WISH WAS GRATIFIED BY THE TAUNTING ROMANS IN NERO'S CIRCUS IN AD 67. "This description of St. Peter's death is found in other accounts, most of them placing the location at Vatican Mount near the Tybur (Tiber) River.
His body was embalmed by Marcellinas, the Presbyter in the Jewish custom, then buried in the Vatican near the Triumphant Way. Over his body a small church was erected, later destroyed by Heliogalachis. [DORMAN NEWMANN; The Lives and Deaths of the Holy Apostles"; London, 1685; p. 20-21]DORMAN NEWMANNdescribed Peter's appearance:"HIS BODY WAS SLENDER OF A MIDDLE SIZE INCLINING TO TALLNESS.
HIS COMPLEXION PALE AND ALMOST WHITE. HIS BEARD CURLED AND THICK, BUT SHORT. HIS EYES BLACK BUT FLECKED WITH RED DUE TO FREQUENT WEEPING. EYE BROWS THIN OR NONE AT ALL."EDGAR J. GODSPEEDwrote in "The Twelve", p. 157:"THEY SAY THAT WHEN THE BLESSED PETER SAW HIS WIFE LED OUT TO DIE, HE REJOICED BECAUSE OF HER SUMMONS AND HER RETURN HOME, AND CALLED TO HER ENCOURAGINGLY AND COMFORTINGLY, ADDRESSING HER BY NAME AND SAYING, 'O THOU, REMEMBER THE LORD!
'"
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'
Sefer HaBahir, verse 3 excerpt
"Traditional interpretation: Because it is written (Devarim 33:23): The filling is G-d's blessing possessing the Sea and the South."
literally means "as it is said..."
The word can also literally mean "as it is assessed", where the letter shin is a prefix meaning "as" or "because", and where the remaining letters mean "be assessed". In other words, the word construct represents an active prophetic assay - the moment of truth where one's "fitness" is literally "assessed".
"The Test Of Mar Cheshvan:"
Hatred, bitterness. One must transform these that normally hide, concealed deeply within, to pass this test. Nice appearances and towing the line do not cut it.
"Torah Of Ram Cheshvan:" Possessing The Sea ">
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I had to share something that I just cannot keep to myself. As a lifelong church going Christian, I have learned much of the many ideas that circle Christianity. There are so many who have theories on what is the way to happiness. We have
I just got back from a trip to Rome, italy for a few days and I saw something that I believe can be a lesson to us. You see as Christians, we can get very busy hunting for the truth. We can get so obsessed with it that we forget what Christianity is all about. In Rome, I ate the same meal pretty much for 5 days. It was pasta, salad, bruschetta, and a pizza. Now I must tell you that I recently learned alot about health and I can tell you that the majority of what I ate was not healthy. White flower in a few different forms just does not do a body good. As I walked around Rome, I noticed that something was VERY STRANGE. I guess I just have to say it "There were no obese people!. I mean yea I saw a few here and there but the masses were thin and looked healthy. I saw what they ate and trust me it was not lifegiving healthy food. So I thought to myself, why does everyone here look so healthy i.e. thin and in shape and even happy.
So here we go with the spiritual tie in. I walked about 25 miles in a few days touring the streets of Rome. Then it hit me. I was not the only one who was walking. The Romans(modern day of course) are an active bunch. They don't sit in their cars for a one hour commute each way to work and they walk all over the place. It made me realize that even though the diet was white flour, gelato, and cigarettes that with exercise they were keeping the weight off. Sure there are
So How do we do this? We do this by uplifting and serving our fellow man. This means that the mechanic needs to be honest and do his best to fix the car that someone brought to him. This means that the business person needs to be honest at work and on time and do their all as this is their duty. These are just a few examples but the point is we need to go the extra mile. We need to go out of our way to help others around us. It is our duty as Christians. We will never make a difference in the world unless we gain the reputation of being loving and kind to anyone around us.
Are Christians known as those who are a huge blessing to the world around or are we at times content with going to hear more truth and filling up with it like it is a gas station or another spiritual meal. If we don't leave our morning devotions or church or prayer meeting after being spiritually fed, then we will get spiritually constipated and spiritually obese.
Just like the human body can eat healthy food and yet someone still be unhealthy overall, so the in the spiritual we need both good spiritual food and good spiritual exercise by working for the uplifting of those around us. This is in the home, work, church etc.
I saw something in Rome that stuck out to me. I saw Basilicas that were so grand that I wonder how anyone can see the unselfishness of Christ in these magnificent buildings. Christ was a servant and He was poor and was not selfish. I guess it seemed as though these elaborate buildings were not Christ like. They seemed as though they represented a spiritually obese church that was not actively serving others. This was seen by the vast amount of homeless elderly women in Rome.
Get active in your physical and spiritual life and you will not be constipated in either. Yea it's true, exercise induces better digestion. So with more exercise in both, we will have more appetite in both to continue to grow.
What do you think, is Chrisianity Obese? Are you spiritually Constipated?
Reference: http://asatru-religion.blogspot.com
By Michael H. Brown
Spirit Daily
It was back in 1975 at the Vatican during an historic charismatic conference that an American evangelist named Dr. Ralph Martin - recently named by the Pope as a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization - was given a "word of knowledge" (a locution, allegedly) that had to do with a melting down of what is around us.
As his website explains, "Dr. Martin is an internationally known evangelist. He is the founder and president of Renewal Ministries, which he established in 1980 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to renew the faith of Catholics through retreats, publications, conferences, and through television and radio. He has published numerous
"Buildings that are now standing will not be standing. Supports that are there for my people will not be there. I want you to be prepared, My people, to know only Me and to cleave to me and to have me in a way deeper than ever before.
"I will lead you into the desert... I will strip you of everything that you are depending on now, so you depend just on Me. A time of darkness is coming on the world, but a time of glory is coming for My Church, a time of glory is coming for My people. Because I love you I want to show you what I am doing in the world today. I want to prepare you for what is to come."
That was more than forty years ago, and at the time, those who heard it expected it to occur, if true, rather quickly. It seemed imminent ("soon" in human time). It did not thus transpire - at least not in obvious terms.
But Martin's prophecy arguably unfolded in subsequent decades. Whether or not it was an intuition or actual locution is left up to our individual reckonings. Looking back, one could even perceive that it did begin to take shape around 1975 - subtly, as the evil from the Sixties became institutionalized (and refined) during the Seventies and then the Eighties (see the Wall Street scandals back then) and through to the present, as never before. In 2010, a writer for "Time" began an article on the fall of trust in the U.S. by saying - as if in affirmation of the prediction - that "in the past decade, nearly every institution in American society - whether it's General Motors, Congress, Wall Street, Major League Baseball, the Church, or the mainstream media - has revealed itself to be corrupt, incompetent, or both."A meltdown...
Read more @ SPIRIT DAILY
Thomas Jude Germinario is an American scholar who has earned advanced degrees in science and humanities from Stevens Institute of Technology and Rutgers University. His extensive research on prophecy and mythology spans two decades, during which he has traveled widely to obtain first-hand information. He has authored a number of published articles, ranging in subject from astrology to law. His essay, "The Quantum Metaphysics of David Bohm" has recently been published as part of a compilation entitled Mind in Time - The Dynamics of Thought, Reality and Consciousness (Combs, Germine ">www.apokalypso.com
"FIGHT THE FUTURE! JOIN THE RESISTANCE @ FACEBOOK/WATCHERREPORT!"
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Each month of the Celtic Lunar calendar bears the name of a tree. Reed is the 12th Moon of the Celtic Year - (Oct 28 - Nov 24). The Celtic meaning of the reed within the Ogham deals with:
* Purpose
* Protection
* Purification
* Clarification
* Communication
Today we may not consider the reed a tree, but in the time of the ancient Celts their landscape held prolific reeds in swamp areas; some growing up to 20 feet tall.
The druids viewed any large plant like this with a woody stalk to be a tree, and the reed was considered very important.
All things of the natural world were honored by the Celts, and all things represented the connection with life. In this way, the reed was highly revered for its usefulness in the day-to-day practices of the Celts.
The reed was used for many purposes by the Celts. Specifically, they would weave reeds together to make thatched roofs on their homes - some of which (when properly constructed) last up to a decade or more. This is where the reed obtains its symbolism of protection. It is also a natural insulator, and the Celts honored it highly during cold, wet months.
Reed gives off a faint sweet smell when macerated, and so the Celts were known to lay out pressed reeds as flooring in their homes to deodorize. This was also a practice for cleansing and purifying homes.
Reeds also made good candles, and were viewed as beacons of light during the dark nights. This is another facet of the reed's purposefulness in the life of the Celts.
The reed gets its symbolism of communication from several sources. In the hands of a good craftsman (and there were many among the ancient Celts), a reed would make a fine whistle, flute or recorder. These were highly prized amongst the people, particularly bards. Through these flutes and music the spiritually-minded Celts would communicate fantastic worlds of vision, heroism, and beauty.
Secondly, if you are still enough, you can hear them sing a song when the wind blows through a field of reeds. If you've ever had the pleasure of hearing it, you know it is an eerie experience. The Celts viewed this as an otherworld voice, and considered it a message of powerful importance.
Take the time to incorporate these symbolic meanings of the reed in your life. Gather some up and bring them into the house to open up the energy and clear the air. Or, try fashioning a flute from a reed and take it to your next drum circle to play! Your Celtic ancestors will get such a kick out of that!
Source: http://what's your portrayal
It seems that many cultures have some concept relating to a person's purpose or destiny in life, and in American paganism and its many sub-branches these culture specific terms tend to get used interchangeably, often equated to the term "fate". Fate, of course, is the idea of a predestined or predetermined outcome in life which cannot be altered or affected by human action. Many Greek tragedies, such as Oedipus, are based on this idea which is personified in Greek mythology by the Moreia (the Fates) who create the "thread" of a person's fate, measure it, and cut it at death. Loving semantics as much as I do, I feel the need to point out that the terms equated to fate are not actually equivalent to each other and in fact often have very specific nuanced meanings. I thought it might be good to write about some of the most commonly used words and how I personally understand them, although I have to be clear that this is purely my own viewpoint; I am no expert. However I think even an amateur attempt at explaining the different terms could be helpful and also could provoke some great thought and discussion. I do want to stress though that this is my own understanding of the concepts, based on my research and study.
First let's look at the most common term: karma. At this point there are two very different ways to understand karma, which may be labeled the Eastern and Western views. The term itself is from Saskrit and means "action" and is a concept found in both Hinduism and Buddhism; this is what I refer to as Eastern karma. Effectively karma is a neutral principle, the result of the sum total of our actions in this life and previous incarnations. Karma is what directs the circumstances under which we will next reincarnate.
We can affect our own karma by choosing the actions we take, because all action inherently creates karma, but karma works on a cosmic scale. I like to think of (Eastern) karma as something like painting; each and every color choice and brush stroke, i.e. action, effects the end result. In contrast Western karma takes a more immediate approach, espousing the idea that karma works on a small, fast scale with the effects of our actions appearing not only within our lifetime, but also sometimes in the same day as the action. The Western view also sees karma as a moral principle, with "good" and "bad" karma based on actions. At its simplest this can be illustrated by saying if you do good, good will happen to you and if you do bad, bad will happen to you, rather like a spiritual ATM - put money in get money out, overdraw your account get charged fees. The most common view of this principle works entirely on the idea of an inherent good and bad value system to all actions, and is supported by the idea that either karma itself is a semi-sentient force or that the Gods enforce it. A less common view
Next we have the concept of wyrd. Wyrd is an Anglo-Saxon word, corresponding to the Norse urd, and means, roughly, "to come to pass" or "becoming"; related to this is the concept of orlag, meaning "from the law". As it was explained to me, orlag is the sum total of our past actions as well as those of our ancestors - we are born with a fixed orlag based on what has come to pass before our birth. Orlag effects all creation, including the Gods and spirits, as well as people. To quote Bauschatz: "This past includes the actions of all beings who exist within the enclosing branches of Yggdrasil: men, gods, giants, elves, etc.. it is such actions that form the layers or strata that are daily laid in the well by the speaking of the orlag. The coming into the well is orderly and ordered; events are clearly Wyrd and orlag are both flexible and fixed; like water flowing in a river and the bed of the river itself. The river bed shapes where the river flows and directs the water but the water can change the shape of the river bed. So it is with wyrd - we shape our wyrd by our choices but our wyrd creates orlag which in turn directs our lives. Some people argue that orlg and wyrd are the same concept, and that may be so, I just find that it is easier to grasp them as separate but interlinked concepts. The analogy of weaving is often used to describe wyrd, and I tend to see wyrd as the weft and orlag as the warp. Freewill is an important aspect of wyrd, as we always have choices on how to act within the circumstances we find ourselves in.
D'an is an Irish word that translates as "fate" - and also as gift, offering, craft, calling, and poem (O Donaill, 1977). It is a complex term but is often understood as the fate or destiny that a person is born with. There is a saying that goes "A man won't drown whose d'an is to hang" that illustrates this idea that d'an is inexorable and inescapable. This term out of all of the ones we are looking at most closely resembles the Greek idea of fate, although the Irish appear to have lacked the personification aspect of fate seen in the Greek.
Even if we just look at the roots of each word we can see that there are differences in there meanings. Karma comes from the I-E root of kwer which means to do; wyrd comes from the root wert which means to turn or rotate; fate is from the root bha which means voice (I couldn't track down the I-E root of d'an). Each root meaning connects logically to the modern meaning I think, and shows the subtle differences between the terms.
While I can see why it is easier to use the simple equivalents when discussing the different terms I believe that it is better to understand the nuanced meanings of each term. Each one has its own layers and depth which reflect the culture and world view from which they came, and for modern pagans more can be gained by using them properly than by reducing them all to a Greek concept of fate. There is also a wealth of understanding to be gained by studying each term, in depth, individually, which I encourage people to do if the subject interests them.
References:
Bauschatz, P., (1982) The Well and the Tree: World and Time in Early Germanic Culture
O Donaill, N., (1977) Focloir Gaeilge-Bearla
Morgan Daimler is a blogger, poet, teacher of esoteric subjects, Druid, dedicant of Macha, and wandering priestess of Odin.
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"BE CAREFUL, OR YOUR HEARTS WILL BE WEIGHED DOWN WITH CAROUSING, DRUNKENNESS AND THE ANXIETIES OF LIFE, AND THAT DAY WILL CLOSE ON YOU SUDDENLY LIKE A TRAP. FOR IT WILL COME ON ALL THOSE WHO LIVE ON THE FACE OF THE WHOLE EARTH. LUKE 21:34-35 NIV"
From the article:"Millennials, those born between 1980 and 2000, are not anti-Christian or anti-religion, but they are, in general, just not interested in religion, says a new book based on a survey of members of this generation."
"An apathetic attitude towards religious and spiritual matters is common among members of this generation, according to The Millennials by Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Research, and his son Jess, a Millennial born in 1985. Members of this generation are likely to care less about spiritual matters than those from previous generations, the Rainers wrote."
"Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of this generation rarely or never attend religious services, according to the survey conducted by LifeWay on 1,200 Millennials. And spiritual matters was ranked sixth, below friends and education, in a list based on an open-ended question on what is important to respondents."
FEW MILLENNIALS INTERESTED IN RELIGION, STUDY FINDS
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