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The following discourse is from the catecheses of St. Symeon the New Theologian to the monks of the Monastery of St. Mamas, where he served as Abbot. It is translated from the Greek edition by Archbishop Basil Krivoshein, Sym'eon le Nouveau Th'eologien, "Cat'ech`eses", Vol. II, Discourse 13, ("Sources Chr'etiennes", No. 104; Paris: Cerf, 1964), pp. 191-202.
CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST: IN WHAT IT CONSISTS, OR HOW CHRIST'S RESURRECTION TAKES PLACE IN US, AND IN IT THE RESURRECTION OF THE SOUL. THE MYSTERY OF THIS RESURRECTION. DELIVERED ON THE MONDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF PASCHA.
By St. Symeon the New Theologian
Brothers and fathers, already Pascha, that joyous day, that day of all gladness and delight, the day of Christ's Resurrection, has arrived in the annual cycle. Rather, it occurs daily and eternally in those who know its mystery, and so has filled our hearts with ineffable joy and exultation. At the same time, it has brought to an end the toil of the all-venerable Fast; or, better to say, it has perfected our souls and consoled them as well. Therefore, as you see, after inviting all the faithful together to rest and to thanksgiving, it has passed.
Let us, then, give thanks to the Lord, who has conveyed us over the ocean of the Fast and led us with joy into the haven of His Resurrection. Let us give thanks to Him, both those who have diligently and zealously completed the course of the Fast with ardent resolve and struggles for virtue, and those of us, as well, who have been weak in this matter through negligence and infirmity of soul. He it is Who with great munificence bestows crowns upon the zealous and due rewards for their deeds, and also in His mercy and love for mankind grants forgiveness to the weaker.
For He sees the dispositions and intentions of our souls rather than the toils of our bodies, whereby we exercise ourselves in virtue, whether we intensify our asceticism out of eagerness of soul or practice less than the zealous because of the weakness of our bodies. In accordance with our intentions He measures out the prizes and the charisms of the Spirit to each one, either granting fame and glory to him who is zealous or leaving him still in a lowly state and in need of more strenuous purification.
But, if you will, let us look and carefully examine what is the mystery of that Resurrection of Christ our God that occurs mystically in us at all times, if we are willing, and how Christ is buried in us as in a sepulchre and how He unites Himself to our souls and rises again, raising us with Himself. Such is the aim of our discourse.
Christ our God was suspended on the Cross and, having nailed thereto the sin of the world and having tasted death, He descended into the nethermost depths of Hades.
He returned from Hades into His own immaculate body, from which [His Divinity]1 had in no way been separated as He descended thither, and at once He rose from the dead. Thereafter, He ascended to Heaven with great glory and power. In just the same way, since we have now come out of the world and entered into the tomb of repentance and humiliation by being assimilated to the sufferings of the Lord, He Himself comes down from Heaven and enters into our body as into a grave. He unites Himself to our souls and raises them up, though they were avowedly dead, and then vouchsafes to him who has thus been raised with Christ to behold the glory of His mystical Resurrection.
Christ's Resurrection is thus our resurrection, the resurrection of us who lie prostrate in sin. He who has never fallen into sin, as it is written, nor suffered any alteration in His own glory, how will He ever be raised up or glorified, since He is always supremely glorified and remains the same, "far above every principality and authority"?
As has been said, Christ's Resurrection and His glory are our glory, which is accomplished in us, disclosed to us, and beheld by us through His Resurrection. Once He has appropriated what is ours, that which He works in us He ascribes to Himself.
The resurrection of the soul is union with life. Just as the body is dead and cannot live or be called alive unless it receives the living soul in itself and is united to it, though without admixture, so also the soul cannot live unless it is ineffably and unconfusedly united to God, Who is truly eternal Life.
Before this union in knowledge, vision, and perception it is dead, even though it is endowed with mind and is by nature immortal. There is no knowledge without vision, nor vision without perception.
This is what I am trying to say: there is vision, and in the vision there is knowledge and perception (I say this about spiritual things, for in the corporeal realm there is perception even apart from vision).
What do I mean? A blind man who strikes his foot against a stone feels it, but a dead man does not. But in spiritual things, unless the mind arrives at the vision of the things that are above thought, it does not perceive the mystical working of Divine Grace.
He therefore who, before he has arrived at Divine vision, claims that he perceives the things that are above mind, word, and thought resembles a blind man who has a sensation of good or bad things that he experiences, but does not know what is in his hands or at his feet, even if they are for him a matter of life or death. Since he is deprived of the faculty of sight and perception, he in no way perceives the bad or the good things that befall him. Hence, he will often lift up his staff to ward off his enemy and sometimes he smites his friend instead, while his enemy stands before his eyes and derides him.
Most men believe in the Resurrection of Christ, but very few are they that have a clear vision ther. Those who do not behold it cannot even worship Christ Jesus as Holy and Lord. As Scripture says, "No one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit," and, elsewhere, "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."
That most sacred phrase which is daily on our lips does not say, "Having believed in the Resurrection of Christ," but, "Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the Holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless One."
How then, does the Holy Spirit exhort us to say, "Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ," which we have not seen, as though we had seen it, when Christ has risen once for all a thousand years ago,2 and even then without anyone seeing it?3
Surely Divine Scripture does not wish us to lie? Far from it! Rather, it urges us to speak the truth, that the Resurrection of Christ takes place in each of us who believes, and that not once, but every hour, so to speak, when Christ the Master arises in us, in splendid raiment and flashing forth rays of incorruption and Divinity.
For the light-bearing Advent of the Spirit reveals to us, as in early morning, the Master's Resurrection, or, rather, it grants us to see the Risen Lord Himself. For this reason we say, "God is the Lord and hath revealed Himself unto us," and we allude to His Second Coming, adding these words, "Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord."
Those to whom the Risen Christ has revealed Himself, to them has He assuredly become manifest spiritually; He has shown Himself to their spiritual eyes. When this happens to us through the Spirit, He raises us from the dead and gives us life. He grants us to see Him, Who is immortal and indestructible, and not only that, He grants us clearly to know Him who raises and glorifies us with Himself, as all of Divine Scripture attests.
These, then, are the Divine mysteries of Christians. This is the hidden power of our Faith, which unbelievers, or those who believe with difficulty, or rather believe in part, do not see and are not able at all to see.
Unbelievers, those who believe with difficulty, or believe in part, are those who do not show their faith through works. For, apart from works the demons also believe and confess Christ to be God and Master. "We know Thee Who Thou art," they say, "the Son of God"; and elsewhere, "These men are the servants of the Most High God."
Yet such faith will not benefit the demons, nor even men. This faith is of no use, for it is dead, according to the Divine Apostle, who says, "Faith without works is dead," just like works without faith.
How is it dead? Because it does not have in itself God, Who bestows life. It does not possess in itself Him Who said, "He that loveth Me will keep My commandments, and I and the Father will come and make Our abode with him," so that by His coming He might raise from the dead and give life to him who has acquired faith, and grant him to behold Him Who has risen in him and Who has resurrected him.
For this reason, such faith is dead, or, rather, they are dead who have faith without works. Faith in God is always alive, and since it is living, it gives life to those who come with a good intention and receive it. Even before they have carried out the commandments it has brought many out of death into life and has shown them Christ our God.
Had they persevered in His commandments and kept them until death, they, too, would have been preserved by them-that is, in the state to which faith alone had brought them. But since they "turned aside like a crooked bow" and transfixed themselves on their former actions, they inevitably at once made shipwreck of their faith and wretchedly deprived themselves of the true wealth, which is Christ our God.
So I beseech you, lest we suffer their fate, let us keep God's commandments with all our might, so that we might enjoy both present and future good things, that is, the very vision of Christ. To this may we all attain by the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto Whom be glory unto the ages. Amen.
NOTES
1. "Thou wast torn but not separated, O Word, from the flesh that Thou hadst taken." (Canon of Great Saturday, Ode 6, Troparion 1)
Jesus, as man, wore body and soul. And while His soul separated from His body and descended into Hades, His Divinity remained in both His soul and His body, which is why "it was not separated from the flesh that [He had] taken."
2. St. Symeon wrote during the first half of the eleventh century, which is why a thousand years had passed.
3. Christ rose "whilst the tomb was sealed. Whilst the tomb was sealed, Thou, O Life, didst shine forth from the grave, O Christ God." (Dismissal Hymn of St. Thomas Sunday)
a. "Without a doubt, when the Church gave the exceptional and precise name of 'Theologian' to St. Symeon, it understood that this name revealed his figure in all of its depth. This of course means that he had an Apostolic heart, evangelizing, as a river overflowing with the waters of the Spirit, those leading the monastic life; he was clothed in the blood of the martyrs as with purple and fine linen, and became the 'mystical' exponent and hymnist of union with God, giving life to symbols and dogmatic 'terms,' and mystically accomplishing an assimilation of the Divine Mysteries. By no means does he neglect the Mysteriological experience (Baptism, Holy Communion, Repentance), since 'his daily bread was the precious life-giving Bread and Blood of Christ,' as a daily 'beholder of dread visions'; but neither does he regard one as faithful, who does not have a mystical experience of the Mysteries (Resurrection, Crucifixion, etc.), 'which always mystically takes place in those of us who so desire it.' (Symeon the New Theologian, " ["Complete Works"], Vol. II, translation and commentary by Monk Dionysios Simonopetrites, (Athens: Ekdoseis "Ofelimou Bibliou," 1974), p. 74, n. 3).
b. "In truth, no one saw the moment of Christ's Resurrection. This event became the basis on which the Fathers characterize the Resurrection as a Mystery and express its meaning, which is unobservable, unfathomable, and inaccessible to man. A glance at the hymnology of the Church reveals that the Myrrh-bearing women and the Disciples 'indicated' the Resurrection, but did not see it. Moreover, Byzantine Iconography seems to have been profoundly influenced by the supernatural nature of the Resurrection. No Icon exists of the Resurrection itself, but it is replaced by the descent into Hades and the appearance of Christ to the Myrrh-bearing women." ("Ibid"., p. 76, n. 15)
c. "Works confirm and reveal one's faith, while faith gives meaning and justification to works. It is characteristic of the spirit of the Church that the Saints' whole effort has in view the bearing of 'witness' to the Faith before Christ. Evidence of holiness is a praiseworthy life, which is inspired by the Orthodox Faith. Likewise, certain Martyrs are portrayed on Icons as presenting their head to Christ as proof of their faith.
Thus, there is no contradiction in St. Symeon when, in another Catechesis, he speaks about justification by faith and not works, while here he says that faith without works is dead. Just as with the Apostles Paul and James, St. Symeon's sole goal is Christ Himself, and everything has this in view. When faith and works are cut off from the life-giving God and are individualized, then they are justified as ends in themselves. While such faith, on the one hand, flourishes in 'dry and bare flights of logic,' such works, on the other hand, degenerate into dead actions, deadened parts of incurable people. This, moreover, is also unbelief, or disbelief, or believing in part, according to St. Symeon." ("Ibid"., pp. 77-78, n. 21)
Source
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Theurgy means god work. In short, it is the practice of seeking unity with the divine. Some would call that arrogant. But once a glimpse of that unity is obtained, one realizes that it is available to all. There is no sense of being better attached to the experience.
Thaumaturgy is doing magick to affect the material plane. Doing a spell to obtain twenty dollars is an act of thaumaturgy. Uniting with one's higher nature is an act of Theurgy.
I am a theurgist but I am doing more and more thaumaturgy lately. Most of my acts of thaumaturgy have a theurgic spin to them.
For instance, I am not a happy person. I do not seek happiness. However, I noticed that my direct form of communication coupled with my serious attitude isn't received very well. Therefore, I am developing a spell to be happy, in hopes of forming better relationships with those around me.; with hopes of learning from other people; with hopes of growing as a spiritual human.
Is that a round about way of reaching the goal? Yes. The path of the qabalist is taking everything apart and joining it with every other thing and every other part until a sense of unity is achieved. I am simply taking apart a string of things that have caused an effect and recombining them to result in a different effect. The result will be a microcosmic glimpse of that unity achieved through willful action.
Relatively recently, I obtained knowledge and conversation with my Holy Guardian Angel. There will be a future blog post on that. My HGA told me part of my work was conjuring a particular Goetic spirit. Yet, when I wrote the charge, over and over again, I found myself displeased with the result. I felt as if I was being greedy as I kept demanding more than was necessary to follow the instructions I received.
So I spoke to one of the more famous goetic magicians around, Lon DuQuette. He gave me advice that both fit into my normal mode of working and blew me away. He said the trick to dealing with Goetic spirits involves worship. Not of them but of the ultimate - his term, the Goddess. He said that act is basically one of giving the goddess energy so She can raise you up. Inversely, the relationship with a demon should be accepting or 'vouchsafing' its energy so you can raise it up. By vouchsafing, I took his meaning to be that the energy so given, must be used is accordance with the cosmic flow in order to achieve full effect.
Having conversed with my HGA about the suggestion and having been told it is sound. I am trying to rearrange my paradigm to fit into that linear pattern. Can I do all my workings so that they fit into that flow? One Vertical Line, One Will, One Manifestation. This idea just may be my Spiritus Mundi. It fits very close to what I have done all along.
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What is Hell?
By Raziel...
In many religious traditions, Hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict Hell as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict Hell as an intermediary period between incarnations. Typically these traditions located Hell under the external core of the Earth's surface and often included entrances to Hell from the land of the living. Other afterlife destinations included Heaven, Purgatory, Paradise, Nirvana, Naraka, and Limbo. Other traditions, which did not conceive of the afterlife as a place of punishment or reward, merely described it as an abode of the dead - a neutral place located under the surface of Earth (for example, see sheol and Hades). Modern understandings of Hell often depict it abstractly, as a state of loss rather than as fiery torture literally underground, but this view of hell can, in fact, be traced back into the ancient and medieval periods as well.[citation needed] Hell is often portrayed as populated with daemons, who torment the damned. Many are ruled by a death god, such as Nergal, Hades, Yama or the Christian/Islamic Devil, called Satan or Lucifer.
Punishments
Punishment in Hell typically corresponds to sins committed during life. Sometimes these distinctions are specific, with damned souls suffering for each sin committed (see for example Plato's myth of Er or Dante's The Divine Comedy), and sometimes they are general, with sinners being relegated to one or more chamber of Hell or level of suffering. In many religious cultures, including Christianity and Islam, Hell is traditionally depicted as fiery and painful, inflicting guilt and suffering. Despite theses common depictions of Hell as a place of fire, some other traditions also portray Hell as cold. In Buddhist, and particularly in Tibetan Buddhist, descriptions of hell, there are an equal number of hot and cold hells. Among Christian descriptions Dante's Inferno portrays the innermost (9th) circle of Hell as a frozen lake of blood and guilt, But cold also played a part in earlier Christian depictions of hell beginning with the "Apocalypse of Paul," originally from the early third century; "The Vision of Drythelm" by the Venerable Bede from the seventh century; "St Patrick's Purgatory," The Vision of Tundale" or "Visio Tnugdali" and the "Vision of the Monk of Enysham" all from the twelfth century; and the "Vision of Thurkill" from the early thirteenth century. Escape In Protestantism, beginning with Martin Luther, the grace of God played the primary role in determining a soul's afterlife destiny, whereas Catholicism has always believed in the efficacy of good works. The conflict between these two positions was one of the moving forces behind the Protestant Reformation, which particularly rejected the selling of indulgences and as well as other forms of popular piety. Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam advocate the efficacy of good works in avoiding the punishment of hell.
Ancient Egypt
With the rise of the cult of Osiris during the Middle Kingdom the "democratization of religion" offered to even his humblest followers the prospect of eternal life, with moral fitness becoming the dominant factor in determining a persons suitability. At death a person faced judgment by a tribunal of forty-two divine judges. If they led a life in conformance with the precepts of the Goddess Maat, who represented truth and right living, the person was welcomed into the Two Fields. If found guilty the person was thrown to a "devourer" and didn't share in eternal life.[10] The person who is taken by the devourer is subject first to terrifying punishment and then annihilated. These depictions of punishment may have influenced medieval perceptions of the inferno in hell via early Christian and Coptic texts.[11] Purification for those who are considered justified may be found in the descriptions of "Flame Island", where they experience the triumph over evil and rebirth. For the dammed complete destruction into a state of non being awaits but there is no suggestion of eternal torture; the weighing of the heart in Egyptian Mythology can lead to annihilation.[12][13] Divine pardon at judgement was always a central concern for the Ancient Egyptians.[14] Our undertsanding of Egyptian notions of hell are based on six ancient texts: The Book of Two Ways (Book of the Ways of Rosetau), The Book of Amduat (Book of the Hidden Room, Book of That Which Is in the Underworld), The Book of Gates, The Book of the Dead (Book of Going Forth by Day), The Book of the Earth and The Book of Caverns.[15]
Ancient Near East
The cultures of Mesopotamia (including Sumeria, the Akkadian Empire, Babylonia and Assyria), the Hittites and the Canaanites/Ugarits reveal some of the earliest evidence for the notion of a Netherworld or Underworld. From among the few texts that survive from these civilizations, this evidence appears in the Epic of Gilgamesh, the "Descent of Inanna to the Netherworld, Baal and the Underworld," the "Descent of Ishtar" and the "Vision of Kumm^a."
Greek
In classic Greek mythology, below Heaven, Earth, and Pontus is Tartarus, or Tartaros (Greek, deep place). It is either a deep, gloomy place, a pit or abyss used as a dungeon of torment and suffering that resides within Hades (the entire underworld) with Tartarus being the hellish component. In the Gorgias, Plato (c. 400 BC) wrote that souls were judged after death and those who received punishment were sent to Tartarus. As a place of punishment, it can be considered a hell. The classic Hades, on the other hand, is more similar to Old Testament Sheol.
Europe
The hells of Europe include Breton Mythology's "Anaon", Celtic Mythology's "Uffern", Slavic mythology's "Peklo", the hell of Lapps Mythology and Ugarian Mythology's "Manala" that leads to annihilation.
Asia
The hells of Asia include Bagobo Mythology's "Gimokodan" and Ancient Indian Mythology's "Kalichi".
Africa
African hells include Haida Mythology's "Hetgwauge" and the hell of Swahili Mythology.
Oceania
The Oceanic hells include Samoan Mythology's "O le nu'u-o-nonoa" and the hells of Bangka Mythology and Caroline Islands Mythology.
Native American
The hells of the Americas include Aztec Mythology's "Mictlan", Inuit mythology's "Adlivun" and Yanomamo Mythology's "Shobari Waka". In Maya mythology, Xibalb'a is the dangerous underworld of nine levels ruled by the demons Vucub Caquix and Hun Came. The road into and out of it is said to be steep, thorny and very forbidding. Metnal is the lowest and most horrible of the nine Hells of the underworld, ruled by Ah Puch. Ritual healers would intone healing prayers banishing diseases to Metnal. Much of the Popol Vuh describes the adventures of the Maya Hero Twins in their cunning struggle with the evil lords of Xibalb'a. The Aztecs believed that the dead traveled to Mictlan, a neutral place found far to the north. There was also a legend of a place of white flowers, which was always dark, and was home to the gods of death, particularly Mictlantecutli and his spouse Mictlantecihuatl, which means literally "lords of Mictlan". The journey to Mictlan took four years, and the travelers had to overcome difficult tests, such as passing a mountain range where the mountains crashed into each other, a field where the wind carried flesh-scraping knives, and a river of blood with fearsome jaguars.
Islam
Muslims believe in jahannam (in Arabic: ) (which is
In addition, Heaven and Hell are split into many different levels depending on the actions perpetrated in life, where punishment is given depending on the level of evil done in life, and good is separated into other levels depending on how well one followed God while alive. The gate of Hell is guarded by Maalik who is the leader of the angels assigned as the guards of hell also known as Zabaaniyah. The Quran states that the fuel of Hellfire is rocks/stones (idols) and human beings. Although generally Hell is often portrayed as a hot steaming and tormenting place for sinners, there is one Hell pit which is characterized differently from the other Hell in Islamic tradition. Zamhareer is seen as the coldest and the most freezing Hell of all; yet its coldness is not seen as a pleasure or a relief to the sinners who committed crimes against God. The state of the Hell of Zamhareer is a suffering of extreme coldness, of blizzards, ice, and snow which no one on this earth can bear. The lowest pit of all existing Hells is the Hawiyah which is meant for the hypocrites and two-faced people who claimed to believe in Allah and His messenger by the tongue but denounced both in their hearts. Hypocrisy is considered to be one of the most dangerous sins, and so is Shirk.
Bah'a'i Faith
The Bah'a'i Faith regards the conventional description of Hell (and heaven) as a specific place as symbolic.[34] Instead the Bah'a'i writings describe Hell as a "spiritual condition" where remoteness from God is defined as Hell; conversely heaven is seen as a state of closeness to God.[34]
EASTERN
Buddhism
In "Devaduta Sutta" the 130 th discource of Majjhima Nikaya Buddha teaches about the hell in vivid detail. Buddhism teaches that there are five (sometimes six) realms of rebirth, which can then be further subdivided into degrees of agony or pleasure. Of these realms, the hell realms, or Naraka, is the lowest realm of rebirth. Of the hell realms, the worst is Avici or "endless suffering". The Buddha's disciple, Devadatta, who tried to kill the Buddha on three occasions, as well as create a schism in the monastic order, is said to have been reborn in the Avici Hell. However, like all realms of rebirth, rebirth in the Hell realms is not permanent, though suffering can persist for eons before being reborn again. In the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha teaches that eventually even Devadatta will become a Pratyekabuddha himself, emphasizing the temporary nature of the Hell realms. Thus, Buddhism teaches to escape the endless migration of rebirths (both positive and negative) through the attainment of Nirvana. The Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, according to the Ksitigarbha Sutra, made a great vow as a young girl to not reach Enlightenment until all beings were liberated from the Hell Realms or other unwholesome rebirths. In popular literature, Ksitigarbha travels to the Hell realms to teach and relieve beings of their suffering.
Hinduism
Early Vedic religion doesn't have a concept of Hell. g-veda mentions three realms, bhur (the earth), svar (the sky) and bhuvas or antarika (the middle area, i.e. air or atmosphere)). In later Hindu literature, especially the law books and Puranas, more realms are mentioned, including a realm similar to Hell, called naraka (in Devanagari: ). Yama as first born human (together with his twin sister Yami) in virtue of precedence becomes ruler of men and a judge on their departure. Originally he resides in Heaven, but later, especially medieval traditions, mention his court in naraka. In the law-books (smtis and dharma-sutras, like the Manu-smti) naraka is a place of punishment for sins. It is a lower spiritual plane (called naraka-loka) where the spirit is judged, or partial fruits of karma affected in a next life. In Mahabharata there is a mention of the Pandavas going to Heaven and the Kauravas going to Hell. However for the small number of sins which they did commit in their lives, the Pandavas had to undergo hell for a short time. Hells are also described in various Puranas and other scriptures. Garuda Purana gives a detailed account of Hell, its features and enlists amount of punishment for most of the crimes like a modern day penal code. It is believed that people who commit sins go to Hell and have to go through punishments in accordance with the sins they committed. The god Yamaraja, who is also the god of death, presides over Hell. Detailed accounts of all the sins committed by an individual are kept by Chitragupta, who is the record keeper in Yama's court. Chitragupta reads out the sins committed and Yama orders appropriate punishments to be given to individuals. These punishments include dipping in boiling oil, burning in fire, torture using various weapons, etc. in various Hells. Individuals who finish their quota of the punishments are reborn in accordance with their balance of karma. All created beings are imperfect and thus have at least one sin to their record; but if one has generally led a pious life, one ascends to svarga, a temporary realm of enjoinment similar to Paradise, after a brief period of expiation in Hell and before the next reincarnation according to the law of karma.
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I strongly believe that Christians should not take counsel from non-believers. I also do not believe that Christians should take counsel from secularized "Christian Counselors." Unfortunately, the "Christian Counselor" often has more in common with secular psychology than the Bible. Not in every case of course, and I do not wish to highlight the differences here but much wisdom and discernment is needed before proceeding with a "Christian Counseling" relationship.
A Christian should not take counsel from unbelievers because the unbeliever has as their authority social morays and personal values, all which are subjective and changeable. The biblical counselor has the Holy Spirit and He is the One who enables us to give spiritual wisdom. No Christian counselor is worth is salt if he or she is not able to give spiritual wisdom for worldly wisdom is not eternal.
Our wisdom comes from the Bible. (Rom.15:4) the Holy Spirit makes the Word of God alive to us and enables it to feed our hearts and minds. It brings encouragement and hope to us for the future and the promise of change. The Holy Spirit provides the desire for change. Apart from Him none of us would ever desire anything of God.
He has to draw us to Himself and the Spirit does that. He also provides the ability to change. Because all true change is first heart change, a person must be indwelt by the only One who can change the human heart. The Holy Spirit also brings the righteousness of Christ, the desire for the Word, and the love for the counselee that we need to minister to them.
The Holy Spirit also teaches us what is important to God. He teaches us what is important to God and "makes" it important to us. Without His influence and leading, we would not care what is important to God. He also sensitizes us to the things of God, and His presence in our lives is why we can literally hurt inside when we see ungodliness.
The counselee also has to have all these things. An absence of these qualities would be a good reason to question the counselee about their salvation. To be qualified as a biblical counselor also means that the person's character is visible as proceeding from the Holy Spirit and our lives are characterized by Eph.
4:1, and Gal. 5:16, and Rom 15:16. We have to be examples - not sinless perfection- but have some measure of obvious growth in overcoming sinful problems of our own. We must be striving toward living by the Spirit and not gratification of the lusts of the flesh. People should be convinced as Rom 15:14 says that we are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.
Each person who desires to disciple another really ought to see to fulfill the requirements for Deacons and Elders as stated in 1 Timothy 3. This is not to look good to others for the sake of pride, but it is so that we can state with confidence "imitate me as I imitate Christ" as Paul did (1 Cor. 11:1)
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Men are mortal; this is an indisputable fact. This has not stopped many Men throughout history of seeking perpetual life, either through magic or other means. So far as anyone knows, only one Man has ever succeeded in achieving immortality - Turms Termax - and the truth of even this claim is doubted by many. For if, as the story goes, Turms found an alchemical means of transcending his mortal flesh, why, then, did he not share this secret with his closest followers, many of whom instead turned to undeath as an alternative means of immortality?
Admittedly, this hasn't stopped many from trying to discover the Termaxian method and recreate it, but, to date, there have been no successes, which only further strengthens the notion that the legends about Turms are just that - legends. Other supposed means of achieving immortality include:
* A gift of the gods to their most devoted followers, though such a reward is usually taken to be granted in an otherworldly realm removed from the material world and is thus of little interest to those who seek to persist in the here and now.
* Lost magical spells from the days of the Ancients that grant the ability to warp all reality, including the aging process.
* The transference of one's soul into a vessel that is incorporated into an automaton, golem, or other artificial body.
* The seizure of the elven "secret" to immortality, based on the notion that unending life is not natural to elves but rather a process of some sort that they undergo while very young.
The only tried and true path to immortality, though, is the aforementioned undeath. There are many different specific ways to this end, from the involved formulae that lead to lichdom to the prolonged cannibalism that turns one into a ghoul. In general, such methods are viewed with distaste, given the widespread belief that the undead are the spawn of demons and agents of Chaos, but for many, fearful of death and unable to uncover other means, if they even exist, decide that continued existence as a rotting corpse is preferable to the possibility of permanent extinction.
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Commemorated on May 20
The Uncovering of the Relics of Saint Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus. Before his blessed repose in 1378 St Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow, left instructions to place his body in the Chudov (Miracle of the Archangel Michael) monastery in the Kremlin. He designated a burial place outside the altar of the church, since in his humility he did not want to be buried in the temple. But the pious Great Prince Demetrius Ivanovich Donskoy (1363-1389), greatly esteeming the holy hierarch, gave orders to place the body of Metropolitan Alexis inside the church, near the altar.
On May 20, 1431 the stairway of the temple where the saint rested crumbled from old age. During the construction of a new temple, the incorrupt relics of St Alexis were uncovered. At a Council of Russian hierarchs the commemoration of Metropolitan Alexis was established on the day of his repose, February 12, and on the day of the uncovering of his relics, May 20. He is also commemorated on October 5.
In 1485, the relics of the saint were transferred into a church dedicated to him. At present, they rest at the Patriarchal Theophany cathedral in Moscow. The Life of St Alexis is found under February 12.
SOURCE:: http://wiccalessons.blogspot.com
"Atheist" is a dirty word in modern American society. In the minds of many, it conjures images of Communism, immorality, Satanism, and the like. Rather than encouraging accurate definitions and working to correct misconceptions, far too many atheists avoid the term altogether, referring to themselves as "non-believers, brights, freethinkers,", or "agnostics." I see this as a neglect of our responsibility and argue that standing by an accurate definition of atheism is in our interest. Within our community and without, we face a bewildering variety of definitions. Confusion over the meaning of atheism is an important obstacle to increased acceptance of atheists in society, and thus, I offer this essay.
Definining Atheism
To understand the meaning of atheism, we need to start by defining theism. Theism refers to belief in a god or gods of some sort. Thus, a theist is one who believes in a god or gods. If I tell you that I am a theist, all I am telling you is that I believe in a god or gods. We can add the prefix "mono" to limit ourselves to one god or "poly" to specify belief in multiple gods. Christianity is a subcategory of monotheism. All Christians are monotheists because the Christian doctrine posits one god. However, not all monotheists are Christian because Judaism and Islam are also monotheistic religions.
So what am I saying if I tell you that I am an atheist? Atheism, from the Greek atheos, is the lack of theistic belief (a- "without" + theos "God"). Thus, an atheist is one who does not believe in a god or gods. Note that "one who lacks belief in a god or gods" is not quite the same thing as "one who believes that there are no god or gods." This distinction may be subtle, but it is important for reasons I will review below.
As I have stated elsewhere, "Atheism is not a religion, a philosophy, a worldview, or anything similar. It is not the conviction that there are no gods, ghosts, angels, etc." Rather, atheism simply refers to the lack of theistic belief. A young child or person living in an isolated community who has never heard of any gods is an atheist. In fact, we are all born atheists because we have not encountered any theistic concepts before birth.
Misunderstanding Atheism
There are at least two reasons why most Americans misunderstand the meaning of atheism. The first is the long history of religious propaganda to which we have all been exposed. Historically, the Christian church needed to go on the offensive to maintain its hold on society. Since atheists did not accept the core foundation on which the church rested, we were an obvious target. Through systematic and widespread propaganda, we were turned into haters of the Christian god or victims of demonic forces. In short, our lack of belief in Christian dogma was interpreted as a threat to Christians.
A second reason for the common misunderstanding of atheism is that many atheists do hold some of the other beliefs often attributed to atheism. Many are politically liberal, hold a naturalistic worldview in which the existence of a supernatural realm is denied, base their sense of right and wrong on a non-religious system such as secular humanism, etc. Thus, the perception that atheism includes these attributes is an understandable stereotype. However, anyone who spends any time with atheists will discover that it is inaccurate. I have met socially conservative Republican atheists, radical libertarian/anarchist atheists, atheists who believe in a spirit world, and a host of other examples which shatter this mistaken view of atheism. In other words, because many (even most) atheists are secular humanists does not mean that secular humanism is part of the definition of atheism. To hold such a view would be every bit as absurd as claiming that all theists were Christian.
Implications of How We Define Atheism
How we define atheism has several important implications. First, we must have an accurate definition of atheism if we are to have a serious discussion about religion and the nature of religious belief. Atheism is the default state which is the starting point for all humans. We enter the world as atheists, and many of us subsequently acquire religious beliefs through cultural immersion and indoctrination. Understanding this allows us to explore the nature of religious belief, how it is acquired, and what it means for believers.
Second, it is critical to recognize that atheism does not involve the assertion of any belief claim. An atheist is simply an individual who do not hold the theistic belief claim (i.e., that god or gods exist). In Atheism: The Case Against God, George Smith argues that such a definition reminds us that the burden of proof lies with the theist because this is the person making the belief claim. When the theist says, "God exists," we are correct to expect evidence in support of this claim. Without such evidence, the claim cannot be accepted on rational grounds. The atheist is saying, "I don't accept this claim," and this rejection requires no evidence precisely because it is the default position where no positive assertion is being made. Nobody believes x until someone articulates a claim regarding x. We then expect evidence for x if our belief is to be rational. As I stated in a previous post, "Nobody expects you to prove that you do not have a fairy godmother, but if you claim that you do, we all (including Christians) expect evidence."
If we make the mistake of defining atheism as hatred of god (as many Christians do), we end up with a meaningless emotional reaction which can neither be supported nor refuted. Such a definition presupposes the existence of the subject of our hatred, and this cannot be presupposed. Alternatively, if we make the mistake of defining atheism as the conviction that there are no gods (as many atheists do), we are now guilty of making the same type of truth claim as the theist, namely one for which we are able to offer no evidence. Besides, it is highly doubtful that proving the non-existence of something is logically possible.
Summary
I have proposed here that we use an accurate definition in which "atheism" is defined as "the lack of belief in a god or gods" and "atheist" is defined as "one who lacks belief in a god or gods." If we refuse to educate the public about this, we must share in the blame for the social stigma surrounding atheism.
For additional information and arguments, I highly recommend the following:
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"FOREWORD: Super excited to introduce our newest blogger who you will be seeing regularly: Shomaila. She is super talented and fitness is a personal passion of hers! Can't wait to see what she has in store for us! Here's her first post about Bikram Yoga or commonly referred to as Hot Yoga!"
Introduced by Bikram Choudry, Bikram yoga [Hot Yoga] is a variant of Hatha yoga, which incorporates breathing and postures. It is a modernized form of yoga practiced in a 105-degree room, which may be a challenge for most people but if you are from a hot country like me, it shouldn't be such a big deal. However, don't let a little sweat stop you - sweat is sexy!
BUT THE HEAT IS NOT THE BEST PART...
Anybody, including your grandma can do all 26 poses of Bikram yoga. Yes, you won't be able to do them perfectly at first, but you will be encouraged to maintain proper form to make the postures effective. Bikram yoga doesn't involve the stereotypical twists and turns you see in yoga posters, nor do you have to be super flexible like an elastic band to start.
When I first joined a yoga class, I couldn't even touch my toes or stand on one leg without collapsing but there were a bunch of old folks who were able to do the postures so perfectly and smoothly that I couldn't help but wonder how these aged people, with their declining strength and bone density were able to do all of this.
After a few classes, I was finally able to stand on one leg and after a few more; I could do some of the postures almost perfectly. It goes to show that yoga does require practice and patience but above all, it lets your body adapt to the different forms of stress you apply to it, making you stronger and more flexible. BIKRAM YOGA IS ALSO KNOWN TO CURE A MYRIAD OF AILMENTS, FROM BLOATING, STOMACH ACHES, CONSTIPATION, LETHARGY AND MIGRAINES TO DEPRESSION, HEART DISEASE, CANCER AND OSTEOARTHRITIS. It also empowers you and increases your self-esteem and confidence.
Unlike many other forms of yoga, BIKRAM YOGA IS NOT BORING. In a 90 minute class, you have to seamlessly perform all 26 poses with minimum breaks. Note that Bikram yoga does not involve any chanting or meditating.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN, MAKE SURE YOU...
* SEE A DOCTOR. The heat can negatively affect those with cardiovascular problem, high blood pressure and those who are prone to dehydration and heat stroke.
* ARE MENTALLY PREPARED. A Bikram yoga class can be toasty and stuffed with people, so make sure you are aware of how the class is conducted before you begin so that you don't make a run to the door after first sight.
* ARE PHYSICALLY PREPARED. Drink plenty of water an hour before your class and stay hydrated. Take small sips during the class but don't overload yourself with too much fluid to minimize bathroom breaks.
* TALK TO YOUR YOGA INSTRUCTOR. Let him know about any past or current injuries or health conditions so that he can provide you with special modifications, if necessary.
DURING THE CLASS
Now that you have finally decided to start, make sure you remember the following points:
* YOU CAN STOP AT ANY POINT DURING THE CLASS IF YOU FEEL PAIN. Always listen to your body and don't try to push through your body's natural limits. Your body will slowly become more flexible and allow you to do each posture better with time so don't rush! If you feel too exhausted, "lie down into corpse pose and relax for a few seconds."
* PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO HOW THE POSTURES ARE EXECUTED. Proper form is crucial while performing Bikram yoga.
* DRESS ACCORDINGLY. The class is hot so make sure your clothing is kept to a minimum.
Once the class is complete, ease out, drink some water or an electrolyte-rich beverage and take a shower to change out of your sweaty clothes.
AUTHOR BIO:
Shomaila is a medical student and a health and fitness writer. She loves to cook and food is one of her greatest passions. Despite her busy schedule, she always finds the time to release her frustrations and relax... through exercise - even if it is just for 10 minutes. "You can never be too busy to exercise, if you are never too busy to eat, sleep, shower or check your phone almost every hour of the day."
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11,95USD
The Karmic Retribution Witches Magick Candle is created with a specific and proprietary blending of the most powerful herbs, roots, beans, woods, and oils known to the common witch used to vanquish negativity, protect, and initiate the natural energies of universal Karma. Karma is disguised and can take on several forms. Whether setting the karmic wheel into motion, or clearing karma from lifetimes and generations back, good Karma takes effort and a commitment for personal healing.
This magically charged and witch blessed Karmic Retribution Candle will aid you in your spell and ritual workings providing protection from evil eye, psychic vampires and other adverse conditions, banishing negativity and pain brought about by bad relationships, an ex-lover, curses, hexes, violence and will aid in initiating the natural energies of universal karma. Renew your karmic energy, change cause and effect and erase past bad energies. Bring new positive energies forth and begin anew.
Each candle burns approximately 45 hours. Made from all natural wax, pure essential oils, essence oils, natural herbs and botanicals, pure cotton wick and free from harmful additives, animal and poly based products. I always use a high amount of oils to ensure a high scent throw while lit or not lit placed within your sacred space. Perfect for spell casting and ritual use. Adorned with a silver cross charm.
Size: 2x3 pillar
Color: Black
Burn Time: 45 plus hours
Fragrance Description: Dragons Blood
Never leave burning candles unattended and keep away from children and pets ~
* This candle design is an original copyrighted concept, designed and created by White Magick Alchemy. Sadly this design is being copied and capitalized on by another seller here on etsy ~ Replicated but never duplicated.
(c) WHITE MAGICK ALCHEMYTM, A Division of Purple Sun Candle Company, Inc.TM 1996-2011. No part of the content, designs, images, product trade name(s), trade product design(s) and product(s) can be used without prior express written permission. All rights reserved.
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I was talking with a friend about the work we do in the Sangreal Sodality that I work with. Rather than focus on the "Rite of Lite" like many Sodalites, with the exception of the equinoxes and solstices, our Sodality focuses on the "Office of the Holy Tree of Life". My friend has a background in Don Kraig/Crowley derived magick and seemed completely confused about our method and reasoning in working the tree. Specifically he was confused about the route we take..
Since ancient times there has been the idea of a ladder of lights existing between our very dense world of form and a very subtle world of spirit. Most commonly the various rungs on this ladder, or to use another analogy, the spheres that must be passed through, have been prepresented by the planets.
While today we tend to think of the planets as active energies to draw upon or gates to pass through, they represented barriers that had to be overcome or broken through to the ancient mystic. One of the beliefs in Anthroposophy is that Christ actually physically changes them from barriers to gates, as part of his mission on earth.
Either way though, the concept of these ever more subtle spheres exists all over the western mystery tradition, so it is sort of a no brainer to view the khabbalistic tree of life in the same light. God manifests the spheres downward, and we climb upwards. Simple. There is a lightning bolt path that created the tree that flows through all the 10 sephira. There is another path back up the tree called the path of the serpent, basically reversing the lightning bolt zig-zag pattern.
The problem is that the Tree of Life isnt set up as a straight line, or as series of concentric spheres like the old planetary systems. Its not like that for a reason. The 10 sephira are not connected by 10 paths, they are connected by 22 paths. If you just zig zag up the tree from sephira to sephira you wont hit them all. The sephira are important, but the 22 paths are equally important. This is what my friend couldnt quite grasp. To him it was all about those 10 sephira. To us, its much more about the paths than the sephira.
Its perhaps understandable to view the sephira as consecutive steps, given that they are attributed to the planets. But its important to remember that different Rabbi's have assigned different planets to the sephira at different times, and the correlation is not as simple as all that, so we shouldnt apply the planet hopping view to the tree.
The sephira are important nodes of power and influence that carry very specific energies that are reflected in the higher realms, the world we live in, and the inner realm of the mind. When we do the Office ritual we typically invoke two sephira and than the path between it. Our meditations focus in the path and the way it balances the energies of those sephira. We do stop along the way and have nights dedicated to one sephira as we go, but its really to get a firm foundation so that we can work the paths that stem from it effectivly. Like circuits in a board.
You will note of course that in reality the "path of the serpent" is not at all the zig zag up the sephira that my friend seems to think it is. Old images showing a serpent wrapped around the tree are careful to show it touching all 22 paths, and none of the sephira, yet many people seem to forsake these paths, treating the Tree of Life like a ladder of consecutive sephira, rather than the map that it is.
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The chief characters in Irish mythology are the Tuatha De Danann. In times of old, these mystical people were often referred to as the Faery. However, the term "faery" (or, more commonly, "fairy") usually brings to mind diminutive little creatures with tiny little wings flitting about the garden. This image, while a part of the Faery Lineage in Ireland, does not represent all that the Faery were.
WHO ARE THE FAERY?
The traditional understanding in Ireland was that the Faery were independent beings living in an immaterial state. They were close to humanity, but not a part of it. They were considered to have a kingdom all their own, and they only seldom made themselves known in the physical world.
They were beings with the ability to change their shape at will, made of light and cloud, and so always fluid. Over time, with the changing beliefs of the people of Ireland, the Faery underwent many alterations, from the powerful and awe-inspiring Tuatha De Danann down to the classic Folk Tale Fairy. As this happened, the Faery Lineage was born.
THE FAERY LINEAGE OF ANCIENT TIMES
Up to the Middle Ages of Western Europe, the development of the Faery was almost completely confined to the land of Ireland and its people. There was a great focus on heroism, magick, and romance.
The Tuatha De Danann are the source of the entire Lineage. They were the gods of the people of Ireland, and are considered to be the most superior and pure form of the Faery. They were at their most powerful during the Mythological Cycle. This group eventually branched into two very distinct groups: the Fenian Heroes and the Daoine Sidhe.
The Fenian Heroes were among the most notable heroes in all of Ireland, existing during the Fenian Cycle. Many of them were descendants of the Tuatha De Danann, and some of them were the De Danann themselves. Many of the Fay served as a part of the fiana, and the Fenian Heroes were not considered to be all that far removed from mortal man.
The Daoine Sidhe existed in about the same time period as the Fenian Heroes. However, these were the Tuatha De Danann who truly did remain removed from humanity, who preserved the purest form of Faery magick, and who were still worshipped as the gods of the Irish pantheon. Eventually, however, even the Daoine Sidhe had to change and adapt.
The Heroic Faery was born out of the Daoine Sidhe. These were the ladies and knights of classic medieval romances, the heroes of the great tales of the era, and were very much like the Fenian Heroes. In fact, it could be said that the only difference between the Fenian Heroes and the Heroic Faery is the time period in which they existed in mythology.
Meanwhile, the Fenian Heroes had become the Medieval Faery. These characters were practiced in magick and sorcery. It is here when the first outside influences begin to creep into Irish mythology. No longer are the Faery the powerful and frightening Tuatha De Danann. They are no longer gods. Instead, they begin to grow smaller in size, and with the coming of Christianity, they are sometimes assumed to be evil.
The Heroic Faery makes one last appearance, merging with the Medieval Faery and becoming the Diminutive Fairy.
FAIRIES IN THE MIDDLE AGES AND BEYOND
With the birth of the Middle Ages, the traditional image of the modern fairy was born. The Diminutive Fairy became connected to death and the departed. Sometime in the 16th century, the idea of the literary fairy is introduced. These fairies are nasty little things, demanding their privacy and pinching those who dare to invade it.
The Elizabethan Age brings about another change in the fairy. Instead of a nasty little thing intent on its privacy, the Elizabethan Fairy is mischievous and bothersome, but not particularly evil. These fairies tend to irritate more than harm.
In the 17th century, the Jacobean Fairy makes an appearance. They are so small that they are difficult to see with the naked eye. These little guys have gossamer wings and, purely due to Puritan influences, are regarded as demons or devils.
The 18th century saw a reversal of this idea. The fairies of this era were flowery little fertility spirits. These little Flower Fairies were said to flit and fly in the most beautiful gardens, entertaining children and delighting anyone who chanced to see them. This version of the fairy is still very much a part of modern folk tales.
The 19th century saw the development of the Folk Tale Fairy. These characters were written into stories created for children, and generally featured characters such as the classic fairy godmother. These creatures were relentless moralists. Like the Flower Fairy, the Folk Tale Fairy has persisted into the modern era.
With the coming of the 20th century, the Age of Faery seemed to have truly come to an end. The gods of Ireland had become no more than fairy tales, and most had forgotten they were ever anything more. However, this same century brought about a renewed interest in ancient religions and beliefs, and today, there are those who have resurrected the ancient Faery Faith in a more modern incarnation, with the inclusion of the Elemental Faery.
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DANIEL GREENFIELD ARTICLE: SPRINGTIME FOR ISLAM
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SPRINGTIME FOR ISLAM Posted: 05 Feb 2013 08:25 PM PSTGroundhog Day is the long eternal tragedy of Islam, which always sees its shadow and always ends up with six weeks, six months or six hundred years of more winter. That hopeful time when the bitter cold of winter begins its slow transition into the warmth and renewal of spring never comes for Islam.In a reversal of the cycle of season, the Arab Spring led to the Islamic Winter, but that is the endless pattern of Islamic attempts at reform and rejuvenation, which rather than finding renewal in their attempts at transformation only go on perpetuating the same cycle of violence, tyranny and oppression.
There is a peculiar tragedy to a religion which cannot escape its own destructive nature, each time it reaches for some form of redemption, its hands come up dripping with blood and it all ends in more bodies and petty tyrannies.
The film Groundhog Day showed us a man who was doomed to repeat the same day over and over again until he learned to use his time to become a better person. Islam has been stuck in its own form of that cycle, repeating the same few decades over and over again, moving from religious ecstasy to holy war, seeking redemption through religious tyranny and Jihad, and finding that there was no escaping the internal decay and instability in the veins of the religion.
Islam's only redemption is in establishing a theocracy. Its commitment to power and the indulgence of the earthly and heavenly paradise of loot, slaves and violence, led to its own degeneration over and over again. Having no other spiritual form than the exercise of power, it has corrupted itself each time, and then attempted to exorcise the corruption through more of the same.
The Islamic leaders of one generation endorse the tyrants whom the Islamic leaders of another generation strive to overthrow. Hardly had Mohammed kicked the bucket than his nearest and dearest were fighting a civil war over supreme rulership. The origins of the Shiite-Sunni split lay not in theology, but in a vulgar power play between Mohammed's son in law and his father in law's clan. That greedy infighting has hardened into theological variations, but the real split is what Muslim wars are always really about, money and power.
Over a thousand years later the Muslim world is still dedicating all its energies to civil wars and external conflicts whose only true goal is to put money and power into the hands of its leaders. The confrontations between the prominent Persian Shiite families running Iran and the Arab Sunni families running the Arabian gulf states are not theological, though they take place under the guise of theology. They are ethnic and economic conflicts dressed up as religious conflicts.
The ugliest elements of Islam, its bigotry toward Jews and Christians, its endless Razzia raids, its need to remove the faintest doubt about the parentage of the children of its women, are pure tribal pettiness distilled into religion by warlords and clan leaders whose understanding of theology did not extend beyond personal power.
Islam was a predecessor of power movements like Communism and Nazism, its leader worship grimly real, as any cartoonist who has tried to draw a picture of Mohammed knows, or anyone who has seen Shiites cut their children bloody while crying out in mourning for Caliph Ali. Its theology incapable of embracing anything higher than its own will to power. Its objects of worship are its warleaders, its soldiers and its atrocities.Erdogan, the future Islamist Prime Minister of Turkey, read a poem that went, "The minarets are our bayonets; the domes are our helmets. Mosques are our barracks, the believers are soldiers. This holy army guards my religion. Almighty, Our journey is our destiny, the end is martyrdom". This rendition of Islam's limited theological horizon was more than a warning for what would follow when his party took power, it was a depressing journey into the black hole of Islam where the only destination is self-destruction.
Not only is the Islamic imagination incapable of envisioning a better way, it is also obsessed with the destruction of anyone or anything that can. Like the dumb violent kid in the back of the class, it not only refuses to learn, it is driven to harm anyone who does learn and tries to become a better person. The reflexive Islamic hostility toward the modern and the humane is fear transformed into hate. Fear of inferiority and fear that modern sensibilities will end the tribal reign of power and usher in a new order that will no longer incline its head to bearded old men and their dreams of conquest.
Islamic fanaticism is most pronounced among those who have the most to lose. Not the poor and the downtrodden, but the sons of the upper class and the upper middle class make the most eager terrorists. The families who are now on top have the most to lose from the arrival of spring and are the most determined to retain their feudal powers, their oligarchies and tyrannies.
Apologists for Islamism like to portray those groups as liberation movements, but there is nothing liberating about terrorist groups run by millionaires and billionaires, doctors and other degree holders, and funded by the ruling clans of Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. These ruling families have the most to lose from modernization, and though they build skyscrapers in their cities, they also helped orchestrate the Arab Spring to topple more modern governments and replace them with parties affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Arab Spring is a misnomer because Islam exists in opposition to the spring, to the renewal of human energies and creative capacities. Its natural season is the wasteland, the scorching hot desert or the bitterly cold tundra, a place where life has no capacity for growth.
Islamic law is aimed at freezing human moral capacity in the seventh century deserts of Arabia where women are property, outsiders are fair game, and power is the only morality that matters. Anything that subverts this order, whether it is domestic minorities or the existence of free people an ocean away must be attacked and destroyed.
Islam has no capacity for debate. Its blasphemy laws wall off dissent and prevent anyone from questioning the moral absolute of its power. It has, as the Ayatollah Khomeini said, no sense of humor. To be able to laugh is to be able to laugh at oneself and such laughter comes too close to doubt. There is no room for doubt in Islam or for any human expression. Accordingly there is no thaw, only the eternal winter.Carrying the seeds of its own destruction within its religion, it fights the same battles under new names and with new weapons. The wars that were once fought with spears are fought with warheads, but in the end they are still settled with knives, like the box cutters of the Islamic hijackers of September 11 or the murderers of Daniel Pearl. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, the sword is still the embodiment of Islam.
The Muslim Middle East is indeed changing, but it is changing back to what it once was, casting off the last remains of modernity imported from the West, and bringing back the reign of the Burqa, the sword and the prophet. In the West time moves forward, in the East it only moves backward. And so the spring will never come for Islam. Instead it will act out the same bloody rituals of Jihad, the killing of infidels and the civil wars, the slaves building civilizations, the masters molesting young girls and then beating them to death out of fear that the children might not be theirs.
This is the terrible cycle that repeats itself without hope of redemption. This is the rite of winter that is at the heart of Islam. It is a dark and bloody rite that has not changed in a thousand years. What we are witnessing in Islamic oppression and terror is the ancient ceremony of death, the ritual sacrifices of Ayatollahs and Mullahs over deserts and dusty fields, that holds back the coming of the spring.Daniel Greenfield is a New York City based writer and blogger and a Shillman Journalism Fellow of the David Horowitz Freedom Center.
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By Lynn Zambrano
What are the differences? The definitions have become interchanged and confused. Lets take a moment to review and clarify so that you will connect with the right reader and get the most from your session.
INTUITIVE:
Intuition is a right brain process that taps into subconscious information in order to provide guidance about everyday life. Being intuitive means that you able to tap into subconscious information in order to receive guidance about your every day life. Intuition can be used to receive guidance about your own life (personal intuition) or to help other people (professional intuition). People who are intuitive are not necessarily psychic. Being intuitive is about receiving guidance to make better decisions in your life, and helping guide others in theirs.
PSYCHIC:
Being psychic, also know as being clairvoyant, means that you can perceive information that cannot be perceived through the normal senses (also called Extra Sensory Perception - ESP). That can include predicting the future, talking to non-physical beings (dead people, spirits) and being able to sense missing objects or people. Being psychic is about sensing information that other people can't usually access.
MEDIUM:
A medium is a psychic who has fine-tuned his or her extrasensory perception and can interface with the spirits in other dimensions. They are able to feel and/or hear thoughts, voices or mental impressions from the spirit world. A medium is able to become completely receptive to the higher frequency or energies on which spirit people vibrate.
EMPATH:
Empath means that you feel other people's emotions as your own. For example, if someone around you is very angry you might start to feel angry yourself, even though there is no direct reason for you to feel this way. According to Wikipedia, "observing another person's emotional state activates parts of the neuronal network involved in processing that same state in one, whether it is disgust, touch, or pain". Empaths have the ability to scan another's energy for thoughts, feelings and possibly for past, present, and future life occurrences.
HEALER:
A healer has the ability to "see" the person as a whole greater then the sum of their parts. The healer's job is to help remove blocks to an individual's growth. It is now an accepted fact that humans are electromagnetic beings. All illness results from the lowering of body frequencies below that necessary to maintain homeostasis. By raising the frequencies and aligning the various bodies, all the fields come into coherence. That is health.
Energy Healing has been around forever and is one of the most ancient healing techniques you can use to keep your body in a balanced and healthy state. The ancients were aware of the psychological and physical effects we experience from our own thoughts, from other people, and from invisible forces from "out there." Alternative energy healing includes these psychological and spiritual realms as well as the physical.
Source:: http://spellscasting.blogspot.com
