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Death is not a popular or comfortable topic in most of North America. Our popular culture is obsessed with unnatural youthfulness and everything is done to keep death hidden away from our minds, our eyes, and our ears. Death must be acknowledged if our lives are to be lived meaningfully.
The greatest preparation for death is to live a full life here on earth. For the Christian, fullness of life is found in loving God and loving our neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40). Some people die without warning, for them the only preparation for their death is the content and character of their lives.
However, many people are aware that they are coming closer to death. This could be because of illness, advanced age, or violent circumstances. When we know that death is coming we should prepare ourselves as best we can.
This involves four basic steps:
"#1 Trust in Christ." Be assured that you have professed belief in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Recognize it's His death and His resurrection that gives you the guarantee of your resurrection to eternal life. It's not unusual for people to have attended church their whole life yet never made a personal commitment to Christ.
"#2 Wrap Your Earthly Affairs." When you know that death is coming soon it's important to take care of your earthly affairs. Hopefully, you'll have already written a will and made your wishes known to your family. But at this point you need to finalize these matters so you can focus on the final transition from this life to the next.
"#3. Make your Confession." It's important as death approaches to come clean with God, with friends and family. Seek to make amends where possible. Make sure to tell the people in your life that you love them. Also, many Christians have benefited from making a final private confession with their parish priest. This is a way of spiritually cleaning house before you enter into the fuller presence of God.
"#4. Receive Holy Communion and Prayer on a regular basis." Plus seek encouragement from your pastor, church, and family. Seek to accept that your time here on earth is done, and that you are now moving on to the nearer presence of God. Relish the time you have remaining. Make a point to bless others each day.
Christians believe that Jesus overcame death through His life, death and resurrection. This is a great consolation for the believer (for more on what happens when you die click here). It does not, however, remove the necessity to prepare ourselves for death.
Source: http://goddesses-and-gods.blogspot.com
I'm going to have something published in a chronic illness zine, and I need to write a brief bio for the bio section.
This morning, I shared a sample bio for it with my boyfriend. He said that I was being too open about my interest in spirituality and that I should keep it professional and targeted to the audience, who will be interested in health. This makes sense to me, and I'm fine with it.
But I do have this deep sadness about getting yet another dose of negative feedback about something I actually value in myself - my self-knowledge and openness about myself.
I get so much negative feedback for being open, yet I occasionally get positive feedback, and either way, it's just a big part of who I think I am, and I don't anticipate it changing anytime soon.
I just like sharing what goes on inside me. I feel more real when I know that other people know about my ideas, or even better, that they agree with me or feel the same way.
It's a classic issue for Enneagram Type 4s. We like to express ourselves.
It's frustrating to live in a society where this type of expression is not only not especially valued, but where it's seen as unprofessional and dangerous to one's career, which is so based on image these days.
I think that if there's one Enneagram type that has a hard time in modern western society, it's the Type 4.
We tend toward melancholy, which this society
We are not afraid to admit to the negative things in our nature, which is a huge liability in this society, where employers can use anything (including facebook and online presence) as evidence in evaluating how well we meet their semi-fascist employment standards.
Sure, we have "free speech" in this country, but that's just about government control. When it comes to the control of employers, there's an enormous amount of indirect control.
Lastly, we type 4s tend to be suited for careers involving emotional expression, such as writing or art. These careers are not especially valued in this society. It's hard to make money at these careers. The work of artists is seen as unnecessary in our practical, achievement- and numbers-oriented society.
It's bad enough to be a member of this "undesirable" Enneagram personality type.
What makes it harder is that I'm dating someone who has the personality type that our society most values: type 3.
So these things that are so hard for me: presenting a professional image, withholding negative information about myself, and fitting into high-paying careers; he does with extreme ease.
I can't believe the extent to which my boyfriend is able to present a good image of himself. I would cringe and break down if I had to do the sorts of things he does. I'm amazed at how much he is able to change how he acts for his audience. He's also very achievement-oriented (I am not), which makes it easy for him in our success-oriented society.
If nothing else, he helps me to see a different (and often opposite) way of doing things. I hope that I help him to open up about his real feelings and to feel good about himself regardless of what he does or doesn't accomplish.
- - -
It's just kind of depressing to live in a society that doesn't value the good things about my personality type - that doesn't value what I most value in myself - not to mention castigates me for doing things that come naturally to me.
I said to my boyfriend as he left the house today, "Maybe I'll come out ahead, because I'll do a career where being so self-knowing and emotionally honest will be an advantage."
He said back to me, simultaneously joking but in all seriousness: "Well, good luck finding a career in which being so open is an advantage." I think he meant that he didn't think my personality traits could be an advantage in any career.
I said back, "Writing, duh!" I wanted to add, "And careers are not the only thing that matters. It's not like the point of life is career success. What about spiritual growth?"
Reference: http://wizard-notes.blogspot.com
I love posting Touched by Pagan Culture Tuesday! almost as much as I love getting awards from my Wicked Darlings. Today, I feel double lucky because I get to do both at the same time. WoooHooo!
I don't know if it is spring or what, but Pagan Culture continues to get more Beautiful by the minute, and if that wasn't enough The Wickedest Witch of New York seems to have become a Blogger Buddy. I want to thank Spirit Phoenix: The Fire Within and Analae from As Within for reiterating that the creator of Pagan Culture is hot beautiful, that makes me feel all nice and warm inside. Want to know what else makes me feel nice and warm inside? Lavender tea and an award that says that I'm a Blogger Buddy. Thanks Melissa aka Equidae, I'm honored to know that the goddess of The Lotus Page considers me a blogger buddy.
Here are the rules of the beautiful blogger award:1. Thank the person who gave you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic!
4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.The Blogger Buddy Award says that you have to pass it to 10 bloggers, who I presume you consider your buddies. Well my loves, you know me; I've been known for my rule breakage tendencies. So here it goes:7 things about me:
* I'm trying a new lavender tea and it tastes like soap.
* My butt is numb; I should probably change positions.
* My bra is killing me, which makes me wonder why in the Gods' names am still wearing the damn thing!
* I brush my teeth with children, strawberry flavored, toothpaste.
* I'm falling in love with Jean Toomer's writing.
* I think people with pointy canines, that are slightly longer than the rest of their teeth, have very SEXY smiles.
* I really LOVE riding the Staten Island Ferry!
Now to the "rule breakage". I'm forwarding the Beautiful Award to 2 interesting bloggers I found recently, and the Buddy Award to 11 bloggers who have won a special place in my heart. Yes, that makes my lucky 13!
2 Beautiful Bloggers I found recently:
* Mermaid Gallery Nelson
* The Play of Light and Shadow
11 Blogger Buddies:
* Cogent Ascending
* Peek-A-Boo
* Me vs. College
* One Pink Fish
* Piexie's Faerie Art
* Judy's Photos
* Hysterical Jugglings
* Written In Earth
* SueAnn's Journey
* Soulstrings
* A College Girl's Days
This was a very difficult award to give, for each of you has claimed a bit of my heart; the 11 I mentioned are just really greedy!
Another thing, Lora from fever, posted this really interesting game and I wanted to play (I just hate to feel left out). The game is supposed to help her analyze people through their handwriting. Here are the rules:
write the following
1) Your name/blog name.
2) Right-handed, left-handed, or ambidextrous?
3) Favorite letters to write.
4) Least favorite letters to write.
5) Write "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."
6) Write the following words in capital letters:
- CRAB
- HUMOR
- KALEIDOSCOPE
- PAJAMAS
- GAZILLION
7) Write your favorite song lyric.
8) Tag people!
9) Any special note or picture.
And now to get Touched by Pagan Culture Tuesday! you need to do the following:
1. Be one of my Wicked Darlings (Follow the blog).2. Comment on this posts.*If you follow through Facebook ONLY, make sure to point that out after your comments.
For extra entries:*Twitter about this post and leave me a comment with the link (Twitter daily, each day is worth an entry!).*Become a follower of one of the nominees and leave me a comment telling me why you chose him/her.*Analyze my handwriting and leave me a comment telling me what you've discovered about my inner Witch.
The Wicked Darling to be Touched will be chosen April 1st, no joke ;-D
Tags: morphology parasite branches weak branche the necronomicon book psychic revelation magical potion david steinberg of house of david general principles of astrology crowley
By Tana Hoy
Every person is psychic to some degree. However, not everyone is aware of this fact. All of us are psychic to some extent, but there are those whose psychic powers are stronger than others. It's something like singing, everyone can sing (or at least they think they can), but only some can really sing in tune, and only a chosen few stand out. This also is the case for psychic ability; everyone has it within them, but the strength of the psychic power is not the same for every person.
Have you ever experienced a time when you had a hunch about something and then it came true? This is one simple example of psychic ability. Psychic ability is connected to strong intuition. Although intuition defies our logic and reasoning, intuition is our natural ability. But then, your "gut feel" isn't right all the time. This is because your intuitive skills are still weak, and your psychic ability needs to be developed more.
Psychic ability can be enhanced in many ways. There are a number of methods and tools used to develop psychic ability. In the many psychic ability enhancement techniques, the concept of meditation plays a crucial role.
By definition, meditation is a process in which an individual seeks to achieve a higher state of consciousness. However, there is big misconception that meditation is a technique. The real thing is, meditation is a way of life and the foundation to develop and hone your psychic ability.
To hone your psychic ability, you must be ready to accept your innate power with an open mind. A psychic does this by meditating regularly. Well focused meditation grants a person a peaceful haven that enhances consciousness. Once your mind enters a meditative trance, your subconscious mind is allowed to think freely and convey its thoughts. Other people refer to meditation as a process to seek a heightened sense of awareness; which is the characteristic you need for you to develop your psychic ability.
Meditation is a form of mental discipline, and it is essential for developing psychic ability. Using meditation to enrich your psychic ability is not a hard task. Though the steps are simple, the practice requires utmost diligence and dedication to put the ideal in daily practice. Here are simple steps how you can meditate to develop your psychic ability:
1. Finding time to meditate on a daily basis
2. Find the most conducive environment for meditation
3. Sit on the ground with a straight back
4. Keep your eyes half closed
5. Breathe deep
6. Relaxing every muscle
7. Attention must be kept in focus
8. Silence the mind
A psychic ability is an outstanding blessing, and every person should take the opportunity to develop his or her extraordinary gift. Everyone is capable to unleash the full potential of their psychic ability if they are given the right foundation and proper guidance. Take note that the key to develop your psychic ability starts with the right state of mind - knowing what you want, how much you want it, and doing everything to get it.
About the Author:
Tana Hoy is considered an expert when it comes to meditation. He has studied how meditation is used in various religions and has been meditating since he was 15 years old! Visit his website www.tanahoy.com to learn more about meditation, and how it can help you unleash your inner psychic.
Tags: practical black magic the balance in nature what is the vatic bribe ghost how to use a distaff pentacles ata folk magic spells
The title of this blog may be misleading, because there is no way to 100% insure that you will NOT EVER be lonely feeling. But my hope is to give you a little bit of comfort and tips if you are a solitary, and are feeling a little isolated...
I feel there are 2 types of solitary practitioners; those who have or would belong to a group but choose otherwise, and those who are solitary because they cannot join a group (for whatever reason) so they must practice alone.
First off, we must recognize that within Traditional Wicca, the focus was on the group, the coven. No one was "self taught" like today. A lot of people feel that you cannot learn or experience wicca and magic without IN PERSON mentoring. That said, I feel this is impractical and to some degree, untrue.
Can an author/ mentor know that their readers or students are doing the work and doing it "right"?... No, but being an optimist with faith in humanity, I feel those with the sincerest intentions will DO the work, because they know it will lead to their own spiritual growth. Also, it is very difficult for someone who hasn't done the work to accurately explain the feeling of these experiences, the feeling of energy, of grounding, and of trance.
But, I am drifting away from my goal... A lot of us are solitary, or "part time" solitary. At first, when everything is new, and exciting, and deep being a solitary is EASY. You spend your time studying fascinating, exciting ideas and concepts. You try a few exercises and low and behold... THEY WORK!
However you cannot be a person alone. We are a social species and we learn about ourselves through interaction with others. Almost every single faith is "group based". They offer individual benefits, yes, but you learn and grow through interacting with yourself AND others. Early "coven" wicca was this way. They energy was raised and directed in a group, with a heavy emphasis on union and transference.
However, wicca today is probably comprised of more solitaries than it is of coveners. Solitary practice is the best way to get in touch with your self, to find confidence spiritually and emotionally, and to follow your own path. Solitary wicca can look however you want it to... truly! Who is to say otherwise?
Loneliness arises when we feel lost, unsure, scared, disconnected, or "tapped out". We relay our cofidence off of the actions of others, this is natural. If you have ever decided to do a skyclad ritual and suddenly you think ; "somehow, for some reason, i would feel a lot less silly if there were 3 or 4 other people in the room doing a ritual naked with me" you know what I mean. We never ever want to be the only one. That is what is good about being a solitary... eventually you build the confidence to not NEED validation from your peers. If you are certain the sky is green, you don't need everyone to agree, and you don't think you are crazy.
But getting to that point takes time... a lot of it.
The other problem we face as solitaries, is eventually you hit the solitary "ceiling". 99% of information about wicca is "wicca 101". It is the smae thing over and over in book after book. Yeahm one book says that fire is red, and in the next it is orange... but essentially they all go something like this"
1. The wiccan rede and the law of return
2. Wiccans aren't satanists.
3. How to set up an altar
4. How to cast a circle
5. How to open a circle
6. The Sabbats
7. Other Rituals
8. Spells
9. Correspondences
10. Thanks, read my other
1. If you are stuck, branch out... Read more, outside of specifically "wicca"
2. Start Reflecting... whether it is journaling, art, blogs, vlogs, or meditation... take some serious time and mull over your thoughts... I used to journal to my spirit guide. I would start each entry like a letter; "dear " You can give yourself a lot more comfort and "community" than you realise. Allow yourself to talk and discuss with yourself. If you are confused about something, consider two sides of the issue and debate them, listing the pros and cons of each...
3. Reach out. If you can, start discussing your ideas or beliefs in online forums, or join a chatroom and start talking. You can really find a sense of belonging in online groups, especially if you see the "person" behind the computer screen. If online is not an option... express your faith by joining groups (even non-pagan ones) that align with your values. Sometimes when we are alone all we need is another person around... it doesn't matter what we are DOING together, as long as we a are together.
4. Don't forget there is life beyond wicca. A practicing wiccan is wiccan 100% of the time, HOWEVER, that doesn't mean they focus on it 100% of the time. You are not a bad wiccan if you get "burnt out" occasionally. If you miss the full moon esbat because you went to a movie, that is ok! Every full moon and dark moon I TRY to do a ritual, however, life happens. What I DO, however, is recognize the occasion, and make sure to at least mentally connect for a few minutes with the gods.The mistake some solitaries make is to neglect the rest of thier lives by focusing too much on wicca. Remember, we have faith and spirituality to better our lives, NOT life to better our faith and spirituality. Sound odd? If we are living for the benefit of our souls, we still cant forget we are here to LIVE. Sometimes, that means skipping the spiritual to enjoy the mundane.
5. learn to self-validate. Every day look in the mirror and say'; "I am beautiful/handsome, inquisitive, strong, focused, intelligent, important, spiritual and divine". People with a healthy self image are healthier in general. I am not saying that you have to be completely vain, or feel "better" than everyone else. Self validation helps you be truly, deeply, confident and satisfied. You can always improve, of course... but as a solitary you need to be able to rest your confidence in YOURSELF. You are in the uncomfortable position of being both student and teacher... you are a true leader and you MUST believe it.
Do I have lonely days? Heck ya! Days where I feel inadequate, yes. However... the more I feel like I am a person worth hanging out with, who has interesting thoughts and ideas, and is a hoot, I feel a little less lonely, and a lot happier to be so luck to be with me! hehehe...
Blessed Be!
-Megan
Tags: banishment spell police and prostitution easy at home love spells rosemary ellen guiley killing blow tides black magic spells for free
Also known as a Philtre... a form of a Magical Charm... a concoction of herbs and and extracts of or excretions of animals including animal parts.
More intense forms of this practice were used in Alchemy.Sorcerers, Witches, Evil and Good doers of the Occult Arts engaging in the art of Magickal Potions.Intended use being to cause Love or Lust of one they desire, or perhaps make one fall asleep or maybe even bring the end to ones life. One can easily visualize the Being standing by the Cauldron mixing away the brew to is soon to slew. We have seen it all in the movies over exaggerated by the ugly as hell Witch. But is has been quite a common practice among those whom truly dwell in the Occult Arts and wish to manipulate others for their own devilish reasons.So for some it may be a poison for the soul and drink of Death and for others the magical sexual potion to meet our Lustful Desires. For me the Magickal Potion is Red Bull or Monster Energy Drinks. For me it has changed my life in new ways. For in the morning it is the way to bring the dead back to life. Then again when Night Time falls... Red Bull and Yegermiester brings out the Beast in me.Any type of mixture that can alter your life or vision can be considered a potion.I myself mix potions in the candles I make to give them the Magic they need. Here are some of Magical Potions 4 you. COME TO ME OILTry pure essential oil of sweet pea. It draws peopleto you. Diluted with perfume diluant and used on theclothing it will help you pick up girls in bars. It isvery nice, but it draws all kinds of people, and you CONFUSION OIL
* Vetivert
* Lavender
* Galangal
* Burnt knotted shoelace
* color: black
Confuses one who is trying to cast a spell on you. Good for breaking curses and hexes.Works very well. DOVE'S BLOOD INK
* Dragon's Blood resin
* Cinnamon oil
* Cay oil
* Alcohol
* Gum arabic
* Rose oil
* BLESSING OIL
* 2 parts Frankincense
* 1 part Benzoin gum.
Add 2 tablespoons of this mix to 2 ounces of oil. POTION TO MAKE YOU STOP LOVING SOMEONE INGREDIENTS: ginger, cinamon, salt, pepper, lemon, water and rose petals. Now here's the tools you will need: black candle, something to light the candle with, spoon to stir with and a rock and cup. Now light the candle and say one time: dark sides make me stop loving this man/woman Name(say full name).Then Take all of the ingredients and put into the cup but before drinking say this 3 times: With this potion I banish my feelings for (say his/her full name) Forever. Now drink the potion.Then Put the rock at the foot of your bed (that will turn your love for him/her feelings into hatered). Now the spell is done, but it only works for some people and there's no guarantee that it will work for everyone. DELICIOUS SPICY LOVE POTIONS (MULLED WINE)
* Mortar and pestle
* red wine
* beautiful glasses for serving the wine
* 1 red candle
* 1 stick of incense
* a saucepan
* 3 types of love herbs, 1 teasp of each (Please check that the herbs you chose are not poisonous )
Prepare your altar, light the incense and candle. Grind the herbs in your mortar and pestle (If you have used it for grinding poisonous herbs, then either buy a new one for cooking, or use a food processor ), charge the herbs for your magical purpose. Put enough wine in the saucepan, simmer, then add herbs slowly. As you do it, feel your intention for love, stir in herbs, keeping your focus. For best results, do on the waxing of the moon and chose herbs that suit your taste. Some herbs and spices do have a very strong taste. have to pick which ones you want to stick around. WAR WATERWar Water is Iron Rust in water along with other ingredients that are added according to the desires of the Spellcaster. Mars...the Roman God was the God of War and his metal was Iron. Additional ingredients included in War Water to make it stronger are magnetic sand and a rusty nail or coffin nail. Spanish moss provides the proper darkness to the rust color of the mix and gives an appropriate "swamp water" scent when you break the bottle open. To strengthen War Water add nails from specific locations such as a hospital, to cause injury; a court house, to make someone lose a court case, a jail, to get someone arrested, the person's job site, to make them get fired.
Reference: http://thelema-and-faith.blogspot.com
Mystic Faerie 2007, Deck of the Bastard 2013
I really like the pentacles suit in the Mystic Faerie Tarot. In each suit of this deck, a story is told through the progression of the cards. This works and doesn't work-it's a fun idea, but some cards are bit off the mark as far as traditional interpretation goes. In the pentacles suit, a faerie gets lost from her family and decides to live in an area where she finds herself-there's plenty to eat there, and she can make baskets and a shelter. But she soon finds it lonely without company, and after having her little home ransacked by some rats, she is befriended by mice, who take her into their community. The Six of Pentacles shows the faerie and the mice sharing their bounty with one another, in the spirit of charity and generosity often associated with this card. It's a really cute card. I love those little mice!
Then in contrast, we have the King of Swords, standing against a black background in his cold armor, with sword in hand. What in the world could be happening with me today that I should draw two such contrasting cards?
I'm not sure what the day holds, but I have taken some decisive action recently, and it has involved scrutiny and generosity (or at least the distribution of goods - in this case, my time). I have decided to leave Aeclectic Tarot and make my account inactive. It has become as much a time suck as ever Facebook was, and with nearly as few benefits to me. It's simply time to move on, and I hope the extra time I gain will be put to better use through engaging more fully with the blogging community, making more time for meditation and other pursuits, and of course, more time for serving those who are kind enough to honour me by ordering a reading.
Still I can't wait to see how Six of Pentacles + King of Swords manifests itself today. A charitable act cut down? A misguided attempt at charity seen through? An act of kindness leads to a realization?
Source: http://master-of-pentagram.blogspot.com
The progressive Jewish blog site TIKKUN DAILY has a nice article about Pagans at The Parliament of the World's Religions, and it specifically mentions COG. However, there are some problems with the characterizations of COG's direct involvement. Here is what the author - Nancy Vedder-Shults has to say:
"The Covenant of the Goddess (CoG) brought Raul Manani, an indigenous practitioner from Argentina - CoG has been especially involved in this work through their Lost and Endangered Religions Project (LERP) since the late 1990s"...(Cont.)...
I appreciate that we are being mentioned in a positive way, but the accuracy of her observations are a little less than correct. THE LOST ">"ARCHANA VENKATESAN MA, PhD is Chief Research Coordinator in LERP's South Asian division. She is a Professor at St. Lawrence University in the Religious Studies Department. She is also the main facilitator of LERP's Araiyar Sevai Conservation Project.
LAYNE LITTLE MA, PhD is the Director of LERP's South Asian division. He is a Fulbright scholar and teaches in the Humanities ">DEVESH SONEJI PhD is the Director of The Mangala Initiative and Scholar Ambassador of the Devadasi Preservation Project. He is also an Assistant Professor of South Indian Religions at McGill University, Canada.
HARI KRISHNAN MA is the artist in residence at Wesleyan University CT. He is the co-founder of the Mangala Initiative and is the Performing Arts Director of the Lost & Endangered Religions Project. "
These folks are not affiliated with COG
Also, Raul MAMANI was privately sponsored to attend the Parliament by a group of people including members of COG and the UNITED RELIGIONS INITIATIVE.
Source: http://esoteric-soup.blogspot.com
Reach for the Stars
Few people are untouched today by economic stress. We're not only confronted with it in the media, but we experience it with virtually every purchase we make.
Most Saturday afternoons my husband and I make a trip to the grocery store for our weekly supplies and food storage items. Recently, after filling our shopping cart and while waiting to be checked out, we watched the cashier totaling the purchases of customers ahead of us. Nearly all were in sizable double-digit figures. We discussed the high cost of food for large families with limited incomes, elderly people with small pensions, and single parents often with uncertain means. We concluded that in most households resources must be managed very carefully in order to meet current demands.
The economic situation today is sobering. It requires us as women to be very resourceful if we are to meet this challenge successfully and at the same time find satisfaction in doing it well.
A young bride went to be with her husband at an army camp on the edge of a desert. Housing was scarce and costly. All they could afford was a small cabin near an Indian village. The 115-degree heat was unbearable in the daytime. The wind blew constantly, spreading dust and sand over everything. The days were long and lonely. When her husband was ordered into the desert for two weeks of maneuvers, she just couldn't bear the living conditions any longer, and she wrote to her mother that she was coming home. An almost immediate reply included these lines:
Two men look out from prison bars;
One saw the mud, the other saw the stars.
She read the lines over and over. All right, she would look for the stars.
She determined to make friends with her neighbors, the Indians. She admired their artful weaving and pottery work and asked them to teach her. As soon as they sensed her interest was genuine, they were most willing. She became fascinated with their culture, their history- everything about them. The desert changed from a desolate, forbidding place to a world of wondrous beauty.
What had changed? Not the desert, not her environment; her own attitude transformed a miserable experience into a highly rewarding one. (From Bits and Pieces, Vol. C no. 5, pp. 21-23.)
How might Relief Society enable a woman to look to the stars-stars to steer by? How might Relief Society enable a woman to create an environment of optimism and adventure, while at the same time helping her stretch her dollars and resources by implementing sound economic principles in the home?
Let me point out a few minicourses each Relief Society unit might hold to help women meet this challenge:
First, home and money management. Wise home and money management instruction should help each sister learn how to bring all expenditures within the family income. It has been thoughtfully said that we should set our scale of living one degree below our means. No longer can we ignore the imperative of this principle.
The first hard rule of fixing our scale of living below our means is to budget, planning first for basic needs and then for other desired items.
We should help all women enjoy the peace of mind that comes from making and following a plan for spending. Their lives will begin to have an aura of serenity when their expenses stay within their income.
Women must learn to budget and to help their children learn to budget also. Women and children should know that, no matter how important or how worthwhile an item might seem to be, if they cannot afford it, it is an unwise expenditure. Such expenditures lead to debt; and unwise debt leads to economic insecurity, which most often causes stress in the family. You can make it easier for your children if you do as Elder Marvin J. Ashton suggests: " 'Save your money' is a hollow pronouncement from a parent to a child. 'Save your money for a mission, a bicycle, a doll house, a trousseau, or a car' makes understandable sense." (Ensign, July 1975, p. 73.)
Living on a budget is not a chore. It need not even be a deprivation. Budgeting should be a great learning experience.
A recently married daughter of a friend wrote her mother, describing how she and her husband were managing to save money on their meager income. She excitedly explained: "I've discovered that often prepared foods are too costly for our budget, so I make most things from 'scratch.' The other night at Relief Society I even learned how to make milk, buttermilk, condensed milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, and creamed cheese from the powdered milk we had stored. It's fun to see how much I can save by doing things myself."
We can teach women to be realistic in money management and still maintain a spirit of resourcefulness and optimism.
Next, a resource management minicourse might be planned. It could enable the sisters to share ways to save energy. For example, car pool or walk whenever possible, wear sweaters, turn down the thermostat a degree or two, open shades when the sun shines and close them at night, turn off the heat or air conditioner when not at home, turn off the lights, and run the dishwasher only with a full load.
Resource management includes wise stewardship of possessions and an appreciation of the value that still remains in some used goods. One stake Relief Society president reported a homemaking meeting where their best seamstress was available to help each woman draft patterns for reusable fabric. This helped the sisters save many dollars and at the same time enjoy lovely additional clothing items.
Other miniclasses on resource management might focus on ways to take better care of clothes-how best to repair, clean, and alter them for longer wear. A miniclass on laundering tips could also add to a woman's understanding of how to add life to fabric. Classes could teach the art of clothing coordination, how to add variety and versatility to everyone's wardrobe so there is less need to purchase complete outfits. In these and other ways Relief Society could teach women to care better for their belongings, thus extending life and serviceability while at the same time bringing satisfaction and pleasure.
If we "make do" creatively, we don't have to do without. We can enrich the lives of our family members at very little cost.
A third minicourse might be on healthful living. Plan ways to help the sisters save money by attaining the best health of which they are capable. Relief Society should provide training to promote physical well-being as the least expensive medical treatment. It doesn't even cost you the price of aspirin. The illness you avoid costs nothing. Good health habits save money. To promote good health, women need to plan nutritious meals. Most of us could have smaller portions of food and still be healthy, but all of us should eat regular, well-balanced meals each day. Relief Society instruction should be designed to help sisters understand and practice the fundamentals of good nutrition. We should learn to prepare economical food that will be both nourishing and appealing. And in keeping with the all-Church effort to reduce cost, we would like to suggest that, although the homemaking meeting continue to be held monthly, the homemaking luncheon be served only six times per year, unless the circumstances of the sisters indicate a special need. We ask each Relief Society president to realize that this is not a time for cookies and punch, but for a social experience that will promote provident living, and that the emphasis be on an economical, nourishing food graciously served that can be easily duplicated in the homes of the sisters.
One basic concept of the welfare system of the Church is to prepare for a time of emergency by careful planning. Relief Society has the capability of helping sisters further this effort by making their homes models of provident living that can meet present need and possible emergencies.
I have thought about the emergency preparation necessary when Noah's ark was made ready. Noah must have achieved the most effective welfare planning in the history of mankind when he very carefully followed the Lord's counsel and built the ark. His wife and their sons undoubtedly worked and planned with him so that the blessings of the Lord might be theirs. Just think of preparing a year's supply for those multitudes of animals which were brought into the ark. Noah and his family must have been able to plan and provide in such a way that they could find pleasure in their efforts (selecting just the right two of each animal), adventure in their voyage (surely there were new little furry creatures almost weekly), and joy as the splendor of the very first rainbow filled the sky, and the Lord's promise was fulfilled.
Could we be as diligent today? Can we as women be accountable and help meet the great challenge of economic stress by our wise stewardship over that with which the Lord has blessed us?
May we look for the stars and find satisfaction, even joy, in living according to the directions of these prophets and Apostles, whom the Lord has chosen to lead us in our day, is my humble prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Talk given by: Barbara B. Smith, "Reach for the Stars," Ensign, May 1981, 83
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Shells hold Powerful Secrets of the Deepest Watery Realms
Their shapes, ridges, textures and spirals
are a Mystery of Poetic Beauty
Shells are Messengers
They bring
The Gift of New Journeys
The Gift of Transforming with Sound
and the Gift of Movement
through the Spirals of Creation
From shells..Healing Energies flow
"Ancient Sounds Unfold"
"A New Destiny will follow"
"Surrounded by Mystic Rings of Silvers and Golds"
"Tumbled Gems and Bones of the Sea"
"The Power of the Centerpoint"
Carrying you Home
SHELLS ARE POWERFUL SYMBOLS OF..
BIRTH
CREATION
NEW LIFE
HEALING
JOURNEYING
AND DISCOVERING NEW TRAVELS..
THE WIZARDESS GLEENS A NEW PATH AHEAD..DO YOU SEE YOURS AS WELL?
Shells have often been used as amulets and charms..
that bring safe travels to loved ones..
...and bring new journeys to your own Path
Shells inspire Healing energies
through the Essence of soundwaves
Sounds of the Sea can be heard
inside the Creational Belly of the Shell
NATURE IS MIRACULOUS AND POWERFUL
HOLD A SHELL IN YOUR HAND
AND FEEL THE RHYTHM OF NATURE'S INTELLIGENT POWER
CONNECT WITH THE PATTERNS
OF CREATION, EVOLUTION AND LIGHT
Carfeully molded by Divine Hands of Nature...
A shell becomes a divine thing of beauty..
and fastened with the Sounds of the Ancient Sea
Guided and Ready for new Life
Connected to the Watery realm..the Beauty of Flow..
Finding its ways upon the land..
..upon the sand-filled shores..
And waiting for Creative purpose..
"THE SHELL BRINGS MANY GIFT AND SIGNS.."
"A SYMBOL OF COMING NEWS, INFORMATION, "
"A BRIDGE FOR COMMUNICATION "
"A SIGN OF TRAVEL "
"A CHARM FOR SAFE VOYAGES"
"AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO EMBARK "
"UPON YOUR OWN MAGICAL JOURNEY "
"AND TO FIND YOUR DESTINY!"
~HEART OF A WIZARDESS~
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One thing I love about Algonquin mythology is how the natural world and the human world interact in one big social system. A woman marries a bear and gives birth to his son, who turns out to be human. Two weasel sisters (who live as if they were human) accidentally marry two stars. A powerful wizard, who is a partridge, battles the evil porcupine sorcerers who killed his water-spirit wife. Underlying these myths is the assumption that all creatures are basically the same, and therefore deserving of our respect.
One of my favorite beings in these stories is Grandmother Woodchuck. She's the grandmother of Glooskap, a culture hero among the Wabanaki tribes. Glooskap reminds me a little bit of Hercules, since he's always fighting monsters and making the world safe for humans. There's a little bit of Merlin in him as well, because he's a powerful magician. But really he's a unique being in his own right. Unlike Hercules or Merlin, he's a trickster, purely good-hearted, and more than a little naive. Despite all his powers, he often makes dumb mistakes.
Grandmother Woodchuck is always there to help him fix those mistakes. In one story, Glooskap ties up the giant eagle who creates the world's winds, and doesn't untie him until his grandmother points out that the world will become hot, stagnant and uninhabitable without wind. In another, Glooskap captures all the world's animals in a magic bag woven from woodchuck hair. He only lets them go when Grandmother Woodchuck points out that everyone else will starve to death with no game to hunt.
As we approach Groundhog Day, it's nice to know that other cultures recognize the wisdom of this magical creature, because woodchuck is just another name for a groundhog. The word comes from the Algonquin word "wojak."
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Artemis was worshipped by the Greeks under various appellations, to each of which belonged special characteristics. Thus she is known as the Arcadian, Ephesian and Brauronian Artemis, and also as Selene-Artemis, and in order fully to comprehend the worship of this divinity, we must consider her under each aspect.
ARCADIAN ARTEMIS
The Arcadian Artemis (the real Artemis of the Greeks) was the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and twin-sister of Apollo. She was the goddess of Hunting and Chastity, and having obtained from her father permission to lead a life of celibacy, she ever remained a maiden-divinity. Artemis is the feminine counterpart of her brother, the glorious god of Light, and, like him, though she deals out destruction and sudden death to men and animals, she is also able to alleviate suffering and cure diseases. Like Apollo also, she is skilled in the use of the bow, but in a far more eminent degree, for in the character of Artemis, who devoted herself to the chase with passionate ardour, this becomes an all-distinguishing feature. Armed with her bow and quiver, and attended by her train of huntresses, who were nymphs of the woods and springs, she roamed over the mountains in pursuit of her favourite exercise, destroying in her course the wild animals of the forest. When the chase was ended, Artemis and her maidens loved to assemble in a shady grove, or on the banks of a favourite stream, where they joined in the merry song, or graceful dance, and made the hills resound with their joyous shouts.
As the type of purity and chastity, Artemis was especially venerated by young maidens, who, before marrying, sacrificed their hair to her. She was also the patroness of those vowed to celibacy, and punished severely any infringement of their obligation.
The huntress-goddess is represented as being a head taller than her attendant nymphs, and always appears as a youthful and slender maiden. Her features are beautiful, but wanting in gentleness of expression; her hair is gathered negligently into a knot at the back of her well-shaped head; and her figure, though somewhat masculine, is most graceful in its attitude and proportions. The short robe she wears, leaves her limbs free for the exercise of the chase, her devotion to which is indicated by the quiver which is slung over her shoulder, and the bow which she bears in her hand.
There are many famous statues of this divinity; but the most celebrated is that known as the Diana of Versailles, now in the Louvre, which forms a not unworthy companion to the Apollo-Belvedere of the Vatican. In this statue, the goddess appears in the act of rescuing a hunted deer from its pursuers, on whom she is turning with angry mien. One hand is laid protectingly on the head of the stag, whilst with the other she draws an arrow from the quiver which hangs over her shoulder.
Her attributes are the bow, quiver, and spear. The animals sacred to her are the hind, dog, bear, and wild boar.
Artemis promptly resented any disregard or neglect of her worship; a remarkable instance of this is shown in the story of the Calydonian boar-hunt, which is as follows:-
Oeneus, king of Calydon in AEtolia, had incurred the displeasure of Artemis by neglecting to include her in a general sacrifice to the gods which he had offered up, out of gratitude for a bountiful harvest. The goddess, enraged at this neglect, sent a wild boar of extraordinary size and prodigious strength, which destroyed the sprouting grain, laid waste the fields, and threatened the inhabitants with famine and death. At this juncture, Meleager, the brave son of Oeneus, returned from the Argonautic expedition, and finding his country ravaged by this dreadful scourge, entreated the assistance of all the celebrated heroes of the age to join him in hunting the ferocious monster. Among the most famous of those who responded to his call were Jason, Castor and Pollux, Idas and Lynceus, Peleus, Telamon, Admetus, Perithous, and Theseus. The brothers of Althea, wife of Oeneus, joined the hunters, and Meleager also enlisted into his service the fleet-footed huntress Atalanta.
The father of this maiden was Schoeneus, an Arcadian, who, disappointed at the birth of a daughter when he had particularly desired a son, had exposed her on the Parthenian Hill, where he left her to perish. Here she was nursed by a she-bear, and at last found by some hunters, who reared her, and gave her the name of Atalanta. As the maiden grew up, she became an ardent lover of the chase, and was alike distinguished for her beauty and courage. Though often wooed, she led a life of strict celibacy, an oracle having predicted that inevitable misfortune awaited her, should she give herself in marriage to any of her numerous suitors.
Many of the heroes objected to hunt in company with a maiden; but Meleager, who loved Atalanta, overcame their opposition, and the valiant band set out on their expedition. Atalanta was the first to wound the boar with her spear, but not before two of the heroes had met their death from his fierce tusks. After a long and desperate encounter, Meleager succeeded in killing the monster, and presented the head and hide to Atalanta, as trophies of the victory. The uncles of Meleager, however, forcibly took the hide from the maiden, claiming their right to the spoil as next of kin, if Meleager resigned it. Artemis, whose anger was still unappeased, caused a violent quarrel to arise between uncles and nephew, and, in the struggle which ensued, Meleager killed his mother's brothers, and then restored the hide to Atalanta. When Althea beheld the dead bodies of the slain heroes, her grief and anger knew no bounds. She swore to revenge the death of her brothers on her own son, and unfortunately for him, the instrument of vengeance lay ready to her hand.
At the birth of Meleager, the Moirae, or Fates, entered the house of Oeneus, and pointing to a piece of wood then burning on the hearth, declared that as soon as it was consumed the babe would surely die. On hearing this, Althea seized the brand, laid it up carefully in a chest, and henceforth preserved it as her most precious possession. But now, love for her son giving place to the resentment she felt against the murderer of her brothers, she threw the fatal brand into the devouring flames. As it consumed, the vigour of Meleager wasted away, and when it was reduced to ashes, he expired. Repenting too late the terrible effects of her rash deed, Althea, in remorse and despair, took away her own life.
The news of the courage and intrepidity displayed by Atalanta in the famous boar-hunt, being carried to the ears of her father, caused him to acknowledge his long-lost child. Urged by him to choose one of her numerous suitors, she consented to do so, but made it a condition that he alone, who could outstrip her in the race, should become her husband, whilst those she defeated should be put to death by her, with the lance which she bore in her hand. Thus many suitors had perished, for the maiden was unequalled for swiftness of foot, but at last a beautiful youth, named Hippomenes, who had vainly endeavoured to win her love by his assiduous attentions in the chase, ventured to enter the fatal lists. Knowing that only by stratagem could he hope to be successful, he obtained, by the help of Aphrodite, three golden apples from the garden of the Hesperides, which he threw down at intervals during his course. Atalanta, secure of victory, stooped to pick up the tempting fruit, and, in the meantime, Hippomenes arrived at the goal. He became the husband of the lovely Atalanta, but forgot, in his newly found happiness, the gratitude which he owed to Aphrodite, and the goddess withdrew her favour from the pair. Not long after, the prediction which foretold misfortune to Atalanta, in the event of her marriage, was verified, for she and her husband, having strayed unsanctioned into a sacred grove of Zeus, were both transformed into lions.
The trophies of the ever-memorable boar-hunt had been carried by Atalanta into Arcadia, and, for many centuries, the identical hide and enormous tusks of the Calydonian boar hung in the temple of Athene at Tegea. The tusks were afterwards conveyed to Rome, and shown there among other curiosities.
A forcible instance of the manner in which Artemis resented any intrusion on her retirement, is seen in the fate which befell the famous hunter Actaeon, who happening one day to see Artemis and her attendants bathing, imprudently ventured to approach the spot. The goddess, incensed at his audacity, sprinkled him with water, and transformed him into a stag, whereupon he was torn in pieces and devoured by his own dogs.
EPHESIAN ARTEMIS.
The Ephesian Artemis, known to us as "Diana of the Ephesians," was a very ancient Asiatic divinity of Persian origin called Metra, whose worship the Greek colonists found already established, when they first settled in Asia Minor, and whom they identified with their own Greek Artemis, though she really possessed but one single attribute in common with their home deity.
Metra was a twofold divinity, and represented, in one phase of her character, all-pervading love; in the other she was the light of heaven; and as Artemis, in her character as Selene, was the only Greek female divinity who represented celestial light, the Greek settlers, according to their custom of fusing foreign deities into their own, seized at once upon this point of resemblance, and decided that Metra should henceforth be regarded as identical with Artemis.
In her character as the love which pervades all nature, and penetrates everywhere, they believed her also to be present in the mysterious Realm of Shades, where she exercised her benign sway, replacing to a certain extent that ancient divinity Hecate, and partly usurping also the place of Persephone, as mistress of the lower world. Thus they believed that it was she who permitted the spirits of the departed to revisit the earth, in order to communicate with those they loved, and to give them timely warning of coming evil. In fact, this great, mighty, and omnipresent power of love, as embodied in the Ephesian Artemis, was believed by the great thinkers of old, to be the ruling spirit of the universe, and it was to her influence, that all the mysterious and beneficent workings of nature were ascribed.
There was a magnificent temple erected to this divinity at Ephesus (a city of Asia Minor), which was ranked among the seven wonders of the world, and was unequalled in beauty and grandeur. The interior of this edifice was adorned with statues and paintings, and contained one hundred and twenty-seven columns, sixty feet in height, each column having been placed there by a different king. The wealth deposited in this temple was enormous, and the goddess was here worshipped with particular awe and solemnity. In the interior of the edifice stood a statue of her, formed of ebony, with lions on her arms and turrets on her head, whilst a number of breasts indicated the fruitfulness of the earth and of nature. Ctesiphon was the principal architect of this world-renowned structure, which, however, was not entirely completed till two hundred and twenty years after the foundation-stone was laid. But the labour of centuries was destroyed in a single night; for a man called Herostratus, seized with the insane desire of making his name famous to all succeeding generations, set fire to it and completely destroyed it. So great was the indignation and sorrow of the Ephesians at this calamity, that they enacted a law, forbidding the incendiary's name to be mentioned, thereby however, defeating their own object, for thus the name of Herostratus has been handed down to posterity, and will live as long as the memory of the famous temple of Ephesus.
BRAURONIAN ARTEMIS.
In ancient times, the country which we now call the Crimea, was known by the name of the Taurica Chersonnesus. It was colonized by Greek settlers, who, finding that the Scythian inhabitants had a native divinity somewhat resembling their own Artemis, identified her with the huntress-goddess of the mother-country. The worship of this Taurian Artemis was attended with the most barbarous practices, for, in accordance with a law which she had enacted, all strangers, whether male or female, landing, or shipwrecked on her shores, were sacrificed upon her altars. It is supposed that this decree was issued by the Taurian goddess of Chastity, to protect the purity of her followers, by keeping them apart from foreign influences.
The interesting story of Iphigenia, a priestess in the temple of Artemis at Tauris, forms the subject of one of Schiller's most beautiful plays. The circumstances occurred at the commencement of the Trojan war, and are as follows:-The fleet, collected by the Greeks for the siege of Troy, had assembled at Aulis, in Boeotia, and was about to set sail, when Agamemnon, the commander-in-chief, had the misfortune to kill accidentally a stag which was grazing in a grove, sacred to Artemis. The offended goddess sent continuous calms that delayed the departure of the fleet, and Calchas, the soothsayer, who had accompanied the expedition, declared that nothing less than the sacrifice of Agamemnon's favorite daughter, Iphigenia, would appease the wrath of the goddess. At these words, the heroic heart of the brave leader sank within him, and he declared that rather than consent to so fearful an alternative, he would give up his share in the expedition and return to Argos. In this dilemma Odysseus and other great generals called a council to discuss the matter, and, after much deliberation, it was decided that private feeling must yield to the welfare of the state. For a long time the unhappy Agamemnon turned a deaf ear to their arguments, but at last they succeeded in persuading him that it was his duty to make the sacrifice. He, accordingly, despatched a messenger to his wife, Clytemnaestra, begging her to send Iphigenia to him, alleging as a pretext that the great hero Achilles desired to make her his wife. Rejoicing at the brilliant destiny which awaited her beautiful daughter, the fond mother at once obeyed the command, and sent her to Aulis. When the maiden arrived at her destination, and discovered, to her horror, the dreadful fate which awaited her, she threw herself in an agony of grief at her father's feet, and with sobs and tears entreated him to have mercy on her, and to spare her young life. But alas! her doom was sealed, and her now repentant and heart-broken father was powerless to avert it. The unfortunate victim was bound to the altar, and already the fatal knife was raised to deal the death-blow, when suddenly Iphigenia disappeared from view, and in her place on the altar, lay a beautiful deer ready to be sacrificed. It was Artemis herself, who, pitying the youth and beauty of her victim, caused her to be conveyed in a cloud to Taurica, where she became one of her priestesses, and intrusted with the charge of her temple; a dignity, however, which necessitated the offering of those human sacrifices presented to Artemis.
Many years passed away, during which time the long and wearisome siege of Troy had come to an end, and the brave Agamemnon had returned home to meet death at the hands of his wife and Aegisthus. But his daughter, Iphigenia, was still an exile from her native country, and continued to perform the terrible duties which her office involved. She had long given up all hopes of ever being restored to her friends, when one day two Greek strangers landed on Taurica's inhospitable shores. These were Orestes and Pylades, whose romantic attachment to each other has made their names synonymous for devoted self-sacrificing friendship. Orestes was Iphigenia's brother, and Pylades her cousin, and their object in undertaking an expedition fraught with so much peril, was to obtain the statue of the Taurian Artemis. Orestes, having incurred the anger of the Furies for avenging the murder of his father Agamemnon, was pursued by them wherever he went, until at last he was informed by the oracle of Delphi that, in order to pacify them, he must convey the image of the Taurian Artemis from Tauris to Attica. This he at once resolved to do, and accompanied by his faithful friend Pylades, who insisted on sharing the dangers of the undertaking, he set out for Taurica. But the unfortunate youths had hardly stepped on shore before they were seized by the natives, who, as usual, conveyed them for sacrifice to the temple of Artemis. Iphigenia, discovering that they were Greeks, though unaware of their near relationship to herself, thought the opportunity a favourable one for sending tidings of her existence to her native country, and, accordingly, requested one of the strangers to be the bearer of a letter from her to her family. A magnanimous dispute now arose between the friends, and each besought the other to accept the precious privilege of life and freedom. Pylades, at length overcome by the urgent entreaties of Orestes, agreed to be the bearer of the missive, but on looking more closely at the superscription, he observed, to his intense surprise, that it was addressed to Orestes. Hereupon an explanation followed; the brother and sister recognized each other, amid joyful tears and loving embraces, and assisted by her friends and kinsmen, Iphigenia escaped with them from a country where she had spent so many unhappy days, and witnessed so many scenes of horror and anguish.
The fugitives, having contrived to obtain the image of the Taurian Artemis, carried it with them to Brauron in Attica. This divinity was henceforth known as the Brauronian Artemis, and the rites which had rendered her worship so infamous in Taurica were now introduced into Greece, and human victims bled freely under the sacrificial knife, both in Athens and Sparta. The revolting practice of offering human sacrifices to her, was continued until the time of Lycurgus, the great Spartan lawgiver, who put an end to it by substituting in its place one, which was hardly less barbarous, namely, the scourging of youths, who were whipped on the altars of the Brauronian Artemis in the most cruel manner; sometimes indeed they expired under the lash, in which case their mothers, far from lamenting their fate, are said to have rejoiced, considering this an honourable death for their sons.
SELENE-ARTEMIS.
Hitherto we have seen Artemis only in the various phases of her terrestrial character; but just as her brother Apollo drew into himself by degrees the attributes of that more ancient divinity Helios, the sun-god, so, in like manner, she came to be identified in later times with Selene, the moon-goddess, in which character she is always represented as wearing on her forehead a glittering crescent, whilst a flowing veil, bespangled with stars, reaches to her feet, and a long robe completely envelops her.
Text:
Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome
Author: E.M. Berens
Published: 1880
The Project Gutenberg E-Book
Produced by Alicia Williams, Keith Edkins and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at
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By FRANCES D'EMILIO
Associated Press
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI bestowed his final Sunday blessing of his pontificate on a cheering crowd in St. Peter's Square, explaining that his waning years and energy made him better suited to the life of private prayer he soon will spend in a secluded monastery than as leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
On Thursday evening, the 85-year-old German-born theologian will become the first pope to have resigned from the papacy in 600 years.
Sunday's noon appearance from his studio window overlooking the vast square was his next-to-last appointment with the public of his nearly eight-year papacy. Tens of thousands of faithful and other admirers have already asked the Vatican for a seat in the square for his last general audience Wednesday.
Perhaps emotionally buoyed by the warm welcome, thunderous applause and the many banners reading "Grazie" (Thanks) held up in the crowd estimated by police to number 100,000, Benedict looked relaxed and sounded energized, in sharp contrast to his apparent frailty and weariness of recent months.
In a strong and clear voice, Benedict told the pilgrims, tourists and Romans in the square that God had called him to dedicate himself "even more to prayer and meditation," which he will do in a monastery being renovated for him on the grounds behind Vatican City's ancient walls.
"But this doesn't mean abandoning the church," he said, as many in the crowd looked sad at his approaching departure. "On the contrary, if God asks me, this is because I can continue to serve it (the church) with the same dedication and the same love which I have tried to do so until now, but in a way more suitable to my age and to my strength."
The phrase "tried to" was the pope's adlibbed addition to his prepared text.
Benedict smiled in pleasure at the crowd after an aide parted the white curtain at his window and he gazed at the people packing the square, craning their head for a look at him. Giving greetings in several languages, he gratefully acknowledged what he said was an outpouring of "gratitude, affection and closeness in prayer" since he stunned the church and its 1.2 billion members on Feb. 11 with his decision to renounce his papacy and retreat into a world of contemplation.
"Prayer is not isolating oneself from the world and its contradictions," Benedict told the crowd. He said he had heard God's call to prayer, "which gives breath to our spiritual life" in a special way "at this moment of my life."
Heavy rain had been forecast for Rome, and some drizzle dampened the square earlier in the morning. But when Benedict appeared, to the peal of church bells as the clock struck noon, blue sky crept through the clouds.
"We thank God for the sun he has given us," the pope said.
Even as the cheering continued and shouts of "Long live the pope" went up in Italian and Spanish, the pontiff simply turned away from his window and stepped back down into the apartment, which he will leave Thursday, taking a helicopter to the Vatican summer residence in the hills outside Rome while he waits for the monastery to be ready.
A child in the crowd held up a sign on a yellow placard, written in Italian, "You are not alone, I'm with you."No date has yet been set for the start of the conclave of cardinals, who will vote in secret to elect Benedict's successor.
"Now there will be two popes," said the Rev. Vilmar Pavesi, a Portuguese priest who was among the throngs in the square. "There will be the pope of Rome, the elected pope, and there will be the bishop emeritus of Rome, who will live the life of a monk inside the Vatican walls."
One Italian in the crowd seemed to be doing a little campaigning, hoisting a sign which mentioned the names of two Italian cardinals considered by observers to be potential contenders in the selection of the next pontiff.Flags in the crowd represented many nations, with a large number from Brazil.
The cardinals in the conclave will have to decide whether it's time to look outside of Europe for a pope. The papacy was considered the realm of Italian prelates for centuries, until a Pole, John Paul II, was elected as pontiff in 1978, to be followed in 2005 by the German-born Benedict.
Crucially, Italian prelates have continued to run the behind-the-scenes machinery of the church's governance, and cardinals will likely be deciding what role the Italians might have played in a series of scandals clouding the central bureaucracy, including allegations of corruption and power-grabbing.
Benedict has not made any direct comment on details of the scandals.
In one of his last papal tweets, Benedict wrote Sunday in English: "In these momentous days, I ask you to pray for me and for the church, trusting as always in divine providence."
Link:
* Pope gives final Sunday blessing before resigning
Source: http://paganism-new-age.blogspot.com
"Lk 1:39-45 Nearer To Thee(Click here for readings)"Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth...Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"She pretended to be the aunt of one of the young boy's killed in the Connecticut school massacre. Prior to the release of the names of those killed, she tweeted that she did not know if her nephew had been one of the victims.
Later on, she confirmed that indeed he was. She then set up an account for people to donate money to cover the family's funeral expenses. She was lying.Just a few days ago, another woman created a domain using a young victim's name. She did it with the intent of not saving it for the grieving family but selling it to them!
How horrible! How despicable!What would you call such people? Mentally ill? Maybe. But are all people who do evil mentally ill? Will this become the new excuse for our greed, self-centeredness, and failings to love others and show compassion for them? Are all mass murderers mentally ill? Were the mass murderers of September 11th more mentally ill than the young man from Connecticut?
Was Adolf Hitler mentally ill because he committed genocide? Do politics create mental illness? Are left-wingers more (or less) mentally ill than right wingers? Are tree huggers less mentally ill than rednecks? I don't think so. So what's their problem? I would say that they are all spiritually-ill.
Yes, the murderer in Connecticut was just as spiritually ill as the murderers at Columbine, on 9/11, in Aurora, in Nazi Germany, etc...I personally make no distinction between the evil of the massacre in Connecticut with the evil of those who perform abortions. Both are despicable. Both are horrible!
I make no excuses at all to this flagrant cheapening of human life. Life is life. A child is a child. A child is always a beautiful and innocent, regardless of whether they are wanted or not. There is something seriously wrong with a person who can tear a child's body apart five days a week and call it compassion and work.
Yes, anyone who does something evil may be mentally ill, but for sure they are spiritually ill. And we have a name for such people: sinners.We want to be the master of our life. That's our problem. We demand ownership because we are spiritually ill. And when we don't get it, we take it out on God and on others.
The spiritually ill are constantly demanding to get what they want, to do whatever they want, and to live however they want. They demand unlimited "freedoms" or "rights" until they get into trouble. That's when everyone calls them crazy. How ironic! They're just living what everyone is preaching! And we call them crazy!
What steps can we take towards healing? As we approach the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, we approach the most inconvenient child ever conceived from heaven and born on earth! Let us follow the stars that lead to Christ. May we possess Mary's humility, Elizabeth's simplicity, Joseph's obedience and Zechariah's shock and sense of wonder.
"O, IF WE COULD ONLY LIVE (AND SHINE) LIKE THEM!"
Credit: http://master-of-pentagram.blogspot.com
By Tana Hoy
Perhaps if people are asked what kind of special power they want to have, many will probably say the ability to fly. Who doesn't want to fly? But to some people, to fly is nothing more than imagination, wherein you can fly by thinking of happy thoughts and getting fairy dust from Tinkerbell. But believe it or not, there is an existing psychic gift that allows you to fly!
The psychic realm is real, as real as our existence; and the psychic gift of levitation exists. Through levitation, a psychic could lift or make any object or body float on air, without any support of stands or strings. The only thing utilized here is the power of the mind.
Having defined levitation, you might wonder how these extraordinary people came to possess this extremely rare psychic talent? How were they able to levitate?
We have already defined levitation, how it evolved, and the various views of people around the world. Now one will curiously ask - how does a person actually levitate? Many people are not aware of this, but each person has an innate psychic side, just waiting to be unlocked. Yes, you may even possess the power to levitate! Like any other psychic gift, levitation has necessary steps for its development and enhancement.
There are steps to master the art of levitation. A precaution however, these steps are not easy, and it is not an overnight thing you can master. Mastering levitation requires a good amount of hard work on your part, and an open mind.
PURIFICATION OF THE BODY. Your physical body must be clean in all aspects. This engulfs your whole lifestyle - including your diet, rest, exercise and even sex. No psychic gift can dwell and flourish in an impure body. This would probably sounds weird, but yes, your body must be purified in such a way that you abstain from any form of sex.
MAGNIFICATION OF THE MIND. Secondly, the mind should be empowered. Levitation requires a powerful mind in order to be achieved. You can do this through proper meditation. This is also the key to clearing your thoughts from unwholesome and unclean thoughts. Through proper meditation you will be able to achieve a feeling of lightness which in return will help you levitate.
AWAKENING THE SPIRIT. The last thing you need to perfect is to gain a firm and strong connection to the spirit within you. You must possess the will power to pursue your journey of unlocking your hidden psychic power.
Levitation is a very remarkable psychic gift, but you cannot learn how to accomplish it overnight. It requires utmost discipline, dedication, and an open mind, combined with these three key secrets, to fully unleash the potential of your levitating power.
About the Author:
Tana Hoy first became famous when he predicted the Oklahoma City Bombing 90 minutes before it happened, on a radio show. He has also helped many people with his psychic ability. Visit his website to know more about Tana Hoy, and how he can help you unlock your inner psychic.
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