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I'M HEARING FROM A LOT OF FOLKS - HAVING DARK NIGHTS OF THE SOUL. I can relate. I've had a few myself. Dark nights, dark days. MARS AND SATURN are opposing my natal 9th House Saturn. This tends to put perspective in a chokehold. "Didn't want to breathe that air anyway," says Saturn.
AND THEN SOME TRANSITS ARE LIKE A LONG EXTENDED SCREAM. Or so it feels. Lack of sleep doesn't help either. A friend of mine told me that Uranus through her 12th conjunct her Sun was like someone screaming in her ear. She had headaches every day. And, oh, look at that, PLUTO RETROGRADE IS SQUARING MY CHIRON again.
"WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE IN HELL?" What is there to eat? To drink? ;)
How many HARD ASPECTS FROM OUTER PLANETS does it take to make you wish you'd never been born? I just pulled a card for you: THE CHARIOT. Any Tarot maven or semi-maven knows the Chariot is NOT a card of defeat but one of Victory. Willpower. And that's often the problem, right? You've got no will, power, or willpower left.
My one suggestion for right now (besides talking to a friend who will not judge or silence or "try to make you feel better" - one who will listen, commiserate, not distance him/herself. But be a witness to your pain. Affirm it. Yes, affirm it. "Yes, my love, that really WAS hard. I GET IT."
My suggestion:
DO YOUR WORK. "MARS CONJUNCT SATURN IN SCORPIO". Do your work. Whatever your work is. Even a little bit. A little Saturn. A little effort. A little Mars. A little drive. A little Chariot. YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE HOPE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE FAITH. You don't even have to fake it 'til you make it. But you have to do something. Some Thing. No big picture necessary. No promises of "it will get better." But climb out of the grave one teaspoon of dirt at a time.
MERCURY IS NOW IN VIRGO. TAKE SMALL STEPS. SMALL ANIMAL STEPS. Be like an animal in the forest. Eat. Drink. Stay warm. Rest. Remember you are loved. Even if the souls who gave birth to you were inadequate in their care for you, there was a moment of joy upon discovering your (potential) existence. There was a smile when heaven smiled. Even if that moment was a moment cut into 1000, it existed. And it still exists now. It is your life-force NOW.
*
And that's the story, for the moment.
"I still haven't posted full details yet but the TAROT CLINIC will happen. Need to announce the fee and start date and more details- we begin either later this month or very beginning of September. Beginners are welcome but we'll be starting in the middle. I want to talk about REVERSED CARD MEANINGS, and unusual/off the beaten path card meanings (including some from Kabbalistic perspective) go deep into the Celtic Cross and ALSO we'll be creating our own (virtual) Tarot decks. Probably not 78 card decks, perhaps around 10 cards? We'll see. And do readings for each other from THESE! Anyway, it'll be a whole lot of Tarot fun for the Tarot obsessives out there. Also I will welcome YOUR Tarot topics, whatever you are obsessed with! "
I am raising rates a bit starting September 1st. Look here for the latest about my Astro/Tarot readings.
Love and Blessings to all who visit here. Thank you xo
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Over the holidays I enjoyed reading Sylvia Browne's newest book "Secret Societies". For one who enjoyed the intrigue of "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels and Demons", this book added insight to many of the questions raised in the novels. Sylvia acknowledges author Dan Brown for the thoroughness of his research, therein clarifying that many of the theories presented in the
Three of the Societies mentioned in the book are of special interest. The first is the Skull and Crossbones, a prominent clandestine group of sorts that calls Yale University its home. Prominent members include both George W. Bush and John Kerry. Can you imagine those two sharing the "secret" handshake? Two other Societies of interest are the Freemasons and the Knights Templar, both which share histories back to biblical times.
The Freemasons were originally formed as a union to protect the job security rights of the stone masons during the period of the Roman Empire. As the influence of the Empire spread throughout Europe so did the influence of the Roman Catholic Church. And as Catholicism spread, so did the construction of many new cathedrals and churches.
The masons were employed to build the churches. Yet when construction could not keep pace with the ambitious schedule set forth by the Church, problems occurred. When the Church began to bring in additional masons from other countries to increase production, a standoff occurred. The newly formed union protected the territorial rights of the masons in this endeavor.
Today the Freemasons continue to exist worldwide as a fraternal organization with thousands of members. In the United States they're more commonly known as the Shriners.
The Knights Templar came into prominence during the Middle Ages and existed as a mighty military force for more than two centuries. Templar Knights with their distinctive white mantels and red crosses were among the best fighting forces of the Crusades.
What I found interesting about the Knights is the fact that they were the essentially the world's first bankers. Travelers would "bank" their cash with the Templar's before traveling throughout the countryside. Upon completion of their journey, they would redeem their chit on the other end for cash. Their success here eventually led them into the loan business where they became quite wealthy. Even Kings borrowed from the Templar's in times of need.
The Roman Catholic Church officially endorsed the Knights Templar and contributed greatly to their wealth. "Secret Societies" explain some of the theories as to how the Church contributed to their accumulated wealth.
By chance I caught a program recently on the "Discovery Channel "which highlighted much of the historical background of the Freemasons and Knights Templar. It was quite enlightening but did not include some of the explicit facts outlined in the book.
To agree with some of the statements or conclusions drawn by Sylvia you must first accept the concept of spirit guides. Sylvia Browne often quotes her spirit guide Francine as the source of some of the facts. Many of the conclusions stated are indeed controversial, but well worth consideration.
My wife and I have both studied the phenomena of spirit guides and the merits of their existence. It is all part of a bigger picture that is not only time
Source:: http://wicca-teachings.blogspot.com
From David's article
There is a lot of new information in Fulford's latest entry at benjaminfulford.net. I will just share a short excerpt that is most relevant to issues we've already been discussing here:
There were disinformation reports out that a European financial meeting this last weekend was a follow-up to the Monaco meeting. This is not true. The meeting in Europe was held by members of the old cabal who were trying to somehow keep their fiat currencies from imploding.
Any serious financial journalist or expert though, must have been appalled by US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner telling the Europeans to "increase leverage," in order to solve their economic crisis. This is like telling an underwater gambling addict to start doubling his bets.
The fact of the matter is the Europeans know the Greeks and other Mediterranean countries were mooching off their hard working Northern cousins and they must now stop it. A new Mediterranean currency is what they really need.
However, there have been serious developments in the move towards a new financial system. Soon all financial trading programs or "platforms" will the shut down for an indeterminate period of time. The aim of this shut-down is to totally clean out and revamp the system. The amount of time needed to clean up the mess is not known.
The tentative date for this shut down has been set at November 11, 2011 (2011/11/11) but as with many dates that have come and gone, the financial cabal will do everything in its power to prevent that from happening. [END FULFORD EXCERPT]
A WORD ON FORGIVENESS
A small percentage of commenters on this article have expressed such massive hatred and distrust of anyone in government or military that they feel they are witnessing some sort of insidious plot to fool everyone yet again.
No forgiveness. No mercy. They're all demons, demons, demons.
With all due respect, this is genocidal thinking.
We all have to live here on this planet. Together. We need to work this out. If we demonize people as "reptilian shapeshifters", then we're just repeating the same old patterns.
Historically, every time we've come in contact with a new and different culture, we are told they are horrific monsters who must be destroyed. Meditate on that for a bit and you will immediately recall many different examples.
PRECIOUS BEYOND MEASURE
Each human life is precious beyond measure.
The people in these occult groups have grown up in a culture of total abuse. It is abuse on a level you cannot even imagine. If a regular adult ran through a typical "training session" they would literally die of a heart attack or stroke from fear. If you try to escape, your own "family" will torture or kill you. The beliefs and philosophies are forced on you whether you like them or not.
THERE WOULD BE A MASS EXODUS
It is a widely-overlooked fact that the most significant Illuminati whistleblower ever to come forward, Svali, said there would be a mass exodus out of this group if/when people knew they could escape.
I will give you a link to all of her writings, which were originally on suite101.com, got taken down, and have now been restored.
I must warn you, however, that this material is extremely disturbing. You cannot go back to your former life after you do this. Reading this rocked my world, and I had to move through a serious grief process that required my full attention for several weeks.
There are very graphic descriptions of abuse. Suffice it to say that there is no limit to the degree of malevolence that has been thought of and enacted upon these people by their own "family".
If you do decide to read it, I recommend starting at the bottom, doing only a little at a time and balancing it with positive, uplifting spiritual material of your own choosing:
However, I will be at the front of the line for those who advocate compassion and forgiveness for people who were born into a system that tortured them in unimaginable ways, and gave them not even a shred of hope to ever escape.
Svali reveals that the main incentive to advance in this group is that as you reach higher levels, you are no longer required to hurt as many people, and fewer people are permitted to hurt you.
There is a massive youth movement within this group to use what they have to help humanity, rather than enslave it. Truthfully, once the older members are either arrested or die out, it's a completely new game. I intend to help them change if I am invited to.
I ask you to seriously step back and consider what you define as "love", and whether you do really understand what we mean when we say we are all One.
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"Last week, hundreds of teenagers from around the country gathered at Villanova University for fellowship, workshops, presentations, service projects, worship, and more."
"The gathering was The Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) - held every three years. Building Faith is blessed to have had Iman Green live on the scene. She caught up with several participants. Here is what they had to say:"
BLAIR, DIOCESE OF OKLAHOMA, AGE 17
What was the best part of EYE?
Connecting more deeply with my fellow Oklahoma delegates and being able to see and experience a group of complete strangers become an energy filled ball of friends.
HOW DID JESUS SURPRISE YOU?
Everyday I encountered vibrant caring strangers. I saw Jesus in them, and in those encounters.
WHAT WILL YOU TAKE HOME FROM THIS EXPERIENCE THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR MINISTRY?
I plan on utilizing energizers as a camp counselor at St.Crispin's (The Episcopal camp in Oklahoma). I also plan to share information about outreach programs with my youth group.
-
GERALDINE, DIOCESE OF CALIFORNIA, AGE 17
What was the best part of EYE?
I can't really pick ONE good meaningful event. Its been an incredible few days and I wouldn't trade it for the world. The New Community was an amazing experience because I had the incredible experience of meeting people from different ethnic backgrounds.
It's amazing to know that you're not alone in how you feel, especially being a woman of color. I met some of the bravest people who live the struggle, day in, day out, and still find hope and faith in being who they want to be. But I really love each and every person on team DioCal (Diocese of California), and the moment we met up, it was such a rush of happiness. These are people that I haven't seen in long time.
HOW DID JESUS SURPRISE YOU?
Amazing. There was godliness in the way we connected without a missing a step. It's like that was where we were supposed to be. Fast forward to workshops: the passion on the faces of both those teaching and those actively engaged in each workshop was inspiring. Seeing young adults and my peers dedicating so much of themselves into something was unbelievably moving.
Today, during the tour of Philly was where I saw God the most. I come from a small parish, with big dreams, and to see these churches go above and beyond anything my 17 year old brain could comprehend is almost unfathomable. The love and determination these churches have for what they do (serving the community) is inspiring, and is a beautiful possible reality - if you put your entire heart and soul into it.
WHAT WILL YOU TAKE HOME FROM THIS EXPERIENCE THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR MINISTRY?
I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of such a large, warm, open, and understanding community. Each person inspires me in a way that I hope I can take back to the homeland. The Youth of the Episcopal Church are inspiring and motivated, youth. I'm not just saying that because I am one! But when you hear stories of people your age teaching, tending, transforming, and treasuring this beautiful world/church, it makes me want to do the same.
I'm think I'm saying what everyone else knows: the youth are the future. And like a great earthquake, the world can prepare all it wants, but it will not be ready for the ground breaking. And it will truly be groundbreaking.
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HEATHER, DIOCESE OF WASHINGTON DC, RISING SENIOR
WHAT WAS THE BEST PART OF EYE?
It's so hard to pick just one, but I think my favorite part of EYE was being together with everyone in the gym and singing songs or saying prayers and feeling that energy and passion from everyone.
HOW DID JESUS SURPRISE YOU?
I encountered Jesus by seeing all these kids just like me coming together and singing praise and showing so much love for Jesus. I had never experienced anything like that before. Also being in the Eucharist, I can't explain it but when we said prayers and took communion, I could just "feel" it. I guess that's the best way of explain
WHAT WILL YOU TAKE HOME FROM THIS EXPERIENCE THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR MINISTRY?
I hope to bring back this type of enthusiasm and show how much the love of God is able to accomplish. When we believe in him and his might, we are able to do anything. I hope to teach that to others who didn't get this experience.
"Iman Green is the Youth Missioner for the Episcopal Diocese of Washington DC. She supports parishes to nurture the spiritual lives of their youth and equip parents and volunteers to engage in youth formation."
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Source: http://healing-magic.blogspot.com
It has been quite a busy week preparing for the upcoming sabot of Winter Solstice. Today I am baking goodies in the kitchen as gifts. Last night Tom made 2 double batches of his old fashioned style cocoa fudge. All I can really say is that his fudge is demanded every year. ;-) So is my peanut butter fudge that my grandmother used to make. My dad says I'm the only one that can pull it off to be just like his moms. Makes me feel good when he says that. I remember being a small child in grandmas kitchen. We made candies, cakes, pies and so many other goodies. She was known in Ashland county as the Candy Lady.
Right now I have 18 homemade bread rolls rising and soon I will bake them. The dough for the focaccia bread is currently rising as well and I just saut'eed the garlic, basil and other herbs for its topping. Yum it is smelling and sounding so good.
I made 8 giant chocolate chip cookies as well. They are about 15 inches in diameter and SO good! Of course all is cooked from certified organic and natural ingredients... and all is entirely from scratch!
I've spent most of the week preparing and preppy for today and tomorrow. Tomorrow we head up to my parents and other family to celebrate Winter Solstice with a nice gathering and meditation.
We darn near ran out of dried wood earlier in the week. The weather has been so cold. Tom had to go pick up a load and Destiny spent a couple hours helping him unload and stack. Here they are working as I watch and tend to the kitchen off and on.
Destiny wasn't too happy about me standing there taking pictures.
A friend of the family has recently come in from Bakersfield California and is staying here in Ohio. I invited him to come stay the week with us as I could use an extra hand or two around the house this week. We've had fun visiting and chatting. I think I am spoiling him with my homemade dinners and sweets! One night it was homemade sausage gravy with drop biscuits. Man oh man were my biscuits ">Yum! Can't you just smell it?
We had a small bout of freezing rain earlier this week and today. Destiny was off of school one day becasue of the roads. This morning she had a two hour delay. Tonight we are letting her open her gifts for Solstice as we will be gone the rest of the weekend with family. I'm looking forward to seeing her face on some of them.
I hope to come back after the weekend and resume the Weekly Lunar Readings & Magical attributes. I honestly didn't have time this week to post so I promise to do so next week.
Wishing all of you a blessed -)
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There are many wonderful occasions that true Christians observe and commemorate. However, many holidays today have adopted traditions and customs with pagan origins or associations. True Christians should "want" to know that God does not approve of certain customs if they originate with false religion or are against Bible teachings. (Matthew 15:6) God makes it clear through His Word the Bible that if a Christan intentionally participates in a holiday or custom, it must have absolutely no known pagan religion associations. (Deut. 5:7-9; Exodus 23:13; 2 Cor. 6:17)
So what about Easter's Origins, Traditions and Customs? Are they Christian or are they Pagan?
From early childhood you may have been told that Easter is a Christian celebration that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, rather than being a Christian celebration, many authoritative works of history clearly show that Easter is pagan, with roots deep in ancient sex worship. (Read some of these Encyclopedia quotes at: EASTER - PAGAN AND UNSCRIPTURAL - Excerpts from the 4/15/63 and 3/15/68 Watchtowers)
THE MAJORITY OF THIS PAGE CONTAINS QUOTES AND REFERENCES CONCERNING THE PAGAN ORIGINS AND ASSOCIATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH: EASTER, COLORED EGGS AND THE RABBIT; HOT-CROSS-BUNS / "CAKES OF BREAD" AND EASTER FIRES.
EASTER-
What do the name "Easter," colored eggs, hot-cross buns, and bunnies have to do with honoring Jesus and Jehovah God?
The very name of this celebration in English ("Easter") is the name of a PAGAN "goddess!" Many of the customs originally used in worshiping this ancient European goddess are the same ones used today in celebrating Easter.
"East'er..., "n". [AS. "eastre", pl. "eastron", from name of old Teutonic GODDESS of spring, AS. "Eastre".]" - "Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary", 1953.
"... Eastre was the goddess of spring in the religion of the ancient Angles and Saxons. Every April a festival was celebrated in her honor... The festival [eventually] was celebrated in honor of the resurrection of Christ but was still known as EASTER after the old goddess." p. 215, v. 5, "Britannica Junior", 1957.
"(the word Easter is derived from the [Anglo-Saxon] name of "Eastre", the Spring-goddess...)" - p. 240, "An Encyclopedia of Religion", Virgilius Ferm, The Philosophical Library, 1945.
Easter was
"originally the spring festival in honor of the Teutonic goddess of light and spring known in Anglo-Saxon as EASTRE. As early as the 8th century the name was transferred by the Anglo-Saxons to the Christian Festival designed to celebrate the resurrection of Christ." - "The Westminster Dictionary of the Bible".
"Rooted in ancient VENERATION FOR THE MOON, the date of Easter was long regarded as symbolizing the rebirth of living things that had passed through the death of winter. Eostre, THE ANGLO-SAXON GODDESS who presided over the vernal equinox, eventually gave her name to the Christian [?] festival." - "How It Started", Garrison, copyright 1972 by Abingdon Press, pp. 49-50.
"Amongst the Anglo-Saxons the month of April was dedicated to Eostre or Ostara, GODDESS of Spring; and her great feast has given its name to our Easter. Here again the Church was quite frank about it, and Bede states that the feast in England was simply `the old [pagan] festival observed with the gladness of a new solemnity.'" - "Paganism in our Christianity", Weigall, p. 261, Gordon Press, 1974 (Reprint of the edition published by Putnam, New York.)
"ASHERAH and pl. Asherim in Revised Version, instead of "grove" and "groves" of the Authorized Version [KJV]. This was the name of a sensual Canaanitish goddess Astarte, the feminine of the Assyrian Ishtar. Its symbol was the stem of a tree deprived of its boughs, and rudely shaped into an image, and planted in the ground. Such religious symbols ("groves") are frequently alluded to in Scripture (Exodus 34:13; Judges 6:25; 2 Kings 23:6; 1 Kings 16:33, etc.). These images were also sometimes made of silver or of carved stone (2 Kings 21:7; "the graven image of Asherah," R.V.). (See GROVE .). - Easton's Bible Dictionary, Thomas Nelson Publ."ISHTAR, principal Babylonian and Assyrian goddess, equivalent to the Sumerian Innin and the Phoenician Astarte... intimately concerned with the giving or spilling of life, was goddess both of sexual activities and of war." - p. 440, Vol. 9, Encyclopedia International, Grolier, 1966.
`Easter' is the North European (and American) name of the same pagan goddess also known as Asherah & Astarte (Canaanite) and Ishtar (Babylonian ">So we see that the Bible's commands and dire warnings about Asherah must certainly include her other names: Astarte, Ishtar, and Easter!
COLORED EGGS / RABBIT
"Long before the Christian festival of Easter was established, persons of many cultures exchanged eggs at the time of the year when nature wakes up from sleep. Wealthy persons used to cover their gift eggs with gilt or even gold leaf; ordinary persons usually colored them red. Today's [Easter] egg hunt, involving a dozen or hundreds or thousands of decorated or candy eggs, is so gay that it conceals the REVERENCE with which many ancients [pagans] regarded this symbol of `life and death.'" - "How It Started", p. 51.
"... the symbol of the egg generated not from Christian observances, but from PAGAN RITUALS. From earliest times, the egg has been a symbol of fertility and immortality. During the rites of spring, the pagan nations included it as a symbol of celebrating for the new life promised during the season of planting. The Church only took this ancient sign and applied it as a visual lesson to the resurrection of Christ." - p. 232, "The Christian Book of Why", J. C. McCollister (Lutheran pastor and university professor), Jonathan David Publishers, 1983.
"Like the egg, the rabbit has been a symbol of fertility, the observance of which was a part of the Anglo-Saxon mythology and the PAGAN'S CELEBRATION OF SPRING, In a blend of Christian and PAGAN TRADITIONS, the rabbit was adopted as part of the festival of Jesus' resurrection celebrated during the spring each year." - pp. 233-234, McCollister.
"A great many PAGAN CUSTOMS, celebrating the return of spring, gravitated to Easter. The egg is the emblem of the germinating life of early spring... THE RABBIT IS A PAGAN SYMBOL and has always been an emblem of fertility." - "The Catholic Encyclopedia", 1913, Vol. V, p. 227.
So when children hunt for Easter eggs (left by the `Easter Bunny'),
"This is not mere child's play, but the vestige of a [pagan] fertility rite." - "Funk and Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore", "Mythology and Legend", Vol. 1, p. 335.
The "Encyclopaedia Britannica," eleventh edition, volume 8, page 828:
"There is no indication of the observance of the Easter festival in the New Testament, or in the writings of the apostolic Fathers. The sanctity of special times was an idea absent from the minds of the first Christians... The ecclesiastical historian Socrates "(Hist. Eccl." v. 22) states, with perfect truth, that neither the Lord nor his apostles enjoined the keeping of this or any other festival... and he attributes the observance of Easter by the church to the perpetuation of an old usage, `just as many other customs have been established.'"
The `old usage' was the practice by pagans of having a festival in honor of their goddess of spring.
HOT-CROSS-BUNS, EASTER BUNS "CAKES OF BREAD", EASTER FIRES:
"Eating special buns at the festival of the pagan goddess Eostre has long been an established custom among the natives of Britain. Early Christian missionaries WHO TRIED TO STOP THIS PRACTICE got nowhere. Eventually... converts... were permitted to continue eating buns at the time of the spring festival..." - "How It Started", p. 50.
"Like the Greeks, the [pagan] Romans ate bread marked with a cross... at public sacrifices, such bread being usually purchased at the doors of the temple and then taken in with them - a custom alluded to by St. Paul in 1 Cor. x. 28. The cross-bread was eaten by pagan Saxons in honour of EASTER, THEIR GODDESS OF LIGHT... THE CUSTOM, IN FACT, WAS PRACTICALLY UNIVERSAL, AND THE EARLY CHURCH ADROITLY ADOPTED THE PRACTICE, GRAFTING IT ON TO THE EUCHARIST AND SO GIVING US THE HOT-CROSS-BUN." - "The Encyclopedia Britannica", 1959, Vol. 4, p. 381.
The Rev. Alexander Hislop in his The Two Babylons proved that the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre (or Eastre) was none other than the infamous Ishtar of Babylon, the Queen of the Heavens, and those two names (Eastre and Ishtar) were even pronounced the same: `Ee-star.' He informs us that the worship of Bel and Ishtar was introduced into Britain at a very early date by the Druids. From Bel comes the name of the PAGAN festival Beltane. Hislop tells us that even as late as the 19th century Beltane was celebrated every year in Britain as follows: The people assemble in a circle and light a fire in the center. Each person places a small piece of oat-cake in a hat. They all sit and draw from the hat. Whoever draws the blackened piece of oat-cake (you'd expect it to be a straw or stick or stone, wouldn't you?) has to jump through the fire in the center of the circle, and pay a penalty fee.
"This is," says Hislop, "in fact, A PART OF THE ANCIENT WORSHIP OF BAAL [Bel], and the person on whom the lot fell was [in earlier times] burnt as a sacrifice. Now, the passing through the fire represents that [earlier human sacrifice]..."Hislop continues, "If Baal [Bel] was thus worshipped in Britain, it will not be difficult to believe that his consort [Ishtar also known as Astarte] was also added by our ancestors, and that from... Ishtar, the religious solemnities of April... are [now] called by the name of Easter." Hislop further tells us that the entire month of April (including the last day when the evening Beltane Fires were usually kindled) was called "Easter-monath". - p. 104.
Weiser also tells us that such bonfires were originally banned by the church as being a PAGAN symbolism (Synod of Mainz, 742 A. D.). However, "Saint" Patrick introduced the practice in Ireland "to supplant the Druidic PAGAN spring fires with a Christian [?] and religious fire symbol of Christ... This tolerated custom became so popular eventually that the popes incorporated it into the liturgy of the Western Church in the latter part of the ninth century." And so it became popular in much of Western Europe. - The Easter Book, Francis Weiser, S. J.
"In spite of the thin cloak of Christianity thrown over these customs [Easter Fires] we can hardly doubt that they are really of PAGAN origin." - p. 703, The New Golden Bough by Sir James G. Frazer as revised and edited by Dr. Theodor Gaster, A Mentor Book, 1964 printing.
Frazer relates many accounts of Beltane Fires and "May" Fires in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Sweden, and other northern European countries in the relatively recent past. They often have these things in common: Large fires are kindled (usually on hills) in late April or early May. Sacrificial cakes (often of oats - sometimes with eggs) are used - sometimes ceremonially eaten, sometimes used in other rituals. People (most often children) are "sacrificed" in the fires: Some are actually dragged up to the fire and seemingly about to be thrown in before being stopped; some are actually spread on the ground as though to be cut into quarters before being "thrown into" the fire; and, more often, children and young people jump over the fires often passing through the flames. (These purely pagan customs were still very popular in many places of northern Europe even as late as the mid-1800's. For example, Frazer tells us: "On the first of May, 1837 the Baal fires were, as usual on that day, so numerous as to give the [Isle of Man] the appearance of a general conflagration." And, "On the Hemlock Stone, a natural pillar of sandstone standing on Stapleford Hill in Nottinghamshire, a fire used to be solemnly kindled every year [up into the 1800's] on Beltane Eve." - p. 708, #531, The New Golden Bough.)
The "cakes of bread" have become "hot cross buns" at Easter and the Beltane fires have become Easter Fires, but both clearly betray their pagan-inspired origins in which they, together, honored false gods, notably Ishtar (Easter) and Bel (Baal or Molech).
Yes, the "hot cross bun" commemorates a ritual honoring Ishtar (and Eastre), and the Easter Fires commemorate the ritual fires and terrible human sacrifices that were an essential part of worshipping the god Bel (Baal or Molech) Ishtar's consort.
Now notice how this very same double custom was condemned by God.
In Jeremiah 7 Jehovah God tells that he will destroy "his people" of the southern kingdom of Judah (including Jerusalem and the Temple) because of their disobedience. They honor other gods and then come and stand in God's house which bears his sacred name and say, `We are safe' - - safe to do all these detestable things. And how will it end for them?
"I will thrust you from my presence, just as I did all your brothers [the northern 10 tribes of Israel who had been destroyed or taken away as slaves]."
Why?
"Do you not see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes of bread for the Queen of Heaven [The NIV Study Bible footnote for this verse says: `Queen of Heaven. A Babylonian title for Ishtar']."
And,
"The people of Judah have built the high places of Topheth [NIVSB footnote: `place of child sacrifice'] in the valley of Ben Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire." - Jeremiah 7:9, 10, 13-15, 30, 31, NIVSB.
"The heathen practice of making children `pass through the fire' was occasionally practiced by the Israelites... and was included in the condemnations of the prophets." And, "The OT often speaks of the fact that Israelites at times of apostasy made their children `go through the fire to Molech' (2 Kings 23:10; cf. Jeremiah 7:31; 19:5). In some passages the reference is clearly to a deity to whom human sacrifice was made..." - pp. 377, 789, New Bible Dictionary, Second edition, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1982.
So how should we react to the "deceptive words" of those who tell us we can make a pagan ritual into something pleasing to God? Were God's chosen people ever able to do that?
"This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD [Jehovah]: `Stand at the gate of [Jehovah's] house and there proclaim this message: "Hear the word of [Jehovah], all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship [Jehovah]. [These people really firmly believe they are God's saved people and that they are worshiping him in an acceptable manner.] This is what [Jehovah] Almighty, the God of Israel, says: `Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words and say "This is the temple of the LORD [so we are automatically saved no matter what]..."'"'" - Jeremiah 7:1-4, 8, NIVSB
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If pagan ceremonies, customs, god names, etc. are really mixed in with ceremonies, customs, etc. "that we use to honor God and Christ", they are not merely unacceptable - - - they are detestable to God. We must completely get away from these unclean things and not even "touch" them. "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." - 2 Cor. 6:17
"I am Jehovah thy God...Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Deut. 5:7-9) ASV
"Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard [in a respectful, or even tolerating, manner] on your lips." Exodus 23:13, NIVSB.
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ALSO SEE:
EASTER (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)
EASTER-FERTILITY WORSHIP IN DISGUISE (lv chap. 13 pp. 144-159; Watchtower Online Library)
What is the origin of Easter and the customs associated with it? (rs p. 176-p. 182; Watchtower Online Library)
Why Don't Jehovah's Witnesses Celebrate Easter? (JW.ORG)
What Does the Bible Say About Easter? (JW.ORG)
Easter or the Memorial-Which Should You Observe? (JW.ORG)
Easter - Who Does It Really Honor? (Jehovah's Witnesses United)"What is the meaning and origin of EASTER? Who is honored by the holiday? What are its symbols? Were early Christians commanded to celebrate EASTER? Should true Christians celebrate EASTER today? The first four questions, and more, will be answered in this paper...
Easter - Pagan and Unscriptural (Search For Bible Truths; EXCERPTS FROM THE 4/15/63 AND 3/15/68 WATCHTOWERS)
Easter - What do Colored Eggs, Bunnies and Hot-Cross Buns Have to do With Honoring Jesus and God? (Search For Bible Truths)
Research: Are Celebrating Holidays Acceptable to God? (Search For Bible Truths)
"Easter" - And "Babylon the Great" (Babylon the Great)
Holidays (Search For Bible Truths)Links to
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I just read a few articles and watched some videos on spells that don't "work", commonly called "failed spells". I have a problem with both these labels.
Definitions aside, both have negative connotations. If someone called you a "failure", would you see the upside and say "Hey, but I've learned from my mistakes and shortcomings!"? Probably not. You'd be offended, seeing the mistakes in yourself as the world must see them. It's the same with a spell. By terming it a "failure", we think back to what we did to make it so.
It's slightly different when someone says a spell didn't "work". I don't like this because, even if it didn't have the intended effects, it did some work. Chances are it taught you something, right? But we'll return to that in a bit.
So, why do I believe spells don't "fail"? This goes back to my view of magic. Whatever energy we put out in the universe WILL have effects. They might not be the effects we wanted, and there are several reasons for that:
1. Our goal in wording our spell (or in visualization of our intent during the performance of the spell) wasn't clear
2. The other parts of our Self (Younger and Higher) might know something we (the Middle Self) don't. They might redirect the energy (or put it on hold) to do us a favor. If our Selves aren't working together properly, it means our true Will isn't known to us, so we can't be sure any spell we do is in accordance with our Will (big "W" means I'm referring to the "Will" Crowley discussed, not "I want it, so I will it to be so" as in the case of that cute boy in homeroom we want to notice us). In this case, the energy put forth in the spell is sent off in another direction to bring us what we need rather than what we want at that time. After all, magic is "the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will". If our "Will" isn't known to our Middle Self, our Younger and Higher Selves, that know what our Will is, take the matter into their own hands.
Do those outcomes mean we did something "wrong"? It depends on your definition of "wrong". I choose to see them as learning opportunities rather than chances to point the finger of blame or guilt back at ourselves. You might learn that you need to work on the unity of the whole Self and discovering your true Will or you might see an opportunity to work more on visualization and wording of spells. So, we can see the spell "worked" in helping you to realize areas that need improvement. How can we say the spell didn't "work" then? It might not have worked in the way we wanted, dreamed about, and planned for, but it did some work for us and toward our spiritual progression.
Now, let's look at the definition of "failure":
"An event that does not accomplish its intended purpose"
Well, this is certainly true of the spell in question. However, I'm still on the side of "failure" having a bad connotation to most people. So, I'll still maintain the spell didn't "fail".
Why else might we think spells don't work?
Time!
Many people do a spell, wait a week, and jump to the conclusion that because 1000 hasn't jumped into their lap after their prosperity spell that it didn't work. A week is nothing in the general scheme of things. Sure, some spells work incredibly fast, but others take years for the energy to work its purpose. Sometimes this is because of one of the reasons above (mainly the Younger/Higher dilemma because they know you're not ready to handle winning the lottery at 23 or what have you), and sometimes it just takes time to allow the opportunity to arise. For another example, if you did a spell to find your "soul mate", and they live in Africa and you live in the US, it might take a while for you two to run into each other.
Effort!
We cannot forget effort in here either. It's a biggie to consider when spells "don't work". How much time did you spendworking on the spell? An hour? How much energy was raised? How much effort did you put in post-spell? Did you spend five minutes copying a spell out of a book to lose weight, raise a teensy bit of energy, send it out, and go back to eating twinkies and cheetos on the couch all day? Forgetting the fact that you put no effort into the spell itself (as I've done too much on writing your own spells and rituals in the past), you forgot the most important part of magic-follow-through! You cannot expect someone to knock on your door and offer you a job if you never sent out resumes, never network, etc. Magic doesn't work that way. It follows the easiest course of action (but that's another discussion completely). Magic is an aid, not the end-all-be-all of your journey toward whatever it is you did the spell in order to obtain.
Another reason people usually cite for spells not working is fate or destiny. As someone who doesn't believe many things are preordained in this life, I, frankly, find this difficult to wrap my head around. I encountered a witch who believed everything was preordained once. I still can't figure out why one would do magic if the outcome was set in stone. Maybe that's just my hatred of the thought that everything in life is already planned out.
That said, I do believe a few things are preordained (usually by our souls before incarnation). I don't, however, think they are set in stone. So, if a spell just never comes to fruition, I might, on my deathbed, chalk it up to fate or what have you. I probably wouldn't jump to that conclusion after a few weeks or even a few years (although, I suppose I guess it depends on the spell; if I were doing a spell to protect my family from a hurricane that didn't do its job, I can understand this conclusion).
So, with effort, time, follow-through, solid foundation, and in accordance with true Will, spells do work. They might not work in the way we expect, though. I'll use an oldie but a goodie-if you do a prosperity spell, the money might come from a deceased loved one. You got your money, but it probably (hopefully) wasn't in the way you wanted it to come to you. Again, magic follows the path of least resistance. That might have been the easiest way to get it (it's especially easier than the lottery example-think of how many people are sending out energy into the universe to win that thing!), especially if you aren't doing anything to get it yourself!
Remember, it might take time and it might be tricky, but magic works!
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