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"by Jenifer C. Gamber"
Social networking is thousands of years old. People gathered around a campfire telling the stories of their ancestors. One storyteller begins. Another adds a contemporary story as a pause before another returns to the ancient lore, weaving the experience of the tribe today into the threads of yesterday. Those stories that speak truth survive and are told for centuries. People gathered in a circle, connected through narrative.
Fast forward to the mid-1990s. People telling stories around a circle. Sharing ideas. Common narratives emerge. This time, the circle is created by digital media, connecting nearly four billion people - two-thirds of the world. With barriers of geography broken down circles are opened. New ideas shared. New narratives emerge.
So what does this have to do with the life of the church? A people gathered telling stories and creating new shared narratives. Circles of friends telling stories. Sounds a lot like church with a base story of sacrificial love. So, should the church engage in this new social networking? The church is to help shape the society's narrative in a way that God is made present everywhere. We are called to represent Christ in the world - both real and virtual. "(Note:" Digital natives - those who don't know a world without the Internet don't distinguish between real and virtual. It's all real.)
We can become part of the story telling and shape narrative with Facebook Pages that proclaim and invite others to tell of God's good works in community. "Likes" and "comments" contribute to a narrative of relationship and affirmation that says "I am present to you." Elizabeth Drescher and Keith Anderson, in their insightful and practical book for digital ministry, "Click2Save: The Digital Ministry Bible", tell about Sister Heather Rollins, the Undercover Nun who does just this as well as prays for concerns of friends shared on Facebook.
Churches cannot risk not being part of this new reality. Churches are called to create what Drescher calls a "Holy Network." We are called to show that sacred spaces can be created in the digital world in spaces such as Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, WordPress, Pinterest. (A longer list would be even more overwhelming, so I'll stop there.) But it doesn't need to be overwhelming with a little planning: a clearly stated and well-defined objective, wise choices and discipline.
Do you want to connect faith with people in their everyday lives? Emily Given at St Michael's and All Angels in Dallas, Texas set up daily devotions that were texted. (Texting is the most used social networking media.) All the devotions were written in one day and stacked. The social networking program automatically sent a devotion each day for 40 days. Do you want to start a conversation about meeting God in the world? Establish a Facebook Page. Share your church's story of God and invite people to share theirs.
The best guide I've found to entering the world of social networking and media again, is "Click 2 Save". It offers questions that helps discern your digital ministry and how to begin with insightful questions and a map forward. Taking the time to get in the new circles of this century and tell God's stories is worth it. It's like being around the campfire.
"Jenifer Gamber has been involved in Christian formation since she began teaching Sunday school as a teenager. The author of My Faith, My Life and Your Faith, Your Life for adults, she is a popular speaker on the topics of spirituality, prayer, and teen faith formation. Her website, offers a wealth of resources for adults who work with youth. Her most recent book is Call on Me: A Prayer Book for Young People. "(Visited 225 times, 1 visits today)
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By Mindy Gary
All throughout the Holy Bible, nobody just thought about positive thinking all day. Many of Gods prophets and leaders were constantly bombarded by sadness. What worked for them is trusting in the Lord their God. They always trusted God to bring them through the day. I am a firm believer that God will give you what you need on a daily basis. The problem with most people today is that they want to have more money and things. They therefore are always hoping to land the next big business deal or the next big gig to get them more money. Im sick and tired of people loving money more than God. I am happy that God has finally allowed destruction to come upon our economy. Its about time we start turning more to God and less to money and power. We need to get back to the basics.
If you are tired of the singles scene, then you may want to try the psychic hotline. Many people are beginning to turn to psychics because their personal lives dont seem to be going anywhere. Its a fact that when your life doesnt seem like its going in a good direction, you can find some good answers through a live psychic reading online. Many people choose to get a live psychic reading because they want to see what is in store for their future. Many people in the world today enjoy talking to people about their personal lives. If you feel like you are losing touch with yourself and with others, then you are not alone. Many people spend years alone in the dating scene. As you get older, it gets a lot harder. However, you dont have to accept that there is nobody else out there for you. Instead of saying this, you should instead be hoping for someone that can come into your life to give you peace and love. I know that finding a suitable partner for your needs takes time.
If you are going to a psychic reader, it may be wise for you to go with an open mind. The more open that your mind is, the more you will be able to see for yourself that a psychic advisor can help you to discover what is going to be good for you to do in your life. I personally feel that having a good companion is a true first step to being happy for the rest of your life. True companionship means that you are going to put someone else in front of you. Someone that will be able to help you to grow as a person. You have to be open and willing to allow someone to come into your life in order to have a good relationship with them.
My prophetic message today is to stop any addiction and turn to God. Pray to God before you get any psychic reading or psychic advice. After all, God is the person that should always direct you first and only God knows your true future. With prayer, all things are possible. In most circumstances, the Holy Bible says not to turn to prophets and psychics because God can speak to any person as long as they listen. Just ask the Holy Spirit into your life and watch God give you his words of wisdom. Every person alive can receive the Holy Spirit. Just say, Holy Spirit, come into my life.
Before I got into the psychic industry, I used to just feel prophetic words for people. When they bottled up inside of me, I would just tell people what I was feeling or even seeing. That always seemed to help me. When I realized that this was a side of me that wouldnt go away, I asked God to show me what to use this for. It took many years for me to learn how to use my psychic gifts. I can honestly say that it was never for the money. I know that there are many so called psychics of the world today that will take your money and they are not even psychic. I like many others are true believers in their gift. Its a voice that never stops screaming to tell someone something when we see or hear it. I have also learned that using your gift can be physically and mentally unhealthy. The problem with prophesy is that nobody wants to pay for it unless they are forced to for the most part. That is why I decided to charge for my psychic readings. I think that non-prophetic people dont understand how we obtain psychic information in the first place and therefore do not understand how much focus, energy and health it requires me to dig up information in order to help them. Most people just dont want to pay for the amount of information that I have to give.
About the Author:
I like giving free psychic email readings with my many different types of psychic abilities yearly.
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However, just as important to the Gothi, is the Oath Ring. The Book of Settlements, written in Iceland to describe the Godic Republic, says; "A Ring of a prescribed size should be placed on the altar in every Main Temple. The Gothi of that temple should carry that Ring on his wrist to all regular Things, where he should conduct the procedures. Before that he should wash the Ring in the blood of a bull he had sacrificed himself." Here we learn the importance of both the Ring and the Bowli. I might note here that a surviving 1,600 year old Ring of the Goths with runic inscription still survives, crafted in solid gold. The Ring is brought to all Kindred functions, and is worn by the Gothi at all Blots and Sumbels as a service to the Folk who may wish to take a sacred oath. I know that it may be impossible for some to procure a gold or silver Oath Ring, myself included, but some type of Ring must be used. Mine is made of brass and has served our Kindred for over ten years.
We know from the Myths, that Thorr blessed the funeral pyre of Baldur with his Hammer. We also know from the Sagas that Thorr's Hammer was used to bless brides, babies, and the Folk. A ritual sized Hammer is also a must. Mine was a gift from my foster father, and is hand carved from cherry wood. It has served me and the Folk well for twenty years. The Hammer is also used in some Blot is for the banishing ritual, and later to bless the Feast. I have seen some Gothis use a sledgehammer purchased from the hardware store, and I know of some prison Kindreds who use a rubber Hammer. Again, what is important here is the symbolism, and the power in the blessing projected by the Gothi. Improvise!
The last of the most important implements is the Stalli, Old Norse for altar. We have a stalli made of stone at our Hof, and I know of many who have constructed Stallis in their sacred groves. The Stalli, of course, is the focal point of the Blot, and holds the necessary implements used during the service. I have also used a simple folding camp table, which has served me well, both during the Blot, and the ritual Feast to follow.
Credit: http://mysteryvoodoo.blogspot.com
CREATING NATURAL INCENSES
For those who have requested some incense recipes, I have included the below from various sources that should work out well for you.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR BURNING NATURAL INCENSES:
When the incense is prepared, light a charcoal (special charcoal rounds for burning incense are sold at most metaphysical supply stores locally as well as online and can be obtained from suppliers.
Once the charcoal is burning sufficiently (glowing, not flaming), place a pinch of incense onto it and allow to smolder.
An alternative, if you are able to, light a fire outside and wait until the wood is to the glowing coal stage, then place some incense onto the coals.
FALL SABBAT INCENSE:
From Scott Cunningham's "Wicca: a Guide for the Sole Practitioner" (Llewellyn, 1988).
3 parts Frankincense
2 parts Myrrh
1 part Rosemary
1 part Cedar
1 part Juniper
All ingredients should be individually ground to a fine powder using a mortar and pestle (or electric grinder, in a pinch) and then mixed together.
SAMHAIN (HALLOWEEN) INCENSE RECIPE:
From Wylundt's Book of Incense (Samuel Weiser, Inc., 1989). It can be used in loose form, or formed into cones (directions follow).
1/2 part Frankincense
1/4 part Myrrh
1/2 part Bay
1/4 part Vervain
1/4 part Wormwood
1/4 part Patchouli
1/2 part Cinnamon
1/2 part Sandalwood
This recipe is measured in teaspoons or fractions ther. To make cone incense, you will need to add a bonding agent or gum. The easiest to find (in my experience) is gum arabic. It comes in powdered form and you can get it from most metaphysical supply stores and the stores listed elsewhere on this forum.
To this mixture, I would add about a teaspoon of the gum. Then you will need to make a solution of saltpeter and water-about 1/4 cup of saltpeter mixed into 1/2 cup of water. Add 1/4-1/2 a teaspoon of this solution to your mixture of herbs and gum. Work into a dough that is easily workable but not too wet. If the dough is too wet, the cone will sag.
Once you have worked the dough to desired consistency (which may require adding more gum-it's kind of trial and error), break off pieces of dough and shape them into cones. The cones will not come out looking like commercial incense cones, no matter how hard you try, so don't spend a lot of time trying to make them pretty.
When you have it in the basic shape, press the base onto a flat surface. The ideal surface would be a wood plank or cutting board, as this will absorb excess moisture without sapping too much moisture from the cone. Do not place the cones on paper.
As the water in the cone evaporates, the cone will shrink. This is normal. The cones will need to be stored in a cool dry place and left to dry. You may wish, once the cones have set into their shape, to rotate them onto their sides and roll them over during drying so that they will dry evenly.
Once dry, light them as you would any commercial cone incense. It usually takes a couple of attempts to make a cone that will burn evenly and continually. Don't get discouraged if the first try doesn't work out as well as you planned.
Further Reading: THE USE OF INCENSE: ANCIENT PRACTICE AND MODERN PRACTICE - CUSTOM INCENSE RECIPES
Image Courtesy of Esta Weiss of Pagan and Proud of It Art
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NorthWest Lousiana Pagan Pride Day
WOW! What a weekend! OK, so it wasnt a large festival with bands and such. It was a small event with a handfull of vendors, some speakers but alot of fun. My roommate and I are vendors we sell Mia Bella Gormet Candles. Be sure to visit and sign up to win a free candle, just click the jar candle at the top of the page.
Aside from selling the candles, i had the bright idea to sell Cokes and Water. Last year there wasnt much of either and people where hot and dehydrated. I also bougt a 50 pack of chips in case people get the munchies. It was great, i sold most of the cokes, half of the water, and some of the chips. From what i understand next year theyre going to try and have a coke trailor and sell fountain cokes. Thatll be great.
Aside from us selling candles and drinks. There was the Enchanted Forest, the shop owner, Tindy, makes jewelry, wands and staffs. Very Pretty stuff, my roommate even bought one of the wands for me, for an early birthday present :) Im waiting on Tindy to send the picture of me holding it with a shocked look on my face :)
The Gem Tree, custom Jewelry, was accross from Tindy, he had more of the cut stones avaliable and some set in jewlery peices. I had him take a look at a large stone i got from my grandmother ages ago and he thinks it might be Topaz. You can contact hima dn see what he has avaliable at jelawless@comcast.net. If thats not hte right E-mail let me know.
The last booth indoors was The Twisted Cauldron, run by BJ and Sam. a really nice couple with a cute baby who had her baby blessing ritual at this Event. They sell herbs and oils, some Across from Bud and Jackie was Tuts Toys. Sharon sold some egyptian figurines, and had a few peices of anime artwork.
Also selling outside at the event was Apache Tears. As far as i know there isnt a web site. but she sold some candles, soaps, jewelry and head dresses, Which i bought one. Ill try and get a picture of me in it later ;)
OK now that the vendors have been listed on to the speakers:
"Sharon "Tut" LaBorde" from Tuts Toys: A native of Shreveport-Bossier, fell in love with ancient Egypt in sixth grade history class and hasnt been able to get enough of it since. Although she dropped her plans to become a full-fledged archaeologist (for now,) she currently writes and illustrates Egyptian-themed stories and maintains a memorial shrine to Tutankhamun in her home and on the Internet.
"Tony M Kail": Author of A COPS GUIDE TO OCCULT INVESTIGATIONS & founder of THE FORENSIC THEOLOGY RESEARCH CENTER, he has served as a police consultant and trainer since 1990. Kail has spent several years performing research with various religous communities thoughout the United States. He has observed and documented a number of rituals and ceremonies of various religous sects. His focus is on African & Neo-Pagan religous traditions. He has performed research in East Africa with ritual specialists and members of the African traditional religions.
"Dorothy Morrison": Author of EVERYDAY MAGIC, THE CRAFT, & several other Neopagan/Wiccan
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Spells are simply active prayers. Just like prayers, spells are used to catalyze or create change in one's life or someone else's, most often that of a loved one.
They are petitions to the Higher Powers to create the change. Spells are used to connect with our divine selves using our own energies to create changes.
Ordinarily, Wiccans/Witches will not perform a spell for anyone who has not asked and had given them permission. Spells, like those that use love magic to gain the good graces of an individual or curses are considered manipulative.
Anything that manipulates or goes against the free will of anybody is considered wrong.
Wiccan spells
The Old English term for witch is Wicca. They used it to counter all the negative stereotypes that society gave to witchcraft.
Wiccans use spells. These are rituals and prayers carried out to ask for divine help in a certain aspect of life. However, these must adhere to the Wiccan Rede, the witchcraft code of conduct.
The overall consideration is that any spell used to manipulate, dominate, or control another person is forbidden. The Wiccan Rede rules that a witch may engage in any action as long as it is carefully considered and that their actions do not harm anyone including themselves.
All of witchcraft is ruled by the Threefold Law. This is the belief that any action taken by any witch affecting another person will come back to the witch threefold, whether good or bad.
Constructive spells
Constructive spells should be done during the waxing of the moon, the time when the moon is full and bright. These are spells performed for luck, some fertility rites and spells used for protection.
To achieve the best end results, all witches agree that spells should be practiced while in a positive mood. Most often, too, in the practice of witchcraft, they have aids in spells to guarantee good results.
These aids in witchcraft, believed to have magical properties, include different herbs and leaves. One example is the bay leaf used often to invoke positive energy.
Consecration or Purification
The dictionary defines consecration as a "formal dedication to a religious or divine purpose." In the practice of witchcraft, consecration should be practiced before any tool can be used.
Consecration is a form of purification and is done with salt, water and incense. These all stand for the five elements of nature - water, earth, fire, air and spirit.
It is important that consecration used for witchcraft be done in a positive state of mind. This will incorporate the spirit part of the elements.
Consecration is actually to ask for and gain approval of the God and Goddess for what is about to be performed.
Wiccan God and Goddess
In witchcraft, all spells are basically used to channel the power of the Wiccan God and Goddess to initiate positive changes and for the resolution of problems. In this regard, a spell-giver must know the phase of the moon is in while performing the spells.
As an example, it is best to do banishing spells in the waning of the moon when it is dark. Sample spells include hope for the end of illness, warding off destructive insects in farms, and many others.
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With the increasing number of break ups in marriages and failures, people are actually looking towards taking counselling from experts. Marriage counsellors can make the couples sit and take note of the various issues which are causing trouble between them and allowing them to rethink if their differences are reconcilable. It has been seen that the ex-husband and the ex-wife are sometimes willing to talk it out, but their egos are haltering the process of patch up between them. In such a scenario, even if the counsellor gives them some time to talk out their problems, then they might lead to arguments and this will be further escalating the problems between the exes. Furthermore, in case of second marriages also, there are a plenty of baggage which need to be carried by both the partners, which is not always a gullible option. In inter caste marriages, parents and other family relatives have their own issues and bring in so much of hindrances that the parents are not agreeing upon the marriages, when it comes to inter caste boy and girl. With so much of problem, it is probably not possible for people to sit down together and talk to reach a solution.
With such predicament, people are nowadays seeking some alternative arrangements, so that there is XHUSBAND/WIFE PROBLEM SOLUTION and they shed their differences. While talks and counselling sessions usually help in letting people cover the aspect of introspection, it is usually not effective to change the mindset so easily. It might take months to let the couples rethink their strategies, which is something not very interesting for many as they keeping on talking the same thing over and over again. In turn, the fast vashikaran mantra is seen to have strong influence over the couples and provides the best XHUSBAND/WIFE PROBLEM SOLUTION.
* "Vashikaran mantra specialists are turning towards a better and quick solution"
In the arrangement of vashikaran mantra, people usually tend to have power of spell on the wife and husband, so that they are attracted again towards each other. These kinds of mantras work very rapidly and provide for a quick solution, even for the SECOND MARRIAGE PROBLEMSOLUTION, as the couples are bound with positive energies, where they can easily think well about each other. In the process of vashikaran mantra, people usually will take care of the fact that there was some kind of goodwill among them in the past and in the present day scenario, there will be rekindling of the romance, which will then become a SECONDMARRIAGE PROBLEM SOLUTION. For this reason, a lot of people are trusting on the vashikaran mantra and the specialists of these features, so that there is a clear cut difference between talking and utilising the power of vashikaran mantras.
With the increasing trend and realisation of the importance of vashikaran, many people are seeking the help of INTER CASTE LOVEMARRIAGE SPECIALIST, so much so that people are making appointments in the offices of these specialist. Not only it is that such experts are making tall claims, but the mantras that they are using actually have the power to bring about changes in the field of love between ex-lovers or change the mindset of the parents towards the idea of inter caste marriage.
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