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MEANING:
Coop's carving of the pre-christian Celtic Wheel Cross symbolizes the four elements; air, fire, water and earth, the Triskelion in the center stands for the aspects of the Threefold Goddess; Maiden, Mother, Crone.
The wood burning of the horned moon, antlers and oak represent the Lord of the Forest, Green Man, Cernunnos, the primal, active force within all things, consort of the Goddess, balancing symbol of male energy in the divine. The band between the Horned God and the Maiden Goddess has Oak in Bloom while the band between the Crone and the Horned God has the fully developed acorn.
The 3 phases of the moon are held by Goddess figures. The figures represent the phase of the Goddess as the Maiden is slender with high breast, Mother is fuller hipped and breasted, Crone is wider and lower breasted, reflecting and celebrating the changes of our bodies throughout our lives. The entwining Moonflower in it's different states (blooming, flowering, and seedpods) flow between the bands reflect the phases of the Maiden, Mother, Crone.
Please note, this is a picture of a stock item that will be may have to be custom made for you and may take up to two weeks to produce. The wood burning will be slightly different from piece to piece, but it will contain the major themes mentioned above. If you wish to see exactly what you are getting, please look at other wood burnings that have OOAK (Original One of A Kind) in the item name.
The back of each arm is keyholed so you have the option of hanging it with any sign dominant.
THE CARVING:
My Carvings are single pieces of western red cedar, designed and carved to be wall hangings. Each piece is finished with a blend of clear oils that brings out the natural color of the wood. For more information on the process of creation, please see my profile.
SIZE:
One picture has the piece on a quilting board, lined up on the 1 inch marks. So subtract 1 inch from the height and width for the stock size. Measurements may vary slightly from piece to piece.
Price: 328
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I recently read Joseph Glanvill's report of "the Daemon of Tedworth" from a facsimile reproduction of "Saducismus Triumphatus or, Full and Plain Evidence Concerning Witches and Apparitions" (1689). What most impressed me was how many parallels are evident between this case and my own experiences investigating the contemporary Oklahoma case that was referred to as "America's Talking Poltergeist" when I learned about it in 1995 (see my previous blog post).
Glanville's description of the strange events includes the comment, "In such silly tricks it was frequent." This passage reminded me of some of the anecdotes recounted to me by the Centrahoma family - seemingly, in stark contrast with clich'e demonic or (back then) witchcraft associations.
In the introduction to the second part of his book, Glanvill's commentary shows that he was not without skepticism in regard to testimonials of unexplained phenomena: "... there are ten thousand silly lying stories of witchcraft and apparitions among the vulgar... I grant that melancholy and imagination have very great force, and can beget strange persuasions. And that many stories of witchcraft and apparitions have been but melancholy fancies."
Glanvill's report of the case included a description of his visit, accompanied by a friend, to the Mompesson family's house. Glanvill recounted strange sights and sounds, such as hearing "a strange scratching" from different places in the children's bedroom. I believe it is of great significance that-similar to my own experience in Centrahoma-Glanville was not frightened by his uncanny experiences at the house. He wrote:
It will I know be said by some that my friend and I were under some affright, and so fancied noises and sights that were not. This is the eternal evasion. But if it be possible to know how a man is affected, when in fear, and when unconcerned, I certainly know for mine own part, that during the whole time of my being in the room, and in the house, I was under no more affrightment than I am, while I write this relation.
In "Saducismus Triumphatus" Glanvill recounted a seemingly "preternatural" incident that he hadn't previously made known. There was a mysterious nocturnal "great knocking" at the door of the chamber where he was sleeping in the Mompesson house. "I asked who was there several times, but the knocking still continued without answer. At last I said, "In the name of God, who is it, and what would you have?" To which a voice answered, "Nothing with you"." Glanvill first assumed the response was from some servant of the house but in the morning Mompesson and the servants assured him that the noise had not been made by them.
Glanvill concluded about John Mompesson:
Mr. Mompesson is a gentleman, of whose truth in this account, I have not the least ground of suspicion, he being neither vain nor credulous, but a discreet, sagacious and manly person. Now the credit of matters of fact depends much upon the relators, who, if they cannot be deceived themselves nor supposed any ways interested to impose upon others, ought to be credited. For upon these circumstances, all human faith is grounded...
Glanvill could find no reason to doubt Mompesson's account of the extraordinary occurrences in his house.
He suffered by it in his name, in his estate, in all his affairs, and in the general peace of his family. The unbelievers in the matter of spirits and witches took him for an impostor. Many others judged the permission of such an extraordinary evil to be the judgment of God upon him, for some notorious wickedness or impiety. Thus his name was continually exposed to censure, and his estate suffered, by the concourse of people from all parts to his house, by the diversion it have him from his affairs, by the discouragement of servants, by reason of which he could hardly get any to live with him.
'Tis true, that when the gentlemen the King sent were there, the house was quiet, and nothing seen nor heard that night, which was confidently and with triumph urged by many, as a confutation of the story. But 'twas bad logic to conclude in matters of fact from a single negative, and such a one against numerous affirmatives, and to affirm, that a thing was never done, because not at such a particular time, and that nobody ever saw what this man or that did not. By the same way of reasoning, I may infer that there were never any robberies done on Salisbury Plain, Hounslow Heath, or the other noted places, because I have often traveled all those ways, and yet was never robbed...
Glanvill noted about Mompesson's house, "... the disturbance was not constant, but intermitted sometimes several days, sometimes weeks." Glanvill observed about the intermissions of the strange displays: "... this circumstance will afford but a very slender inference against the credit of the story, except among those who are willing to take any thing for an argument against things which they have an interest not to acknowledge."
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The other day a friend suggested that I write about some controversial subjects on A Bad Witch's Blog. So here goes - a question about money, which is always a tricky issue.
HOW MUCH SHOULD WITCHES AND OTHER PAGAN TEACHERS CHARGE FOR TRAINING?
Here are my musings on the subject - but others might think differently:
Last year, an experienced witch invited me to a one-day workshop they were running. Without looking too closely at the details, I said yes. I then had a double take when they asked me for a cheque for lb120.
I admit I was shocked - most of the pagan workshops I've been to cost around lb20 to lb40 for the day and I had simply assumed this one would be in that sort of price too. I only work part-time, because I care for my elderly, disabled mum, so I don't earn very much money and even lb40 has to be saved for carefully. I couldn't afford to pay lb120 for something non-essential.
But it wasn't just that I couldn't afford it - I also felt it was excessive. I mean, lb120 might be OK for a day of one-on-one tuition, but a workshop would probably have at least half a dozen people - possibly many more - and with them paying lb120 each, that adds up to a fair amount for a day's work. Perhaps I am being unfair. Perhaps there were high running costs involved, but the event was taking place at a private house, not a conference suite in a hotel, so venue hire can't have been a big part of that.
Perhaps posh food was being put on at lunchtime and perhaps there were valuable materials involved. Perhaps the teaching being offered was unique. Perhaps the end-of-day ritual was going to solve all my problems and open up amazing new opportunities for me. As I said, I didn't go, so I can't say.
And, compared with training for professional skills, lb120 a day is cheap. When I wanted to learn to use the DTP software Adobe InDesign,
Origin: http://about-world-religions.blogspot.com
This post relates to theistic satanism, and more specifically, my personal relationship with the deity known as Satan.
Some people have asked me if I believe in Satan as a deity; and I do. But then they also say, that if I believe in Satan, I also believe in god. I believe that the christian god is as real as the many other gods that are out there but i am not obligated to be a part of *his* religion in order to be a satanist. This is because the Satan that is known to me, the Satan that is known to other satanists is not the same Satan from Christianity.
This is not opinion, it is based on several different factors, which makes Satanism unique from Christianity. One of these, is that satanism as an organized religion didn't start until the 1960's and since then it has developed into what it is today- a separate religion and philosophy which has " borrowed" from many different sources for inspiration, much like neo-paganism and other religious movements today.
Why is this Satan different than the christian Satan? There are characteristics that satanists identify with, through the mythology of the christian Satan. These are usually the desirable traits like freedom, individuality, and opposition.
However, unlike christian teachings the Satan of satanists is not an evil thing; while it personifies the dark aspects of the soul satanism seeks to reconcile these halves to make a whole, instead of denying that both good and 'evil' come from within. The christian seeks either to please god or to fear the devil; while the satanist only seeks to please the self.
My personal relationship with Satan has been an experience that has been with me for a long time. Satan is a living god to me, but I am not a religious satanist. Religion requires faith and belief, and the use of religious doctrines and that is not my path. Satan as the one who puts challenges into my path and through his works I see 'Satan'.
My greatest communion with him is during the times that I realize my full potential, either spiritually or magically. Satan has inspired me as a role-model of independence which is why i am loyal to Satan, but I do not feel the need to worship him. My form of spirituality is manifestation of the satanic current through satanic works.
My worship and praise is in the form of action which helps Satan to manifest in this world in one more unique way. My search for who or what Satan is over the years has also been a search within myself. Satan does not direct my actions, nor does he 'tell me' what to do, or guide my decisions. I don't look to Satan for guidance, I look within, because that is where my true answer is. What I've learned in magic and the occult, I've learned through practice and experience.
And this is the metaphor of Satan; that he only needed himself, "I" from beginning to end. That to me is the greatest teaching of Satan. This is one of the reasons why I am an independent Satanist. But, i have to digress; everyone has their own personal spiritual view, and personal communication with Satan.
Others may have different relationships with Satan, and achieve different results. I have known others who worship Satan as a deity and see him either as a master "The Master" or as a father figure "Father Satan". Satan could be strictly symbolic for others, who see him as a motivator. What does Satan represent to you?
VenusSatanas
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What a wonderful symbol of life! A powerful religious, spiritual and philosophical symbol to many, the tree is patient, still, strong and effectively eternal. There are trees older even than recorded history. A tree stands as a silent witness in the landscape to what has been and what will be. It is the nearest any living thing can be to eternal. The tree is friend and provides its shelter, its timber and its inspiration to us all. Its leaves, fruit and sap can often be used as food. A tree purifies the air we breathe, provides timber for homes, heat, and tools and produces and stores the Sun's energy in its leaves and heartwood.
TREE OF LIFE RINGS
Here is a selection of Tree of Life rings that have great reviews. I hope you enjoy browsing through them!
COPPER TREE OF LIFE AND PENTACLE RINGS DESIGNED FOR COUPLES
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DA'WAH (Arabic: ) or DAWAH means the proselytizing or preaching of Islam. "Da'wah" literally means "issuing a summons" or "making an invitation", being the active participle of a verb meaning variously "to summon" or "to invite" (whose triconsonantal root is ). A Muslim who practices da'wah, either as a religious worker or in a volunteer community effort, is called a "da'i" (), plural "du'at" (). A "da'i" is thus a person who invites people to understand Islam through a dialogical process, and may be categorized in some cases as the Islamic equivalent of a missionary, as one who invites people to the faith, to the prayer, or to Islamic life
EARLY ISLAM
In the Qur'an, the term da'wah has other senses. In Sura 30:25 of the Qur'an, it denotes the call to the dead to rise on the Day of Judgment. When used in the Qur'an it generally refers to Allah's invitation to live according to His will. Thus, when used in the first centuries of Islam, it increasingly referred to the content of that message and was sometimes used interchangeably with "shari'a" and "din".Da'wah is also described as the duty to "actively encourage fellow Muslims in the pursuance of greater piety in all aspects of their lives," a definition which has become central to contemporary Islamic thought.
PURPOSE
In Islamic theology, the purpose of Da'wah is to invite people, both Muslims and non-Muslims, to understand the worship of Allah as expressed in the Qur'an and the sunnah of the Prophet, as well as to inform them about Muhammad. Da'wah produces converts to Islam, which in turn grows the size of the Muslim Ummah, or community of Muslims.Da'wah or Call towards Allah, is the means by which the Islamic Prophet Muhammad spread the message of the Qur'an to mankind. After Muhammad, his followers or Ummah assumed the responsibility of the Dawah to the people of their times. They convey the message of the Qur'an by providing information on why and how the Qur'an preaches monotheism.
PROSELYTISM
The importance of Dawah has been emphasised many times in the Quran, addressing the followers of Muhammad:Who is better in speech than one who calls to Allah, does righteous deeds and says indeed I am among the Muslims.-Quran, Sura 41 (Fussilat), ayah 33You are the best nation raised up for humankind. You enjoin righteousness, forbid corruption and you believe in Allah.-Quran, Sura 3 (Al-Imran), ayah 110Let there arise among you a group inviting to all that is good, enjoining righteousness and forbidding evil. Those are the successful ones.-Quran, Sura 3 (Al-Imran), ayah 104Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good preaching.-Quran, Sura 16 (An-Nahl), ayah 125In the Hadith of Muhammad, dawah has also been mentioned to further emphasise importance and virtues:"Whoever directs someone to do good will gain the same reward as the one who does good."Whoever calls to guidance will receive the same reward as the one who follows him without any decrease in the reward of his follower."[10]"For Allah to guide someone by your hand is better for you than having red camels."[11] Camels were considered the most valuable property in ancient Arabia and the red variety was the most prized of all."Convey from me, even if it be only a single verse."[12]Muhammad sent Muadh ibn Jabal to Yemen and told him "You will be going to Christians and Jews, so the first thing you should invite them to is the assertion of the oneness of Allah, Most High. If they realize that, then inform them that Allah has made five daily prayers obligatory on them. If they pray them, then inform them that Allah has made the payment of charity from their wealth obligatory on their rich to be given to their poor. If they accept that, then take it from them and avoid the best part of people's property."[13]
PROSELYTIZING METHODS
KINDNESS/GENTLENESS
With regard to Muhammad's mild nature in preaching Islam, the Quran says:"And by the mercy of Allah you dealt with them gently. If you were harsh and hard hearted, they would have fled from around you" (Quran 3:159).The Quran says about Moses and Aaron who preached to Pharaoh, the claimant of God,:"So speak to him, both of you, mildly in order that he may reflect or fear God." (Quran 20:44).Muhammad was reported by his wife, Aisha to have said "Whenever gentleness is in a thing it beautifies it and whenever it is withdrawn from something it defaces."[14]Muhammad was quoted by Jareer as saying,"One deprived of gentleness is deprived of all good."[15]
WISDOM
"Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided...". Sura An-Nahl, 16: 125A classical example of diversion in dawah can be seen in the case of Prophet Yusuf in prison when two prisoners asked him to interpret their dreams. Then it occurred to them, after they had seen the proofs to imprison him for a time. And there entered with him two young men in the prison. One of them said: "Indeed, I saw myself pressing wine." The other said: "Indeed, I saw myself carrying bread on my head and birds were eating from it." [They asked:] "Inform us of the interpretation of these things. Indeed, we believe you are one of the righteous." He replied: "Whenever food came to you as your provision, I informed you about it before it came. That is from what my Lord has taught me. Indeed, I have abandoned the religion of a people who did not believe in Allah and the Hereafter. And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and we would never attribute any partners whatsoever to Allah. This is from the Grace of Allah to us and to humankind, but most people are not thankful. O my two prison companions! Are many different lords better than Allah, the One, the Irresistible? You are only worshiping besides Him names which you and your fathers made up for which no authority was revealed by Allah. Judgment belongs to Allah alone. He has commanded that you worship none besides Him; that is the upright religion, but most people do not know. O my two prison companions! As for one of you, he will pour wine for his lord to drink and as for the other, he will be crucified and birds will eat form his head. This is the case judged concerning which you both inquire." Sura Yusuf, 12: 35-41
SPEAKING COMMON LANGUAGE
"I did not send any messenger except that he spoke the language of his people to explain to them." Sura Ibrahim, 14: 4
LOCATION
Doing Dawah in the right location. For example, Mount Safa in the time of Muhammad was used for announcements. So Muhammad went there to make his point. He chose that particular location because he knew the people he was inviting to Islam. He knew their nature and characteristics, so he chose Mount Safa. He climbed up to its summit and addressed his people saying: "O people of Quraysh, if I were to tell you there was an army behind this hill would you listen to me?"[16]
PROSELYTIZING MOVEMENTS
Modern Dawah movements are varied in their objectives and activities for example:
* Muslim Brotherhood has focused on a methodology of building grassroots institutions and funding welfare projects which has helped it survive decades of repression under various dictatorships in many middle eastern countries, with the group and its many off shoots still enjoying popular support and power.[17][18]
* Jamaat-e-Islami has focused on presenting Islam as complete way of life and on methodology of building grassroots institutions and funding welfare projects.
* Tablighi Jamaat works on trying to bring the Muslims back to the fundamental practises of Islam such as worship, they do this through encouraging members to speak and to teach them the virtues of good actions, the movement has a following of over 100 and 150 million people.[19]
* Ahmed Deedat was a notable debater who was a revolutionary figure amongst Muslims for his effort debating Christian polemics, many Muslim debaters from popular debaters to grassroots Dawah campaigners use his
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Dear All
It's been a while I know, but I'm back baby!
DO YOU LIKE INTERESTING/WEIRD/FUNNY/BEAUTIFUL/INSPIRING PICTURES? If so take a quick LOOK AT SOME GORGEOUS IMAGES ON PINTEREST - the newest social media site on the block! (You don't need to sign up or anything).
Recently I've been spending quite a lot of time on this exciting site, which is described as an online pinboard.
What this means is you can grab pictures from all around the web and put them on your virtual pinboard to look at later or to show to others. Like Twitter, (which I also use - feel free to follow me!) you can follow people of interest to you and see when they add new pictures (aka pins).
Its very simple to use and great fun, and if you follow my account you can see all the fantastic and amazing photos I have found on the web, and also see some of my most pretty products! If you are only interested in some of the things I pin, you can just follow specific pinboards.
The picture you see to the right is one that I have created for Pinterest, to show off all my lovely FAIRY FIGURINES BY JASMINE GRIFFITH BECKET
CURRENTLY THE MAIN SUBJECTS I PIN ABOUT ARE,
* Pagan and Wicca things,
* Cute animals & Nature
* Fairies
* Dragons
* Good advice
* Funny things
* Game of Thrones
(Have you seen or read this? A fantastic series of
Credit: http://modern-wiccan.blogspot.com
