Bravo! You know a lot about the Bible! You've either studied a lot, been in church all your life, or something, because you have a lot of knowledge. I'm certainly impressed; keep up the good work!
I have noticed lately that there is a lot of anger and hate out there. It's not coming from the average person, because most people just want to have enough to eat, a place to live, and enough pocket change for a movie and beer on Friday night. No this anger comes from the place that it has been coming from for some 25 years or so: religious people.
Now, everyone gets angry. Someone cuts you off in traffic and you flip 'em the bird. It's rude, and a small part of you probably feels like an asshole when you think about it. That kind of anger has its own outlet.The anger I am talking about is that seething Wrath-of-God shit that comes from certain quarters because you don't subscribe to my view of life and spirituality. It's the familar haunts of southern preachers, right wing politicians, Jewish grandmothers (who absolve themselves most of the time with their wonderful chicken soup), and Islamic extremeists (if only they were better cooks!).
Being Wiccan by label, and laid back by virtue of age and a pharmacy of medications that keep me from exploding at the seams when I sneeze, I have a separation from a lot of it (until someone does something wrong to someone I care about). The issue of anger comes, they say, from God. You know, and I know, and to be honest they know, that it is all a lie.
Anger in religion comes from self. Oh the average frothing Christian will point out that Jesus became angry and beat the shit out of a bunch of money changers (btw the swearing is ok, Jesus hung out with fishermen, he was used to it). True, he did, but his anger and God's anger in the new testament at least, is always directed at religious people who say that they are righteous or faithful. Check it out for yourself. Jesus only got pissed off at people that were supposed to know better. Note this: he wasn't even pissed at poor Judas. I really think that's why he went and hanged himself. I think Jesus forgave the betrayal, and it was Judas guilt that he had betrayed his beloved friend and mentor that killed him.
Done checking out the new testament? Ok, it's true. Christ only became angry at the religious leadership. His disciples were a little different. They were gung ho. In fact, James and John, the Boanerges brothers, were excited that they would get the power to call fire down on the unbelieving. I can see it now. Jesus has his head in his hands mumbling under his breath "Maybe I shouldn't have sent them out?" Power was what made them angry. They had been following their master for a couple of years with people throwing up their hands and saying, "Here comes that Jesus guy, and there go our property values!" Why would they be getting angry now if it weren't a hunger to gain the power and bring down the thunder on whoever had mocked them and their master.
Now we are all just average people. We aren't leaders of churches, or politicians or celebrities. Why do you think some of us should be so angry? Why should a politician from Arkansas or Texas care that two guys have the right to get married? It certainly would leave more women out there for them to chase. It's the power to tell someone else what to do and make it stick that brings the anger. Have you ever been the object of a prayer threat? That's where someone tells you that you are damned because you don't agree with their view of God. They are going to pray against you. It is a sad state of affairs that the damned (in their view) are far more forgiving than the faithful.
Let me sum this all up. God is not angry. His so-called people are. If all a Christian, Muslim, Jew, or Wiccan can feel toward you is anger, pray for them because they have lost their way to God(s)(ess). If all they can tell you is that you way of life, point of view or chosen activity is wrong, ask them instead to show you by example what is right. Words are powerful, and if they are accompanied by actions they can change lives.
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People ask me why I chose the Wiccan Way, and I tell them "I didn't....The Wicca Life chose me. What is Wicca? Wicca. Witchcraft. The Path. The Craft. Whatever you call it, it's more than just a religion or magick, it's a way of life -- in perfect love and perfect trust. The philosophy of the religion (acknowledged as such by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1986) can be overly simplified into "we are all one and we love life in all its forms." Everything has energy. Everything is interconnected. As Starhawk said in "Spiral Dance " Our practice arises from a deep, spiritual commitment to the earth, to healing and to linking of magick to political action. All living beings are worthy or respect. All are supported by the sacred elements. We are called to make the earth a place where all the children (not just human) can thrive. Each one of us embodies the divine. Our ultimate spiritual authority is within and we need no other person to interpret the sacred to us. We foster the questioning attitudes and we honor intellect, spiritual and creative freedom. Honoring both Goddess and God, we work with female and male images of divinity, always remembering that their essence is a mystery that goes beyond form. In honoring the Goddess and God, we acknowledge the duality that exists in all facets of life. Wicca is the celebration of nature and the circle of life. We honor the seasons of the year, phases of the moon and states of our lives (maiden, mother, crone). Wicca is an Earth religion -- an accepting, open-minded faith that celebrates diversity and considers us all to be children of the same mother. Gender, age, race, sexual orientation, physical status, family background or ethnic heritage are not important in Wicca. We are male and female, old and young, gay and straight, healthy and disabled, and of all colors.
Glossary: Akasha - The fifth element; the power of the Universe. Altar - A surface, usually flat, that is set aside exclusively for magickal workings and is used as a focus of power. Amulet - A magically charged object usually used as protection Anointing Oil - A skin-safe, scented oil that is dabbed on the body (at chosen pulse points or on the forehead) in order to purify and individual mentally and spiritually. Asperger - A bundle of herbs used to sprinkle water for purification Astral plane The nonphysical, spiritual plane Astral projection - The act of separating the consciousness from the physical body and moving it at will Athame (Ah-THAM-ee)- A double-bladed, black-handled knife used much like a wand, to direct energy. It is not used to cut anything on the physical plane. Balefire - A fire, usually outdoors, lit for magickal purposes. Bane - That which destroys life Banish - To send off Beltane - The Sabat celebrated May 1 celebrating the marriage of the Goddess and God. Besom - A Witch's broom usually made from birch and willow used to purify spaces. Blue Moon - When there are two Full Moons in one calendar month, the second is called a Blue Moon. Bolline - A white-handled knife used to do work in the physical realm such as harvest herbs, inscribe candles and trim wicks. Book of Shadows - A BOS is a workbook for Witches. It is a place where they keep all their notes, spells, rituals and workings. Entries are handwritten. Sometimes referred to as a Grimoire. Burning times - A term used by some Witches for the period of persecution in the Middle Ages and later. Calling the Quarters - Verbal or symbolic acknowledgment of the Four Elements (Earth, Air, Fire Water) in a ritual environment. Casting a Circle - Creating a mental magickal sphere that encircles ones ritual/working space. The circle enhances one's ability to focus, raise power, and contain that power until the person directing the ritual is ready to release the energy. Cauldron - A cast-iron, three-legged pot used to make brews, hold fires, burn incense, holds candles. Represents the Self and is a point of transformation. Centering - A meditation exercise designed to produce feelings of total calm and oneness with the universe. As its name suggests, its aligning the body and its Chakras for maximum energy flow. It should be preceded by grounding. Censer- an incense holder/burner Chakras- Seven major points of energy in the body. Each is usually associated with a color. These vortexes are: crown - white; forehead (third eye position) - purple; throat - blue; chest - pink or green; navel - yellow; abdomen - orange; groin - red. Smaller vortexes are located in the hands and feet, as well. Chalice - A blessed cup used in ritual to hold the drink or saltwater. It represents the Goddess. It is a symbol of potential and is also used in the symbolic Great Rite. Charge, to - To infuse an object with power. Circle, sacred - Actually a sphere constructed during ritual or spell working to contain energy and keep out negative energy. Clan - Any number of covens who have agreed to follow the same kinds of rules, which spring from one central governing source. A clan has a single leader, and within the democratic clan governing system he or she had the power to veto proposals or actions of the group. Cleansing - The act of removing any negative energy, vibrations or images from an object or place by utilizing positive, psychic energy. Consecration- The ritual of purifying items and/or self to be used in the circle. Correspondence - An item that has a magickal association. Correspondences include: days, planets, moon phases, herbs, oils, colors, gemstones, Zodiac signs, hours, etc. Coven - A small group of people, usually no more than 13, of the same Tradition who work together within the Craft. Covenstead - The regular home or meeting place of a coven. The Craft - Witchcraft, Wicca Crescent Moon - Sacred symbol of the Goddess. Used for Sabbats, women's healings and invocations. Crystal ball - A ball is made of quartz (you can tell if it is true quartz by its cold feel and the inclusion of irregularities). It is used for divination. Curse - Purposely directing negative energy at someone. Wiccan's do not do this, as it goes against the rules of three. Dedication - The dedication of a Witch is a ritual where the individual accepts the Craft as their path in life and is "reborn" as a child of the Goddess and God. Deity The form(s) The All takes. Deosil - (pronounced Jess-el) Moving in a clockwise direction. Devas - Devas are energies, or spirit forms, that create patterns of reality on higher levels of existence. Anything created naturally or by humans has a deva. Divination - To foretell events of the future or recount the distant past or clarify the now by using tools or actions such as Tarot cards, dreams, runes, astrology, pendulums, meditation,etc. Divine Power - The energy and life force of the Goddess and God Drawing Down the Moon A ritual done during the Full Moon to connect with the Goddess by drawing her spirit into you. Earth Power - Energy that exists within nature and all on Earth. Eclipse - When one heavenly body obscures another for a short period of time, creating a temporary veil or shadow. Elements - Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Witches believe also in a fifth element - Self, Spirit or Aksha. Empowering - Also called "charging." This means to fill an object with divine energy for a specific magickal purpose or manifestation. Equal-armed Cross (the original Celtic Cross) - A cross symbol with equally sized arms representing the elements. Esbat - The celebration of the moon phases, mainly the Full or New Moon. Evoke - To call upon the spirits or deities. Familiars - A Witch's pet animal which has been trained to be a magickal helper. God/Goddess - B
In my garden there is a large place for sentiment. My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams. The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful.~ Abram L. Urban
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