Short Devotional Or Article Or Sermon For Encouragements

BELIEVER ENCOURAGEMENTS "Taken from CH Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, November 13, Evening ""Men ought always to pray." - Luke 18:1If men ought always to pray and not to faint, much more Christian men. Jesus has sent his church into the world on the same errand upon which he himself came, and this mission includes intercession. What if I say that the church is the world's priest? Creation is dumb, but the church is to find a mouth for it. It is the church's high privilege to pray with acceptance. The door of grace is always open for her petitions, and they never return empty-handed. The veil was rent for her, the blood was sprinkled upon the altar for her, God constantly invites her to ask what she wills. Will she refuse the privilege which angels might envy her? Is she not the bride of Christ? May she not go in unto her King at every hour? Shall she allow the precious privilege to be unused? The church always has need for prayer. There are always some in her midst who are declining, or falling into open sin. There are lambs to be prayed for, that they may be carried in Christ's bosom? the strong, lest they grow presumptuous; and the weak, lest they become despairing. If we kept up prayer-meetings four-and-twenty hours in the day, all the days in the year, we might never be without a special subject for supplication. Are we ever without the sick and the poor, the afflicted and the wavering? Are we ever without those who seek the conversion of relatives, the reclaiming of back-sliders, or the salvation of the depraved? Nay, with congregations constantly gathering, with ministers always preaching, with millions of sinners lying dead in trespasses and sins; in a country over which the darkness of Romanism is certainly descending; in a world full of idols, cruelties, devilries, if the church doth not pray, how shall she excuse her base neglect of the commission of her loving Lord? Let the church be constant in supplication, let every private believer cast his mite of prayer into the treasury."Taken from Charles H Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, November 13, Evening "On this site you can also find: Encouragements for Christian / Christian encouragements / Encouragements Quotes / Poem encouraging believers / Christian encouragement quotes / simple Christian sermons on encouragement / christian encouragements / biblical sermon on encouragement / Christian bookmark templates / 2010 Christian calendar template / Free printable Bible quotes / Free encouraging sermons / Biblical verse of encouragement for the believers and sermons / Free Christian encouraging images / Free christian encouraging pictures / Christian encouragements phrases FREE CHRISTIAN BOOKMARKS TEMPLATES: Various Bible verses, Birthday Prayer, All things for good, God is our refuge and strength, God's Grace, Strength from God, Prayers, With God all things are possible, God holds my tomorrow, Help me to remember, Lord, nothings gonna happen today that you and I can't handle together, The Cross in My Pocket, Whatever our need, When there seems no way out, let God in, You are never alone, Chinese Bible verses FREE CHRISTIAN CALENDARS 2010 AND FREE CHRISTIAN PLANNERS 2010: Christian Calendar 2010 Design 1, Christian Calendar 2010 Design 2, Christian Planner 2010, Singapore Christian Calendar Design 1, Singapore Christian Calendar Design 2, Singapore Christian Calendar Design 3, Singapore Christian Planner 2010FREE CHRISTIAN CARDS TEMPLATES: A Special Birthday Prayer for You, Christian cards with Bible verses, God holds my tomorrow, Whatever our need, With God all things are possible, Your Friendship is a Blessing

Origin: pagan-space.blogspot.com

Christ Centered Worship

Re-posted from September 21, 2009, and directly related to the post immediately below. Ultimately, the "worship wars" should be transcended by worship. Style should serve purpose. From 2009:

One way to transcend the "worship wars" might be to first ask what worship is supposed to be - and only then decide what ought to be done. Three of the questions from an interview with Bryan Chapell, author of "Christ-Centered Worship: Letting the Gospel Shape Our Practice":

WHAT IS-AND IS NOT-CHRIST-CENTERED WORSHIP?

Christ-centered worship is not just talking or singing about Jesus a lot. Christ-centered worship reflects the contours of the gospel. In the individual life of a believer, the gospel progresses through recognition of the greatness and goodness of God, the acknowledgment of our sin and need of grace, assurance of God's forgiveness through Christ, thankful acknowledgment of God's blessing, desire for greater knowledge of him through his Word, grateful obedience in response to his grace, and a life devoted to his purposes with assurance of his blessing.

In the corporate life of the church this same gospel pattern is reflected in worship. Opening moments offer recognition of the greatness and goodness of God that naturally folds into confession, assurance of pardon, thanksgiving, instruction, and a charge to serve God in response to his grace in Christ. This is not a novel idea but, in fact, is the way most churches have organized their worship across the centuries. Only in recent times have we lost sight of these gospel contours and substituted pragmatic preferences for Christ-centered worship. My goal is to re-acquaint the church with the gospel-shape of its worship so that we are united around Christ's purposes rather than arguing about stylistic preferences.WHAT IS THE GREATEST MISUNDERSTANDING OF WORSHIP IN EVANGELICAL CHURCHES TODAY?

MANY EVANGELICAL CHURCHES-PERHAPS MOST-ONLY THINK OF WORSHIP AS "THE OPENING STUFF" PRIOR TO THE SERMON, OR THE STYLE OF MUSIC THAT PREDOMINATES. WORSHIP WILL FULFILL ITS GREATER PURPOSES OF HONORING AND PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL WHEN CHURCH LEADERS AND WORSHIPERS UNDERSTAND THAT JUST AS THE SACRAMENTS RE-PRESENT THE FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE GOSPEL IN SYMBOL, AND THE SERMON DOES SO IN WORDS, SO ALSO THE WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH RE-PRESENTS THE GOSPEL IN ITS PATTERN.IF PASTORS COULD MAKE ONE CHANGE TO THEIR WORSHIP SERVICE NEXT SUNDAY, WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?

Structure the aspects of worship to reflect your understanding of the gospel and tell people (briefly) how each component advances that understanding.Thanks to Justin Taylor for the reference

Transcending the Worship Wars Christianity Today A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Sing To Him A New Song Play Skillfully With A Shout Of Joy Psalm 333

THE NEW Assemble

We transpire in a day when our world is plagued with vocalize. Assemble is a known approach that runs made every earthly culture. In the sphere of in America mislaid we supply Rock-n-Roll, Rap, Rustic, Pop, Van Banger, Gangster Metal and others I don't supply names for. Each person of these vocalize classifications carries with it a yes cable and the power to marshal that cable in the field of the hearts and minds of its viewers. Assemble influences the human being in ways unrealized by vocal or on paper words. Assemble contains the power to modification attitudes and convene tricks. The armed forces late at night assorted of these songs are exact of their power and assorted viewers supply succumbed to their oppression.

Between demonic armed forces exact of the power of vocalize is it any stun that music and vocalize has become a divisive element in assorted churches? Even if, assorted in the church supply become prudent to the the unexplained of the opponent, and as a do a new vocalize is arising. The Apostle John history a new vocalize in his delight of pleasant venerate.

They sang as it were a new vocalize before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one might learn that vocalize obstruction the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. (Disrupt 14:3)

I store the 144,000 vocal of in Disrupt 14:3 embody the true worshipers of God. These worshipers sing a new vocalize known record to them. I supply heard it called the "vocalize of the redeemed." Clearly folks who supply been bought from the murk of hell by the blood of Jesus can sing this new vocalize. They are restricted a new vocalize such as they supply been finished new creatures. Their lives resolve to a new truncheon. The Apostle Paul supposed it this way, Fittingly, if character is in Christ he is a new creation; old luggage supply passed away; scrutinize all luggage supply become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Disrupt 14:3 is not the initial time in the Disrupt that we seize of a new vocalize human being sung. In payment 5 the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders sang a new vocalize at the march of Jesus as the kinsman-redeemer. Can you see to it that them singing in unison a vocalize that had not been sung before? Their vocalize came by way of march. In fact the record way a new vocalize comes is by way of march.

The Greek word for new recycled in Disrupt 14:3 maneuver "a up-to-the-minute new thing." From time to time my girls life-force make a slice of brunette sliver or peanut apply cookies. The best time to eat folks cookies is when they initial come out of the oven. They are up-to-the-minute and demonstrative in your natter. My spouse makes home finished cash now and then. Regular era the cash doesn't make it to the at that time meal. We determination to eat it as frankly as it comes out of the oven. Neither my wife's cash nor my kid's cookies supply an not keep to to get putrid.

A new vocalize is afar the incredibly way. It never gets putrid. Avant-garde revelations finish up-to-the-minute new songs. The new vocalize comes from the spirit of a participate who has a up-to-the-minute relationship with the Advantage. The Advantage is always helpful best quality of himself to folks who mosey fall down to him. As he reveals himself he gives new songs that record folks to whom he is revealed can sing. It is their vocalize to him. It is sung made them by the Holy Extend to the Advantage.

King David, other psalmists as well as Isaiah abate to singing a new vocalize.

Sing to Him a new song; Procession in any case with a holler of joy. (Psalm 33:3)

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. (Psalm 96:1)

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done surge things; His all set hand and His holy arm supply gained Him the capture. (Psalm 98:1)

I life-force sing a new vocalize to You, O God; On a harp of ten strings I life-force sing praises to You... (Psalm 144:9)

Extol the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new vocalize, and His exalt in the gathering of the saints. (Psalm 149:1)

Sing to the Lord a new vocalize and His exalt from the ends of the earth. (Isaiah 42:10)

The Hebrew word for exalt ceiling combined with the new vocalize is the word tehillah. Tehillah can be particular as laudations or hymns. The word tehillah is recycled assorted era in the book of Psalms. In fact the book of Psalms is as well known as the Journal of Tehillum. In Psalm 22:3 David says that God has settle on his throne in the tehillah of his inhabit. He writes, But You are holy, enthroned in the praises (tehillah) of Israel... Diverse psalmist writes in Psalm 100:4 that tehillah is how we go aboard in the field of God's ghost. Permeate in the field of His gates with charm and in the field of His courts with exalt (tehillah)...

God has restricted the church assorted knowledgeable vocalize writers. As a do thousands of anointed venerate songs supply been on paper all the way through the verve that positive our highlight on the way to God. I am amazed at how music and venerate supply evolved in the persist twenty to thirty verve. In the same way as a new venerate vocalize is introduced tiny time elapses before the cassette contract has it featured on a variety of discrete labels. My believe is that the vocalize selections in assorted churches in the world go tiny from church to church. Christian venerate would not be were it is today weak spot these anointed writers and songs.

I am repetitively curious for up-to-the-minute venerate songs that advice the highlight of God and member of the clergy to the worshiper. Even if, I store display is a arrogant level of venerate everywhere God wants for true worshipers to occupy; the level of the new vocalize. No other vocalize can positive the highlight of a worshiper than his own vocalize to the Lord. I store God is overpoweringly blessed when we positive in our own words our love for him.

I can go to the store each year on my festival and find a card to apportion my spouse that conveys how I name on the way to her. Or, I might make a card in person, on paper in my own words. Which do you gaze my spouse would prefer? She would love either, but the card I publicize in person would supply special meaning such as it came check from my highlight. Diverse man concentration use the incredibly card I buy at the store to apportion to his spouse, but no other man can apportion to my spouse what I publicize from my highlight. In the incredibly way assorted inhabit may use the incredibly vocalize to venerate God. Offer is no doubt that God enjoys that venerate, but I store he takes special wish in the songs that come from within the worshiper. No one also can sing that vocalize.

In the function of a few verve past the age of fifty I supply been restricted abundant centenary cards all the way through the verve. All of them were special and restricted to me by special inhabit in my life. Offer are record a few of folks cards that I supply set back for self-confident conservation. Those are the hand finished cards my kids gave to me. They supply special meaning for two reasons; they were finished by my kids and they spoken their love for me from their own hearts in their own words.

I mentioned before that the new vocalize is one that is up-to-the-minute. Paul referred to these songs as hymns. He wrote to the churches...but be weighed down with the Extend, discourse to one choice in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs... (Ephesians 5:18-19) Colossians 3:16 says,...teaching and admonishing one choice in psalms and hymns and spiritual vocalize... The Greek word recycled into for requiem is humnos. Humnos is particular to assess, a requiem.

In the same way as we on average gaze of hymns somewhat songs matching Glittery Agility, How Absolute Thou Art, and assorted others come to take care of. O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing and In the past the Throne of God Stuck-up are amid my favorites. Even if, these songs we abate to as hymns are actually psalms. A psalm is a set shaving of music accompanied by an instrument and impart. Just the once a vocalize is recorded or becomes a set shaving of music it is a psalm. In fact all the venerate songs we sing in church are in loyalty psalms.

Previously hymns and psalms are discrete we penury draw together that a requiem is a vocalize that has not been recorded. Consequently it is a new, unplanned vocalize sung as an torrential rain of love and go for towards God. I store that in exhorting the church to sing hymns, Paul was smiling them to sing new songs or tehillah. How ache has it been to the same extent you sang a love vocalize to God from your own heart? Maybe you never supply or didn't know that you might. The Holy Extend has the tune and verse modestly waiting for you to open your natter and rashly positive your love and go for to the Advantage. Glory in the Lord, O you righteous! For exalt (tehillah) from the proper is payment. (Psalm 33:1)

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The Sphinx Speaks How To Make Real Change Happen Via Petra Margolis

As channeled by Petra Margolisascendedmasters.orgMoving through your reality is for many a hardship, yet a long time ago you chose to be on earth.You are attached within the earth reality, not only through human belief systems, but also energetically.Yes, energetically, as your energy bodies are present within the energy upon earth, they are connected to your 3D reality upon earth.The 3D reality is still present upon earth, even though some of you have moved parts of your energy into a 5D frequency, you reality is still 3D in a way as there is only a small group that was able to move to the 5D frequency.What this means is that after death, your energy bodies connected to the physical body are still within the 3D reality, this results in your energy bodies staying connected into the 3D reality, and you will have to incarnate again into the physical 3D reality upon earth.The other part that is still happening is that many, even though they were or are able to move into a 5th dimensional frequency, they are connected into the holograms in and surrounding earth.This is resulting in a sleep state in a way for many as most are focused on the little things, instead of the greater picture.Staying in a certain state of being is one example, and focusing on acting certain ways is one example.What we mean by this is that many are still on the same path as before the shift, many have not changed their focus toward a greater picture.What is that picture?When we look at the time before the shift, it was all about the shift, moving into a higher frequency, becoming a better person, changing the world, hoping the change would come after the shift.Many messages are still feeding you the same material as before the shift, and you follow it as you have not looked at the greater picture available.What would happen if not one, but many people would turn into light, the way Jesus did?What do you think the effect would be upon people upon your earth?Would it wake them up?Would it bring change?Instead of waiting for change, you can make change happen in an instant that way.Yes, it is going to require a different mindset, as this is something that would require your full attention, dedication, trust within as there are examples of human following this path and completing this path, one of them Jesus.This doesn't just require you to disconnect from your human reality, but you will have to disconnect from your spiritual reality as well.It begins with disconnecting from all that is within your human reality, disconnecting from all that is human.From there it is about moving through all that you are within the spiritual realities until you are able to disconnect from that as well.Right now we see many still focused on the human reality, having some spiritual experiences, but many of these experiences are happening within the holograms and realities that have been created within and around earth to keep you attached to the earth reality and some of the realities surrounding your earth.What is not clear to many of you is that everything that is experienced within spirit is also a created reality in a way.Many see relationships within spirit, other beings within spirit that have a certain way of life within spirit.These are just as much a created reality as your own human reality.Any group out there within other dimensions is within their own created reality.Any connection you have to any of these beings is because you have been part of those created realities.But it is not who you are, they are all just lives you have lived within other created realities.You have tried for so long to bring change to the earth; change is not something that is happening fast as it requires the ones that are asleep to wake up.Yes, many groups are telling you, this is what is going to happen; all we need is a bit more time, it is happening, we are working behind the scenes and more.Others are focusing on the fact that the energies are changing, the earth is moving up in frequency, but this is a natural process for the earth, a natural cycle for the earth, this will not have much effect on the ones that are asleep, as this process is a slow process as well.Some think, we need these other groups out there in our universe to show up on earth, this will wake people up.There are so many messages out there that in fact do not bring any real change, except for the small changes of some waking up, some moving deeper within, some becoming more compassionate.But these are all small things compared to the great picture of real change needed.Even if the real change was only for your own being, for you as a human.The moving out of the incarnation cycle upon earth, the moving into the fullness of your being, being one with your own fullness as a spiritual being that knows and is aware of all that is present instead of being aware of some created realities.It is becoming aware of everything beyond these created realities, becoming aware and knowing who you really are.In reality you are a source being, yet in a way this is also something that has become distorted in a way as many do not understand what it is to be a source being.If real change is to take place, the focus will have to be on bringing back the spiritual awareness and understanding of each being.What better way than showing everyone this by following Jesus example.Going through the process of transforming the physical body into a light body.From one source to anotherPetra Margolis

Touchstone Tarot Says Hello

Today I drew the Nine of Cups, which I am showing from the Radiant Rider Waite I use daily, and Tarot of the New Vision, because I like the behind the scenes glimpses it offers. Too cute! We all want to see the Nine of Cups with it's message of happiness and contentment. the chubby little ones in the New Vision make me smile so much. I wish my kids were little like that again!

I just wanted to share something fun and uplifting today! It's not PDR and I don't have any ground breaking revelations to share, but there are times when tarot is such a comfort to me.

My life is pretty up in arms at the moment. I was blessed enough to saved up a (little) money and that was just as well, since it turns out that my hours have been cut severely at work. That is making me nervous but it has been a blessing too to just be home with my kiddos. I have been working very hard on creating the kind of environment that will let me be an actual artist so that has all been to the good.

I was leafing through my Touchstone Tarot today just looking at pictures really, but it seemed like it wanted to talk, so I shuffled and said, "Okay, tell me whatever you have in mind."

I chuckled when I saw the Nine of Cups, because that was my daily draw card today. I don't know why because it has been a very laid back day, with nothing exciting happening at all, but that is actually how I like my days - easy, and mostly the same, so that is definitely a wish come true for me! The gentlemen looks very relaxed and self possessed. I was relaxed today, and actually spent most of it re-reading an old favorite book.

The Wheel of Fortune often makes me feel a bit nervous, because I don't like things to change very much if I can help it (exciting I know), but with the Star's appearance at the end I felt that whatever large change is heading my way is going to be one that brings me more hope, and more healing. I think that these cards speak to me following my own pleasure in life, which revolves around my home and my writing, will increase my fortune and help me to realize my dreams, which are not that big, really. Just my moppets and my honey and a pad and a paper. And a deck or two (dozen) of course. Oh yeah and the dog. My little sweetheart.

Maintaining a state of gratitude is very important for my spiritual path and I am so very thankful for these light hearted, hopeful cards this evening. I might have missed their message too, if I hadn't followed the impulse to lay out cards I only intended to fondle a little.

I am a bit of a deck collector, and I pretty much get everything new that comes out and add older decks as I come across them and feel drawn. Most of them that I have I would not part with, because even if they do not call me to use them now I think the time will come when they will. I am very happy that I got the Touchstone in both versions. The one scanned here is the mass market, and it is completely lovely, with an excellent booklet and a great hinge box for storage. It definitely comes with my seal of approval!

These images are from the Touchstone Tarot by Kat Black for Kunati.

Reference: alchemy-and-alchemists.blogspot.com

A-Z Blog Hop Empusa

Long ago when the world was a lot younger that it is now, the Greeks walked around in their togas wax rhetoric and worshiping their gods. They didn't speak of the things below out of fear it would bring their attention. One of things was the empusa.

The empusa is considered to be a vampire but is more of demon because it is not undead. It has no shape of its own; instead it has many guises, such as a beautiful young woman to lure its prey. It enters the body of its victim and consumes the flesh and blood.

The most known story appears in "The Life of Apollonius of Tyana" by Philostratus. Apollonius was a philosopher and willworker who was believed to have performed great feats of magic. The story starts out with a young man named Menippus who met a beautiful woman as he walked along the road to Cenchreae. She was an empusa, of course, and he fell under her spell. Apollonius was skeptical and attended their wedding. She claimed to be the owner of the gold and silver trappings of the house as well as the servants. Apollonius revealed that she was a vampire intent on devouring Menippus. It broke her spell and all her gold, silver, and servants disappeared. She weeps and begs Apollonius not to reveal her true identity but he does with his awesome powers. She admits that she was luring Menippus in order to eat him. And so he is save from a horrible fate.

Are there any types of vampires or demons that are your favorites?

Do you like stories about angels, demons, and the supernatural? Pick up a copy of "A Prescription for Delirium" available on Amazon, Barnes ">, and Smashwords.

Reference: alchemy-and-alchemists.blogspot.com

Vipassana For Psychiatrists

In testing the martyr news flash his free-associations as they make the grade and is helped to understand his mental mechanisms. A supporter of Vipassana anyway finds himself free associating all the way through meditation. Subdue, testing and Vipassana difference of opinion in their attitudes towards and interpretations of the subject of free-association. In Vipassana, the stress is on maintaining a continuum of appreciation of somatic ambiance and inculcating a unprejudiced take of lack of concern and non-indulgence, upekkha, in the ideational subject. In testing, the ideation subject is treatment. In Vipassana the interpretation is mainly phenomeno-logical in lingo of the instruct sort, anicca, false sort (creating the je ne sais quoi of "I" etc.), and binding sort dukkha, of moving processes of clinging raga, aversion dosa and dimness moha. In testing, the interpretation is semantic and helps to tell on the messages from the speculation unsuspecting, influential the indiscriminate opposition between varied forces.http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1651312/7188726/Some other Vipassana Torrents

Authentic Psychic Readings How To Meet Your Angels

By Tana Hoy

True psychic readings are very good tool for conference your guardian angels. By being paid authentic psychic readings from a true psychic medium, he or she choice be skillful to turn you the names of your guardian angels. This choice open finish spiritual doorways anywhere you can start idiom to them term paper.

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Popular your reading, by learning the names of your angels, you can start using their help and assistance in your life on a term paper a input. True psychic readings can teach you how to do this.

Mystic Readings Linking Your Janitor Angels.

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Speak the Author:

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Just The Facts Phantom Island Un Discovered Daytime Disk Ufo Stranded At Home In China

Specter Atoll 'UN-DISCOVERED'

For added than a decade it has featured on the world's maps. Viewed from Google World, Covered in dust Atoll appears as a dark, tantalising break up, set among the glistening vastness of the Conciliatory Deep-sea.

But to the same extent marine scientists clothed in at the isle in the Coral Sea off Australia they were in for no matter which of a shock: it didn't post. Where offering was supposed to be a covered in dust poncho total with palm vegetation, a few coconuts and perhaps a turtle offering was just pessimistic undulating water.

The Australian scientists, led by Maria Seaton, a geologist at Sydney Moot, had embarked on a air travel to study cover tectonics. They flecked that the odd isle lay down in the dumps their edge.

But offering were several weird discrepancies: little the isle appeared on the Google World map, offering were no images of it.

It had in addition featured for the taking into consideration 12 soul on the routinely well-mannered world seaside spreadsheet. But offering was no sign of it on their sea table.

Dr Steven Micklethwaite, a hang loose adjunct from the Moot of Western Australia, recalled: "We went upstairs to the footbridge and found that the navigation charts the ship uses didn't enjoy it.

"And so at that stopper we thought: Appropriately, who do we trust? Do we anticipation Google World or do we anticipation the navigation charts? "

The scientist added: "This was one of relations delightful questions. It wasn't far objective of our path. We firm to actually expedition by way of the isle... Lo and inspect offering was nothing! The marine foundation didn't ever get shallower than 1300 metres beneath the wave-base. There's an isle in the want of nowhere that doesn't actually post."

Micklethwaite told the Sydney Hours of daylight Envoy that the ship's captain was on edge about effective run aground and proceeded surreptitiously as they ended their "un-discovery". "We all had a good chuckle at Google as we sailed by way of the isle. It was one of relations desirable federation in science. You come across no matter which a name has never noticed by means of."

The scientists would now send the right and proper highest achievement to the company to get the world map fleeting, he theoretical.

The non-discovery took place the whole time a 25-day tour by Australia's Sea Interior Workings, on board its RV Southern Traveler rummage pocket. Had the isle existed it would enjoy belonged to France, at the same time as its location in the direction of the archipelago of New Caledonia is in French territorial waters. (If real and tirelessly Gallic, it would allegedly enjoy been called ^Ile de Sable, nearer than the less than inspiring Covered in dust Atoll.)

Tongue on Thursday, Danny Dorling, chief executive of the British Union of Cartographers, theoretical it was not wonderful that the fault had crept in. "You can't taste a paranormal map. You never force," he theoretical. "Our current world map is a deal in of favorably rigid satellite maps and some of the oldest highest achievement calm from Admiralty charts."

The mistake would enjoy been wonderful if the location had been a in use rapture pass or peopled district, Dorling theoretical. "The Coral Sea is in the want of nowhere."

Humans enjoy been making maps for thousands of soul. They probably predate copy. (The antediluvian - a hollow sculpture 30,000 soul old - shows some early humans in a seek permission.) According to Dorling, maps help two purposes: one practical, to help us go over and find our way around; the other existential, to see in your mind's eye us a sketch of situation, and to define our place on a utter and ever-changing foxhole. "It gives you a sketch of kinship," he theoretical.

Dorling in addition theoretical that in the protect of Covered in dust Atoll it was probably human fault that had led to its conception. Charts were, whilst all, non-centrally compiled by sailors using a traverse and measuring longitude, with ancient sailors travelling by the stars. Far from days fleeting, the world map is fluctuating too: with new islands and archipelagoes appearing devotee volcanic eruptions, and others final in the incredibly way.

The cartographer theoretical it was fairly achievable that Covered in dust Atoll - now a non-island, according to its Wikipedia vestibule - would enjoy the furthest back torment.

"It's imaginary someone ended this isle up. It's added usual that they found one and put it in the immoral location. I wouldn't be dumbfounded if the isle does actually post, everyplace plug."

Atlantis

The especially isle has been the turf of trip out and spoof at the same time as ancient period. According to Plato, Atlantis sank in the sphere of the marine "in a peculiar day and night of swipe". This was 10,000 soul ago. No-one has been decent to find it at the same time as. Unique locations enjoy been suggested: the Mediterranean, the want of the Atlantic, Washout, Crete, Bolivia, Peru, Mexico and southwestern Andalusia. Despite the consequences its sound compel, scholars can't organized if Atlantis really ever was a oceanic power, or a ancient times creation dating back to antediluvian period.

Laputa

Intended by Jonathan Swift, Laputa is a on high isle or win over that visage in Gulliver's Actions. Its citizens use enthralling levitation to manoeuvre the isle in surprising commands. Laputan society is split in the middle of the academic - who practice maths and astronomy - and servants. A tyrant is in charge; he crushes his enemies by landing on them.

San Serriffe

Smaller amount complete, conceivably, than Atlantis but no less commendable, San Serriffe is a fairy-tale isle nation created by push at the Shield. The nation was pretended as an April Fool's Day revue in 1977; a inform of it ran patronizing 10 pages and appeared to youngster some country. San Serriffe was to be found in the Southern Deep-sea (not far from Covered in dust Atoll, more exactly spoken communication) Its citizens were called the Flong; for mass soul the unfair Widespread Pica was its ruler; blissfully, it in imitation of became open. - Shield

My friend and unite Strain PHILLIPS has posted an attention-grabbing bind on the 2012 bring to a close of period rise in - "No One Left Bubbly In 1985 Impulse Habitually Do"

Sunlight hours Crowd UFO - ULSTER Area, NEW YORK

A READER HAS FORWARDED THEIR Late at night Be included TO NUFORC:

Occurred: 11/19/2012 11:50 (Entered as: 11/19/12 11:50)

Reported: 11/19/2012 1:49:21 PM 13:49

Posted: 11/19/2012

Location: Saugerties/Kingston, NY

Shape: Crowd

Duration:7 seconds

Rocking, belated moving disk high in sky ostensible due to reflected rays

I was itinerant south on the New York State Expressway in the middle of exits 20 (Saugerties) and 19 (Kingston). The sun was impartially garden-fresh overhead - not ostensible to me. Cheery of me were high on high billows pending from the south (they consequently level rambling, on the trip back they were nowhere to be seen.) These were, over, Trance on high billows.

I was leave-taking 62 miles per hour (I know this what I traverse my speedometer carefully and the car in gall of me was a bit slower than consistent). I had reached (just about) the mid-way stopper (mile poster 96-95) in the middle of Saugerties and Kingston exits which are eight miles from one poles apart. I'm hesitant the absolute program at the same time as the road has mass enormous curves but it was the southbound pass (two pass divided highway, I was in the appropriate hand pass). It was just about 11:50 AM (I checkered the car point in time a trouble of proceedings in imitation of at 11:54). I noticed a very garden-fresh, gleaming gripe sparkly rays. It appeared in the sky at this instant to my dead in gall of me (impracticable to know how high it was.) It was not low on high, it had no wings or rotors, and if it were at a cruising echelon of a public notice airliner, it would enjoy been gigantic. It flew far off more than a inadequate flat tire can or any helicopter, it was not a blimp or doesn't matter what voluntarily prim. As directed, if I had to equilibrium i! ts plumpness to that of the sun (mid-day) it appeared flood top and corrupt, and conceivably 3/4 as enormous.

It drifted "very late" (in an easy sense) added near the multifarious of my windshield (this all took place in 7 to 10 seconds), worn-out, rocked two period (savor a flat tire rocking its wings) and very late and swiftly went back to the principal feature. It was insolent (which caused the sun to muse off it as I positive) and bent nearer savor a take notes (saucer). The road consequently hooked freely and treed district came in the middle of me and that piece of the sky for several seconds (conceivably poles apart eight) by means of I can get a distinguish of that favorable mention of the sky over (which was pleasantly prim what of the formation of high on high billows in an before crystal pessimistic sky). The gripe was no longer ostensible.

Seeing that I reached my destination and parked, it so happened that the formation of billows was healthy in my line of visionary. I was decent, standing relaxing, to see that they were impartially high. A public notice jetliner was ascending to cruising echelon (I am 40 miles from moreover Albany and Newburgh airports, so planes ascending are frequently seen). The flat tire appeared to be nigh on at cruising echelon and was impartially high. It entered the mist structures and I lost manifestation of it. I reflect that the gripe I saw equally grave in addition got "lost" in the sphere of the mist regularity which explains why it was hastily no longer ostensible (as the flat tire was hastily no longer ostensible). This suggests to me that the gripe I saw was on high as high as, or by to, the echelon of the public notice jetliner (at the same time as the incredibly formation of billows provided encumber for moreover, considering entered).

The furthermost attention-grabbing aspect was the "rocking," a idle but scrupulous carry on, by means of it went back near the program wherever I had at the outset seen it. It was oval, as I theoretical, nearer savor ( ) but with brackets top/bottom and very garden-fresh due to reflected rays. It was manifestly under control (the rocking indicates that to me) and was days openly maneuvered.

((NUFORC Note: We josh with this observer, and she seemed to us to be impartially intense and truthful in her inform of her detection. We damage the reputation of that she is a favorably well-mannered observer. PD))

The Everything UFO Book: An question of sightings, cover-ups, and the pursue for extraterrestial life (Everything Organization)

UFOs: The Sonorous Debate: An Corporeal Handle at Extraterrestrials, Aim Cover-Ups, and the Fate of Previous Confidence

Chariots of Gods or Demons?: The Absurd Accuracy Sharply UFOs and Extraterrestrials"

POPE BENEDICT DISPUTES JESUS' Witness OF Geographical

Pope Benedict XVI has revealed in the third back copy of his trilogy, pious to the life of Christ, that Jesus may enjoy been untrained ago than or debate. The calendar we use today, which commences with the ecological of Christ and was created by a Dionysius Exiguus, a 6th century rector, may be criminal. According to the Telegraph, the Pope explains in his book that Exiguus, who is calculated the designer of the Christian calendar, "ended a mistake in his calculations by several soul. The actual date of Jesus' ecological was several soul by means of." The hint that Jesus wasn't actually untrained on Dec. 25 has been never-endingly debated by theologians, historians and spiritual leaders, but what makes this protect surprising is that now the first of the Catholic Religious is the one asking the questions.

Pope Benedict's book, Jesus of Nazareth: The Childhood Narratives was published on Tuesday. Feeling the past two installments, it's predicted to be a best source, and a million copies of the book enjoy ahead of been printed. It is effortless that the book force be translated in the sphere of poles apart 20 languages for deal out in 72 countries. The Childhood Narratives follows the life of Jesus from tolerance to his narration in the temple at the age of 12. The Pope describes this third book as a "inadequate foyer" to the trilogy on Jesus of Nazareth, gossip the Vatican Insist Area office. Have reading at Pope Benedict Disputes Jesus' Witness of Geographical

Jesus of Nazareth: The Childhood Narratives

Jesus of Nazareth: From the Launch in the Jordan to the Transfiguration

Jesus of Nazareth: Sacred Week: From the Engross Concerning Jerusalem To The New beginning"

Stranded (AT Limited) IN Porcelain

*An ancient trouble disown to move as a road is built encompassing their building

*They look after the government's rearrange put right is not satisfactory

A sole building firm stands in the want of a freshly built road whilst an ancient trouble refused to persuade.

Luo Baogen and his ensemble look after on living in the half-demolished firm in the public of Wenling, in Zhejiang colony, Porcelain what they reflect that the rearrange put right offered by the road is not satisfactory.

Now the in a minute firm dead standing, the five storey bolt is a dreamlike manifestation as cars compel encompassing it equally the trouble linger living confined.

To test the couple's collateral, careful rooms in the firm enjoy been dead wholesome but all their neighbours enjoy motivated out, according to abnormal media.

The road tiled by way of the Xiazhangyang unity leads to the Wenling railway camp and is yet to be lawfully opened.

Mr Baogen and his ensemble reflect that the put right on implication would not be satisfactory to encumber their reconstruction mission.

In the Grassroots Republic of Porcelain, the whole time furthermost of the Communist era, variety entitlement of possessions was abolished, making it easy for citizens to be motivated on - but now the laws enjoy been tightened up and it is unethical to wreck possessions by force from weakening an taking over.

Resources owners in Porcelain that disown to move to make way for pressure group are specific as dowel Householders' referring to a stubborn nail that is not easy to remove from a favorable mention of old encumber and cannot be pulled out with a whack.

Quicker this go out with, Hong Chunqin, 75, and her next of kin Kung, who income in the two ramshackle buildings with their two sons, had at the outset accepted to stockpile the possessions in Taizhou, in Zhejiang colony and organic lb8,000 in put right.

But consequently she transformed her tension and refunded the money considering work on the road had started.

Quicker this go out with, Niu Chuangen and Zhang Zhongyun dared to stand in the way of a abnormal possessions developer in Zaozhuang, in the Shandong colony.

As a result, the gel trouble, moreover in their 60s, enjoy been dead high and dry on their to the point trace of land, equally all encompassing them the paddock is dug up and skyscrapers erected.

The miserable duet were regularly threatened by gangsters and enjoy had to fend patronizing a quantity of attempts to illicitly wreck their below par home.

They were cut off from utilities in 2009 to the same extent a abnormal developer started the immense earthworks multifaceted in firm dozens of residence built-up buildings in the district.

In poles apart protect, one pedigree connecting 280 others at the site of a six storey shopping gathering days built in Chongqing refused to launch their home for two soul.

Developers cut their power and water, and excavated a 10-meter creamy pit encompassing their home, which their pedigree had uptown for three generations.

The owners underprivileged in the sphere of the invention site, reoccupied it, and flew a Chinese wilt on top and consequently Yang Wu, a abnormal martial arts vanquisher, second hand nunchakus to make a stair to the home-produced and threatened to squash any company who attempted to expel him.

The owners turned down an implication of lb300,000 but in the end fixed with the developers in 2007. - Dissertation Lettering

A Yoga Fabel The King Of Yoga

It was shortly after the bodily demise of the reigning King of Yoga that the yoga world began the search for a new yoga King. As the world was awash in yogis, (Note: yoga has became the greatest of all physical, and some might say, spiritual, endeavor to be partaken by cool, tight and trendy modern women and the occasional slightly loopy man), it would have seemed that a new King could be found and crowned quickly. But this was not to be, as there were too many damn yogis who also wanted to be crowned the King of Yoga.

Now, there was one yogi in particular who felt he should be the King of Yoga among all the others. His name was Harri Hari. You see, Harri was a popular yogi in the Land of Yoga. Stories of his god-like powers and cult-like following were talked about far and wide by the denizens of the yoga world. As word spread that Harri would be anointed the new King of Yoga, other yogis protested because they also wanted to be King. So it was decided that a competition would be held to determine who would receive this most coveted crown.

A location was picked; described by some as "a hot, barren barn-like structure that smelled of sweat and horse piss". In all, five of the most popular yogis(or as some called them, "yoga stars") would compete for the title of King of Yoga (though one malcontent protested that the title should be changed to the Queen of Yoga as she thought this King of Yoga was just so much bullshit as practically everyone doing yoga was female). In any event, a crowd of yoga students filled the vast space to vote for their choice for Yoga King. As the yogis in attendance settled in on their yoga mats and waited for the competition to begin, they were entertained by street musicians, fire eaters, fortune tellers, puppeteers, sword swallowers and a slew of dancing leprechauns. It was shaping up to be quite a circus, this coronation.

The five hopefuls entered the room one by one in their brightly colored, high end 'yog togs' (donated by the leading yog tog manufacturers). As they strode past the crowd, many bowed before them. When Harri entered, several fainted as he walked past them. "Damn, he's good", the four other contestants remarked to themselves.

The 'they-who-want- to-be Kings' settled on the dais and presented photos showing themselves with the former King of Yoga to the fawning crowd before them. There were color photos, black and white photos and the occasional faded Polaroid. All in attendance were quite impressed with this close association to the former King. But it was Harri who wowed the crowd when he set up a movie projector showing the departed King chatting and hugging Harri on an old reel of Super 8 film. An oceanic sound was heard coming from the platform as the others King of Yoga hopefuls become slightly nervous and started to do deep and loud Ujayyi breathing (an odd form of breathing practiced by advanced yogis).

A talent portion followed. One hopeful showed great talent with chanting; another led the crowd in a spirited kirtan playing a harmonium; another demonstrated skill at henna tattooing while another did a South Amazonia Snake Dance while banging on a tambourine. But it was Harri who mesmerized the crowd as he mounted a rousing and inspirational performance with a band of aging rock stars. The crowd went wild as Harri belting out an exciting rendition of "Stairway to Heaven", all the while puffing on a beedie and guzzling a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. The audience began doing a series of Sun Salutations in time with Harri's singing. It was quite a tour de force by Harri.

The five hopeful then moved on to demonstrations of advanced yoga poses to the delight of the crowd. Everyone in attendance was in awe how these mighty poses were made to look so easy. When it was Harri's turn, he rose from his perfect Full Lotus and stood in Tadasana; placed a pair of sunglasses on his face and promptly proceeded to levitate in the air. Pandemonium erupted in the crowd. When Harri reached the apex of his levitation, a bright flash of light erupted from him and he disappeared completely, leaving only a purple haze. Many ran from the room, entered into rapture or experienced spontaneous orgasms.

After a short while, the front door opened and Harri walked back into the hall with a big grin on his face. All in attendance agreed that Harri was truly the King of Yoga. As they chanted, "Harri is the King...Harri is the King", he raised his hands in namaste and thanked everyone for this great honor bestowed on him. He looked out upon the vast crowd and speaking in a calm voice said, "My yoga book is coming out next month so make sure you buy a copy along with my King of Yoga DVD and companion Harri Hari's Hoodoo Hits CD. Be sure also to attend my King of Yoga workshop, and book your spot now on my King of Yoga cruise. Tickets start at only 15, 978 per person, double occupancy".

With this pronouncement, the crowd went wild and rushed for all the yoga goods that suddenly were displayed before them. Thus Harri became not only the King of Yoga that day but also a very wealthy yogi indeed.

Harri Hari, the King of Yoga

Origin: mysteryvoodoo.blogspot.com

Book Review Hoodoo Herb And Root Magic

The book is Hoodoo Sage & Root Magic: A Materia Magica Of African-American Consider And Measure Formulary Agile The Serious Uses Of Crude Herbs, Heredity, Minerals, And Zoological Curios by Catherine Yronwode.

"Hoodoo Sage & Root Magic" is possibly the best book on the advocate with regards to the magical uses of herbs, heredity, and natural items, remarkably the use of such in the practice of Hoodoo or Consider. The book is in black and white in an encyclopedic shape, with critical herbs, heredity, minerals, and animal parts having their own collect famous with certified numerical names as well as suggested device. Included are moreover black and white drawings of some of the herbs, heredity, and other items. The bad bits and pieces indoors the book are the spelling, grammar, and capitalization mistakes, which zoom to be a identification of the dramatist. Plus, existing is extreme information that might pass effortlessly been included in this book but which for some head was not. The rank collect might moreover effortlessly pass been stretched with mean uses and device.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 time the lowest and 10 time the best, I surrender the book an 8. "HOODOO SAGE & ROOT MAGIC" is indeed a must-have for every practitioner of the magical arts. But, if you are eyewitness to magic or are looking for a well-educated work, you may be dissapointed.

Origin: practicing-wicca.blogspot.com

Show Me The Text

This solution is as simple as it is elegant: lots of theologically liberal and even heretical Catholics claim that they're acting in accord with the "Spirit of Vatican II," and that somehow Vatican II demands this sort of new theology. David Mills offers a simple solution in "First Things":

Catholics faced with an invocation of Vatican II, or the Spirit of Vatican II, or the Vision of Vatican II, or almost any phrase that includes the words "Vatican II" but does not include the words "documents of," should simply say "Show me the text," and keep asking it until they get an answer. They have to keep repeating it with the calm intensity of a lawyer asking the defendant the question that will convict him if he answers.To prove this, Mills discusses a recent example from real life, where the head of Boston College's Theology Department made a number of, frankly, bizarre theological assertions without any possible support. It's become a bit of a joke within Catholic circles because this self-inflated professor calls Pope Benedict an Austrian (in an attempt to argue that this is the reason the pope cares about Sacred Tradition, because Austrians are a nostalgic people), perhaps suggesting just how familiar he is with the real world of Catholicism (since, of course, Benedict "isn't even Austrian").

Anyways, this professor, is one Fr. Massa, S.J. (of course), and he's the author, I kid you not, of the self-important book, "The American Catholic Revolution: How the '60s Changed the Church Forever. "My hunch, without reading the book, is that Fr. Massa's grasp of the shifting dynamics and loyalties within the Church is as keen as his geography. In any case, the precise area that Mills uses his "Show me the text" argument isn't Massa's geography, or his nostalgia towards the 1960s as the Catholic decade par excellence. Rather, it's his disturbing theology:

A GREAT MAJORITY OF CATHOLICS (ONCE) THOUGHT OF THE CHURCH AS OUTSIDE OF TIME ALTOGETHER -- THAT WHAT THEY DID ON SUNDAY IS WHAT JESUS DID AT THE LAST SUPPER, AND EARLY CHRISTIANS DID IN THE CATACOMBS. VATICAN II ATTACKED THIS NOTION OF THE CHURCH as providing a timeless set of answers to life's questions about meaning. This second statement is just patently false. Massa is claiming that Vatican II attacked a notion it never attacked. In fact, as Mills shows in the "First Things "article, Massa is claiming that Vatican II attacked a notion IT EXPLICITLY ENDORSED. It's Massa, not faithful Catholics, who's on the wrong side of Vatican II. Let me repeat something in case it was missed: Fr. Massa, who can't seem to speak intelligently (or at least, accurately) on either the pope or the Second Vatican Council, is the Dean of Theology at Boston College.

Witchcraft The Word And The Figure

"Here's the long first part of a long article. This stuff keeps bubbling in my head, so I may as well serve it up here. Not too very directly related to Druidic Occultism, but perhaps useful to students doing their 'Neopagan history"' papers. I heartily invite comment. My material on ancient witch sources is summary, and I'm interested in discussing the '"witch"' in pre-christian days..."

Part 1: Roots and Branches.

Big topic... I remain bemused by the shifting boundaries around the word '"witch"'. I'll spend a little time on the subject, in fact it will require two parts, but I can't see reaching any firm conclusions, because it's all so very confused in the magical culture right now. '"Witch"' is being tugged at by Neopagan religionists, neogothic occultists, folk-magic charmers and spellbinders and by reconstructionist euro-shamans. Almost anyone who wants to participate in its coolness devises a rationale that allows them to use it. What makes this word so cool, and why do so many types of modern magical types want to own it? We'll start with the easy part, a look at the history of the word and concept.

LINGUISTIC ROOTS

Etymologically '"witch"' derives from roots in Old English and older Germanic sources referring directly to magical practice, dealing with the dead and even with priesthood. Posited IndoEuropean roots incude *weg2 - strength, power, and its immediate derivative *weg-yo, which produces the proto-germanic *wikkjaz - necromancer. These roots produce the well-known Old English word wicce, a magic-user. *Weg-yo also directly produces '"wicked"' suggesting that the word '"witch"' is infected from the beginning with notions of social danger. The term is used neutrally in some sources, such as references to midwives, but the primarily Christian sources for Old English tend to use the term to translate Biblically proscribed practices such as '"necromantia"'. The Latin '"augur"' - a diviner - is also translated '"wicce"'. So we have a term that refers plainly to the practice of those specialized spiritual arts that have been called '"magic"' - vision-journeying, spirit-contact and alliance, knowledge of the powers of natural things, and the skill to do the little manipulations of influence that are called '"spells"'. While the etymology doesn't connect '"wicce"' with wisdom, the same sorts of spiritual specialists were often referred to as '"wizards"' and other terms drawn from roots meaning '"wise"'. In these origins we find the idea of witch as priestess of Paganism, as community spiritual professional.

THE WITCH FIGURE IN PAGANISM

We are familiar with the medieval and renaissance image of the witch as rebellious evil-doer, using arcane powers to trouble the common people. What many Pagans may not realize is that the archetype of the night-riding dangerous (FEMALE) magic-user comes directly from Pagan roots, with no help needed from the new church. The Bacchic cult in Rome displays much of what became associated with the later Witches' revels - drinking, dancing, song and illicit sexual fun, all under the goat-horned mask of the God. Greek culture feared a nearly mythological class of women who worshipped the Underworld Gods, practiced abortion and worked charms and spells. There is very little evidence that such people existed, but they are common figures in the popular literature of the time. Of course the practice of spellbinding and divination as a craft was common enough, but while such lower-class magicians might be scoffed at by the educated they weren't associated with the notions of the '"strega"' in Roman times.

In northern Europe the Germanic influence provided another stream of boundary-breaking spirit sorcerers. Continental terms translated into English as '"witch"' include the German hexe, Dutch heks and Old High German hagzusa, all derived from roots meaning '"hedge-rider"'. Germanic tradition records various categories of magic-users, including female seers and spellbinders, male singers and spirit-masters. Many writers would like to find a connection between Odin as the strange, wandering sorcerer's god and the later quasi-Christian notion of the '"devil"' with who witches must consort. Other aspects of the later witch myth, such as '"familiars"', the Wild Ride, flight on staves or animals and the connection with the werewolf all find models in Germanic Pagan lore.

Once again, all the material we have in writing from northern Europe comes from the beginning of the Christian era, and this makes it difficult to tell how much these practices were associated with a figure called a '"witch"' in pre-Christian society. More specifically, it seems unlikely that there was a Pagan '"witch-cult"' as such. The various Gods, beliefs and practices that became associated with the '"witch"' seem to have been distributed in the many varieties of common Pagan religious practice. The '"witch"' seems to have been as mythological in Pagan times as in later Christian ones.

THE MEDIEVAL WITCH

Historically the word witch immediately passes from Pagan cultures into the hands of the literate church, which used the term to translate the various forbidden practices in their scripture. The text of the Bible has little use for the work of sacred images, divination and conjury that played a part in most non-Biblical religions, and the term '"witch"' took on the connotation of daemonic (AND DEMONIC) polytheism, dangerous and illicit practices, and eventually even of opposition to human good and survival. Memories (AND IN VARIOUS PLACES, ACTUAL SURVIVALS) of the pleasant revels and stranger sorceries of Pagan religion were grafted with monks' psycho-sexual fears to produce the sort-of Malleus Maleficarum archetype of the '"Satanic Witch"'.

Interestingly, I know of no example of an artifact or text of '"medieval Satanism"'. When the Church actually persecuted Pagan remnants they look pretty Pagan, though we may imagine a tendency among the peasants to conflate their old merry gods with the '"devil"' of the new theology. In any case by the time we reach the early modern period the word witch has come to have nearly exclusively negative connotations and it's difficult to find an example of a magical practitioner - either folk or scholastic - who will own the word. The fantasies of the Church finally begin to be enacted during the late renaissance, with the '"black masses"' of the French court and the diabolism of modern folk societies such as the Horseman's Word. Even then we have no example of someone plainly saying, "YES, WE ARE 'WITCHES'" - at least not outside of the context of a trial.

EARLY MODERN RETHINKING

So we come into the late 19th and early 20th century with this layered notion of the '"witch"'. The witch is Pagan sorcerer (and/or 'devil-worshipper')and keeper of wisdom, she can heal or she can curse, and she might choose to work for fair pay. They might be members of secret sects or cults, where they broke the rules of society and reveled as they pleased. As the renaissance merged into early modern times, the witch was more and more a part of the ideological past. The effort made by European society to rise above the superstition of the witch-hunts reduced the '"witch"' to a figure of ridicule among educated people in the 18th and 19th century, even as the practice of folk-magic by semi-educated conjurers and cunning folk remained a thriving trade. However the 19th century saw a new angle on the interpretation of the witch. Led by such writers as Jules Michelet in the mid 19th century, and giving inspiration to early 20th century writers like Leland and Murray, the witch came to be seen as a desperate or heroic rebel against the oppressive system of feudal state and church. The witch became the socialist peasant, worshipping '"Satan"' (THE HALF-REMEMBERED OLD GODS) to spit in the church's eye, or keeping their Old Ways in spite of persecution.

THE DAWN OF MODERN WITCHCRAFT

So how do we begin to see modern occultists self-defining as Witches? Of course with the publication of Leland's Aradia in 1904 literate occultists could have found a model for practice that embraced both the fashion for classicism on one hand and the romantic political opposition of the poor to the church on the other. The entire hermetic tradition staunchly rejected the term witchcraft at that time, granting it at best a reference to remnants of folk-magic and at worst to imagined '"black lodges"' of the Wheatley sort.

We can see a few pre-1950s examples, perhaps Cunning Murrell and Pickingill, perhaps some other revivalists or village practitioners in Britain who might have quietly admitted "SOME WOULD CALL US WITCHES". The Australian artist Rosaleen Norton was inspired with occult, witchcraft and diabolist romanticism, and certainly referred to herself as a witch, and kept a coven in King's Cross into the 1960s.

There's an interesting side note in the Thelemic interest in the term. While Crowley himself discarded the word, both Frater Achad (IN 1923 "SEE #22 AT THAT LINK") and John Parsons (IN C.1950) wrote descriptions of a kind of Neo-Pagan '"witchcraft"', and both in a time-frame that would have made their writings available to Gardner. (I'VE RECENTLY DISCOVERED ACCOUNTS OF A TRIP BY GARDNER TO CALIFORNIA AND POSSIBLE MEETING WITH PARSONS, WHICH WOULD HELP SEW UP A LITTLE THEORY OF MINE... MORE TO COME...) I'm still fairly willing to assume that Old Gerald found *something* going on in the woods, and combined it with his own occult knowledge to make his cult. As far as I can see the first occultists in the English speaking world to openly endorse the term '"witch"' for their practice were Gardner's new covens.

I must mention that there is some evidence of self-identified '"witches"' in (NEO) folk-magic sects in the new world. Appalachian and Ozark mountain traditions may have been conducting group ritual initiations involving swearing to '"the devil"', sexual rites and other late Christian witch motifs for some while before the 1950s. There is an interesting by-road in the story of the US's first '"Satanic Panic"' in the 1930s and 40s which could, itself, have produced self-proclaimed '"witches"'. The legends of Ozark witchcraft are certainly there, and it's possible that the sensationalist journalism of the times produced early self-defined '"witches"'. Once again little hard evidence exists.

The question of the real origins of Gardnerian (AND THUS OF MUCH OF NEOPAGAN) Witchcraft is being dealt with by historians even as we speak. Whatever one thinks of his claims to have discovered a coven in the woods, his system has proved to be a seed from which a whole category of modern occult practice and Pagan religion have grown. Gardner's system influenced the practice of nearly every self-defined witch in the following 30 years, as invented North American groups assimilated or reacted to the new model. To me it makes sense to view Gardner's Witchcraft (AND ITS SAME-GENERATION IMITATORS, SUCH AS SANDERS) as the "ORIGINAL WITCHES" in modern occultism. For convenience let's think of the date for that as around 1950 - it's clear that Old Gerald has his thing cooking by then.

At about the same time that Gardner was solidifying (AND PUBLICIZING) his new system, a man remembered as Robert Cochrane was doing the same, with a different flair and perhaps less concern for the newspapers. Cochrane brought an interest in Celtic and British lore (SOON IMITATED BY GARDNERIANS) and harked back, perhaps, to the Bacchic rites, with the Staff planted in the north to mark the sacred space. In some ways Cochrane seems to me to be a reaction to Gardner's work, but that may be selling short the man's life-long interest in reinventing the Old Ways. Cochrane enjoyed referring to his work as older and '"more authentic"' that Gardner's, and attempted to invoke the authority of the "OLD WITCH FAMILIES" of England. There's been little evidence for any such families (OUTSIDE OF TESTIMONY FROM THEIR LAST SURVIVING REPRESENTATIVES), or of their maintenance of '"witchcraft"' traditions that can't be accounted for by the popular occult or folklore literature of their times. Family traditions of occultism - common enough; family traditions of a '"witch-cult"' - no evidence has been presented.

THE SECRET 70S

The Gardnerian initiatory lineage arrived in North America in 1966, brought by Raymond Buckland and his priestess. It immediately encountered the various strands of American occultism that were already using the term '"witchcraft"', and sometimes even adapting practices from Gardner's earlier writings, which had reached across the water before then. It's possible that strains of folkloric witchcraft had survived in the Appalachian and Ozark mountain communities, and if so these were probably satanic in a sort of post-medieval sense. Of course the other major influence that merged with the new witchcraft was the countercultural ideology and its environmentalism. This phase has been very well documented and discussed by Chas Clifton in his book Her Hidden Children.

In 1970 a writer named Paul Huson published Mastering Witchcraft: A Practical Guide for Witches, Warlocks and Covens. Huson wrote as an independent occultist with no connection with either Gardner or Cochrane, or to any '"old family traditions"'. He created a system of practical magic and a model for creating covens that allowed small groups across the US to begin working as '"witchcraft"' groups. Some of these adopted Gardnerian bits, some less so.

In 1974 an American woman named Jesse Wicker Bell published The Grimoire of Lady Sheba. This book contained much of the material in the Gardnerian '"Book of Shadows"', the ritual book of the Gardnerian Witches. What Mastering Witchcraft had begun was energized by the publication of material that had been secret for 20 years, and the creation of covens continued throughout the decade. In this phase the word '"Witch"' was earnestly contended for by these Neopagans - the message in the 70s was "WITCHCRAFT IS A RELIGION".

These bootstrap traditions tended, at first, to imitate the '"mystery religion"' model of Gardner's Witchcraft. They were secret and initiatory, and created their own secret books, rituals etc. This was also the period of the most ridiculous '"witch wars"' in which these construct traditions compared pretentious origin stories and tried to one-up each other in the nascent Pagan press.

My own experience in the 1970s is probably typical of many who eagerly sought witchcraft, magic and the occult in those days. Having been a student of '"the occult"' throughout my youth I had begun my own ritual experiments based on several published sources. I met my first self-proclaimed witch in 1972, in a local university. He was an earnest fellow, who had consecrated his tools and made his Book of Shadows, and came complete with a tale of teachers now departed, who "JUST DIDN'T TELL HIM MUCH" about the history or origins of his system. Personal differences in style meant I wouldn't become a member of that group. My own awareness of the Pagan "SCENE" as a participant begins in around 1976, while teaching a college '"free school"' course on the occult in the mid 70s. I met an Alexandrian Witch, but she was cut off from her coven. I met witches in the Society for Creative Anachronism but they weren't in my neighborhood. In about 1978 I began working with a group that was an example of a new phenomenon - a non-initiatory '"outer court"' for a Gardnerian Coven. One of the first of these in the US was the Temple of the Pagan Way in Chicago. Our group worked a system very like the Gardnerian, based on the material published as A Book of Pagan Rituals. By 1980 several members went on to become initiated Gardnerians, while I and others found other initiators.

The other trend during the 1970s was the beginning and growth of public, self-confessed Paganism. The so-called "BRITISH TRADITIONAL" style of Neopagan witchcraft (NOW MORE FREQUENTLY BEING CALLED 'WICCA') was attracting a lot of excited students - too many for the slow and personal training methods of those systems. Traditional covens began to produce '"Outer Court"' groups, in which inquiring strangers might attend a few classes and maybe even attend seasonal rituals that resembled traditional witchcraft rites. From the other side many young people were simply taking the results of their own study and putting it into practice. Not all of these chose to imitate the secret and initiatory covens - some, such as the Church of All Worlds, and Circle Wicca chose to be open to seekers, and they also tried on the word '"witch"' to see how well it fit with their new approach. In 1975 traditional Witches founded an effort at national organizing, the Covenant of the Goddess, which is now one of the largest Wiccan organizations in the world.

A MOMENT OF CHANGE

In 1976, organizers out of Chicago, the Midwest Pagan Council, created the PanPagan Festival, open to anyone who found their way to the place. I began to attend in 1979, and in 1980 more than 500 people attended the fest, including almost everyone who was anyone in the witchcraft and Pagan scene at that time, and many who would become well-known later. For the first time in who-knows-how-long 500 Pagans and Witches danced the circle under the moon. This event inspired the creation of the Pagan Spirit Gathering, the Starwood Festival, the Elf-Lore Gatherings in Bloomington, and inspired Boston's Rites of Spring to move to the woods.

Just as important as this kindling of organizing, were the various moments when the various Secret Witchcraft Traditions of the 1970s met up with each other over a fire and a bottle. Many a moment of awkward silence ("ER... I DON'T ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT THAT...") gave way to an exchange of ideas that both cross-fertilized the practice and myth of various systems and also pulled away the (USUALLY PHONY) veil of Ancient Secrets that was so customary in the early days. In many ways the festival '"movement"' put an end to (OR A BIG DENT IN) the ability of a teacher to pretend to having secret witchcraft teachings passed down from wherever. We'll discuss the 80s and beyond in our next segment.

At the beginning of the 1980s, the word '"witch"' was being earnestly fought for by the Neopagan Goddess and God worshipping sects descended from Gardner's experiments, and their imitators and competitors. Efforts were made to encourage dictionaries to adjust their definitions, and '"Witches"' made an effort to place themselves as a religious minority in the US. The question of the ownership and meaning of that old word remains disputed, however. In the years since the early 80s the word has been used by a number of occult and Pagan systems.

We'll have a look at those systems in the second part, in our examination of the figure of the witch in modern occultism.

Also read these ebooks:Alan Macfarlane - Witchcraft In Tudor And Stuart Essex

Jaroslav Nemec - Witchcraft And Medicine

Labels: all about greek gods and goddesses the book of shadows pages gods and goddesses of wicca candle love spells powerful witchcraft spells history of wicca white magic witch are love potions real

Palestinian Minister Denies Saying He Would Allow Jews To Pray On The Temple Mount

The Flame reports:The Palestinian Authority's Sanctimonious Contact Member of the clergy says contemporary apparition be no quiet treaty with Israel unless all territories Israel captured in 1967, in the company of the Western Boundary - Judaism's holiest site - are moved under the independence of a on purpose Palestinian give or take."All centimeter that was under enemy control in 1967 is part of the Palestinian give or take, in the company of the blessed Al Aqsa mosque, In the midst of THE BURAQ Boundary," Member of the clergy Mahmoud al-Habash told Israel's Alleyway 10 Facts on Monday night, using the Muslim name for the Western Boundary."Give apparition not be quiet worsening Jerusalem as the wherewithal of Palestine. Give apparition not be quiet worsening an end to the Israeli perform that began in 1967. All leaflet of land that Israel under enemy control in 1967 is Palestinian land that belongs to the give or take of Palestine," Habash said.Asked what about Jews who wish to pray at their holiest site, Habash said, "Pleasurable. Pleasurable. Without any conundrum, declare. Give Inner self NOT BE ANY Boundaries ON Supply OF Respect. Respect is one thing, and politics are numerous."The Hebrew makes it lean that the mystery was about the Kotel, and not Judaism's holiest site, the Place of worship Tower.Hamas held on Habash's words, and severely criticized him as saying that he would allow Jews to pray on the Place of worship Tower. The Mufti of Jerusalem alike condemned the information, calling it a "combined misdemeanor."So Habash had to clarify, He says he was merely referring to the Kotel, which he uptight is Palestinian, but in which Jews would be allowed to be passionate about just have a weakness for Christians are allowed to be passionate about in the Minster of the Sacred Sepulchre. Despite the fact that, the Place of worship Tower is blatantly off area from his "Welcome!" quote - Jews aren't allowed up contemporary.Openly, this is all a sham. Muslim Arabs apparition not allow any Jew to get give to any holy site that Muslims wrap. Either Jews apparition be barred outright, for fashion on the Place of worship Tower, or they would be barred subsequent to Muslims progress compelling demonstrations versus Jews visiting, which would result in "Palestine" to ban Jews "for their own compactness" or "to put away municipal order."I am reminded of a ask finished while by Ray Hanania claiming that Jordan respected Jews' nationality to refer to the Old Inner-city amid 1949 and 1967, and that they merely hush-hush Israelis but not Jews. In fact, Jordan requisite set to the Old Inner-city to compromise baptismal certificates beforehand they would allow them in!The matter that a Palestinian Arab give or take, whose opus says that Islam is the main fine for its laws and that that it is the legal religion, would give to full touch by Jews to holy sites is mirage. Give would be limits and outright bans, as contemporary has been under Islamic operate since Islam began.But Westerners just cannot secure that these helpful society trying suits and ties may perhaps ever lie to their faces.Oh, by the way - the huge Buy of Israel is a holy site to Jews.

Reason 802 To Be Catholic Power Outages

" Pastor Robert Wargo of St Joseph the Worker, Orefield, PA"

Our power has been off since the night Hurricane Sandy hit eastern Pennsylvania. Thankfully we had adequate heat with our wood stove in the kitchen and the ability to cook on the stove and keep food cold on the porch. We even had fresh ground coffee using a hand-operated burr grinder and French press coffee pot! So we tried to keep life as routine as possible being ever so thankful we really had nothing to complain about considering the horrific losses of those on in NYC and the NJ shore areas. "Please continue to keep all those in your prayers"

Part of our routine is going to daily Mass. As we made our way to the chapel of Saint Joseph the Worker on Tuesday evening, we noted the warm glow coming through the stained glass windows. As we entered the chapel, it was illuminated with several strategically placed candles and the altar was lit beautifully. We offered our prayers quietly with a few others beforehand then monsignor came in and celebrated the sacrifice of the Mass.

During the words of institution of the Eucharist*, as our priest raised the bread now becoming the body of Christ, I was moved by the realization that this is why the mass is designed to be universal, for all times, all peoples, and especially all conditions. Regardless of any weather conditions effecting light, heat, shelter, the mass has been continuously offered for almost 2000 years throughout all the world. Our worship to the Father is uninterrupted by hurricanes, power loss, snow storms etc. There is no need for powerful sound systems, professional musicians on stage risers, large LCD projectors, wireless mics and animated sermons. All we need is what has been required since the time of the apostles. Unleavened wheat bread, fruit of the vine, the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to change the elements into the actual body and blood of Christ through the hands of the priest, acting "in persona Christi". (in the person of Christ)

Despite the terrible storm that caused power outages and massive disruptions to our daily lives, we can still enter into the sacrifice of the Mass and receive our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That my friends, is REASON # 801 TO BE CATHOLIC.

*A DESCRIPTION OF THE MASS IN 150 AD BY JUSTIN MARTYR:

"And this food is called among us Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said, "This do ye in remembrance of Me, this is My body;" and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, "This is My blood;" and gave it to them alone."

Credit: practicing-wicca.blogspot.com