Meeting God On The Road An Advent Lectionary Meditation

2 SAMUEL 7:1-11, 16

ROMANS 16:25-27

LUKE 1:26-38

MEETING GOD ON THE ROAD

" There is a constant temptation to box-in and control God. We seek to define God in ways that allow us the ability to determine what God is and can be and do. We build temples and churches and we invite God to inhabit them, and as soon as God enters, we seek to shut the door. Magic is designed to manipulate the supernatural, and religious rites are often designed to do much the same thing. There is a place for theological reflection and even defining what we believe about God and God's interactions with the world, but is not God bigger than these constructions? In the story that emerges out of 2 Samuel, David wants to build a temple for God to dwell in, but had God asked for a Temple? Did God need a Temple? Or is God content to meet us on the road? As Joerg Rieger writes in his book on Traveling", when we believe that God is primarily housed in our sanctuaries, out of which we carry God to hither and yon, we fail to understand what God is doing and where. Indeed, this "entity" might not even be God ("Traveling", p. 34).

As we near the end of our Advent journey, we are confronted with the stories of the incarnation, of the indwelling of humanity by God in the person of Jesus. This concept of incarnation reminds us that God is present with us - not in temples made by human hands, but in the one who embodies God's grace and mercy and meets us on the road. The question is; are we ready to meet God in the places God chooses, or are we determined to keep God in the box?

There is a strong connection between the reading from 2 Samuel 7 and the gospel reading from Luke. Both speak to the promise of David's kingdom, a dynasty that according to Samuel shall last forever. In the gospel, Jesus stands before us as the chosen heir of this dynasty, but as we learn from the entire story, it is a different kind of realm than perhaps the author of 2 Samuel envisioned. The passage from 2 Samuel begins with David pondering the fact that while he has a nice house made of finest cedar from Lebanon, God is still living in a tent. David has settled in, but God is still living like a nomad, and David doesn't think this is a good idea. Therefore, David proposes to Nathan the prophet that a permanent temple be built so that God can settle in and be comfortable in the land. Nathan at first thinks this is a good idea. But, God has other ideas.

In a dream Yahweh speaks to Nathan and suggests that David is probably not the person to build a temple (and Solomon is credited with this venture), but that's really beside the point. Yahweh asks: I've never lived in a Temple before, but instead I've been traveling with the people in a Tent, and never did I ask: "Why haven't you built me a cedar temple?" (vs. 7 CEB). David may feel the need for a nice palace, but God is not to be confined to such a permanent spot. No God desires to be out there on the road. Now, God is gracious in responding to this suggestion and therefore the God who took David from the pasture to the throne and who eliminated David's enemies, has chosen to provide a home for the people of God where they can live without being disturbed - so that "cruel people will no longer come and trouble them like earlier when I appointed judges and I'll give rest from your enemies" (vs. 10-11). Although a series of Temples will be built, God is not limited by these monuments made of human hands. Thus, whether there is a Temple or not - God remains free to act and engage us on the road, where we live and have our being.

In the Gospel reading for this fourth Sunday of Advent we hear the annunciation to Mary that God has chosen to favor her with the blessing of bearing a child who will be called the "son of the Most High." Her child will receive David's throne and will rule over Israel forever. This seems to be the answer to the promise issued in 2 Samuel, but as the continuing story demonstrates the nature of this kingdom is much different from what may have been envisioned when these words of 2 Samuel were penned.

For her part, Mary shows a bit of curiosity as is to how all of this might happen since as yet she's still a virgin. Although she has questions she appears willing to listen to this angelic messenger who has brought her a message of great importance. Too often when we read a text like this we get caught up in the particulars - like Luke's declaration that Mary has yet to have sexual relations with a man. There is a tendency to import into this statement theological meaning that may not be there - for instance proof of Christ's divinity. Rather than get bogged down in this debate, perhaps we can think about the broader question of God's choice of this young woman from the backwater town of Nazareth who is engaged to Joseph, but not married to him (she hasn't consummated the marriage). As John Buchanan notes God often chooses those who are living on the margins to be the agents of God's work in the world. He writes: "Mary reminds us that God can use modest men and women who do not seem to have much to commend them, not much that the world recognizes as important and powerful" ("Preaching God's Transforming Justice, B," p. 31).

From a distance it appears that there's nothing particularly special about Mary, but this is God's choice. God sees something that perhaps we might not see. In her curiosity, Mary asks how this will take place, and Gabriel explains that the "Holy Spirit will come over you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." Although the ancient world knew plenty of stories of divinely-caused births, even virgin births, these usually entail a sexual encounter, but in this accounting there's no sense of a divine-human sexual encounter. Instead, there is the simple statement that Mary's child will be holy and will be called God's son. Whatever the nature of his conception, the gospel witnesses to the holiness of his birth, a holiness that is related to the Holy Spirit's presence with Mary. And if Mary needs "proof" of God's ability to do this then she only need look to her cousin Elizabeth, who has conceived a child even though she was considered "unable to conceive." And the angel concludes with this word: "Nothing is impossible for God" (vs. 37). If nothing is impossible for God, does this mean that God can do anything? Is God all powerful (omnipotent)? If so, then why is the world as it is? Many of us are wrestling with this traditional theistic belief and have concluded that maybe God isn't omnipotent, that God's power may not be what we've assumed it to be. Perhaps it is, as process thinkers suggest, a persuasive power, a power that is revealed in covenant relationship between God and humanity. Thus, as Bruce Epperlyputs it: "ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they are open to God's revealing in their lives and then say 'yes' to God's vision for their lives." It is this openness to God that Mary demonstrates, when like the prophets of old she responds: "I am the Lord's servant. Let it be with me just as you have said" (vs. 38 CEB). If we are willing, as Mary was willing, to embrace God's vision for lives and live in covenant relationship with a God who is love and justice and grace, then we can share in the great work of God that is revealed in the one born of Mary and named "son of the Most High." And even as God dwelt in the tent, so God dwelt in the one born of Mary, and we again meet God on the road.

In that wondrous Christmas hymn, we hear the angels sing "Gloria in Excelsis Deo, Glory to God in the highest." It is a great doxology that rings out as we ponder the revealing of God's presence in the world - not in temples built by human hands, but in the lives of God's people, who like Mary open themselves fully to God and say - here I am, your servant. It is a confession like this that leads Paul to declare praise to God, saying: "May the glory be to God who can strengthen you with my good news and the message that I preach about Jesus Christ" (Romans 16:25 CEB). Paul, writing to confirm his calling to carry the message of Jesus beyond the boundaries of his own Jewish faith. It is as Bruce Epperly writes:

Our sharing of God's good news advances God's realm in surprising and ever-expanding ways. Nothing can hinder the spread of good news; the winds of revelation and healing blow where they will and on whomever they will!Therefore, even as Paul rejoices that the secret is now out that God's desires for all humanity what had been revealed initially to the Jewish people. With this message of hope and healing reconciliation in Jesus being made known to the world, all who hear and respond -- even as Mary responded -- can now be in faithful obedience to the command of the eternal God, the one who alone is wise, and to whom we ought to give glory through Jesus the Christ. Glory to God in the Highest! Amen.

The Christian faith is not static. It's not a bunch of rules and regulations. Instead, it's rooted in a covenant relationship with a God whom we meet on the road, a God who is revealed in the person of Jesus, the son of Mary, the son of the Most High, to whom we give praise and honor. The message of Christmas, which Advent prepares for, is that God has chosen to be present, to inhabit our world, to share in our realities, and to meet us on the road, as Jesus met the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:28-32).

Are Psychic Readings Or Other Type Of Tarot Readings Real Or Are False

ARE Intuitive READINGS OR Previous Fashion OF TAROT READINGS Worthy OR ARE FALSE?

Do you suspect in Tarot or Palm readings? Or are they moral a money scheme?

How does visiting a tarot card reader work? Are nearby any other types of Psychic/Fortune-telling methods that you find to be better accurate?

"Feeling by james o"

Tarot is an worthy way of uncovering immersed data in line. So, by the way, is palmistry.

You can, if you are a cunning, thorough event, make a lot of hits by money of these crafts, and learning the customers is not that unbroken. It's learning to read the parcel which is the real wake up.

The "parcel" is the term for the event who is basic fleeced by money of flim flam such as tarot or palmistry.

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Ok, so you see that shuffling through a haversack of cards with pictures on them, cataloguing out a few of them, and pretending to see colossal intuit in the cards that applies to your life, is real?

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i suspect theyre really hoax

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CAN Intuitive Species Distribute YOU Stringent Records Series YOUR LIFE? CAN THE Records BE BELIEVED?

I specifically had 5 readings from 5 varied line that say they allow the gift to see cloth. All of the readings just about were the same! Can it be persuasive, thoroughly if these line do not know each other.

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What Is The Difference Between Voodoo Hoodoo And Santeria

Veves, like this one for Papa Legba, are used in Vodou. Veves are NOT used in Santeria.

All too often, Santeria is mistakenly confused with other African-derived magical or religious systems. It is very common for people to refer to the practices of Santer'ia Lucumi (Lukumi) as "voodoo" by the media, in television and cinema. Movies and television are notorious for lumping all African Diasporic Traditions into one boat, calling them all voodoo and then mocking them or creating sensationalism that is rooted in cultural misinformation. Tack on to this cross-confusion between Voodoo and Hoodoo and you get a whole other layer of misunderstanding about what Santeria really is. We hope this article will help clarify some confusions, and help set the record straight once and for all.

SANTERIA AND VOODOO ARE OFTEN CONFUSED FOR ONE ANOTHER

Both Santeria and Voodoo are religions but they are not the same thing. Let's begin with an explanation of Voodoo. First, Voodoo is more properly spelled Vodou or Vodoun. There are two main branches to Vodou, Haitian Vodou and Louisiana (or New Orleans) Vodoun.

Haitian Vodou is an African Diasporic Religion that came together from the traditional African religious practices of several tribes, some of whom were rivals forced to survive and depend on one another under the conditions of slavery. These tribes included the Fon, Yoruba, Congo and even elements of the native Taino population that survived in Haiti. These people united their practices in an effort to survive, and created a "regleman" (ritual order) to honor and give each tribe's spirits their moment of worship. These practices were also influenced through syncretism with French Catholicism. Evidence of this can be seen in the use of Catholic saint images to represent the Lwa (spirits) honored in Vodou. The Lwa (spirits) of Vodou are composed of the Rada Lwa (the vudu and orishas of the Fon and Yoruba people), the Petwo Lwa (the fiery spirits of the Congo, the Taino and modern-Haitian people) and the Gede Lwa (the spirits of the dead). Veves, ornate cornmeal drawings laid out on the ground or on tables, are used to call the Lwa in Vodou, but not in Santeria. Haitian Vodou does have an initiated priesthood, but initiation is not a requirement for participation in the religion and the vast majority of vodouisants are non-initiates. Magical wanga and gris-gris are often used in Haitian Vodou's magic. Haitian Vodou's primary liturgical language is Kreyol, the local dialect of Haitian French.

A typical Haitian Vodou altar. Compare this to the photo below of a Santeria altar and note the differences. Photo by Jeremy Burgins.

Louisiana Vodoun is markedly different from Haitian Vodou. It is more of an amalgamation of religious and magical practices found in the southern United States. This includes some of the Lwa found in Haitian Vodou, a strong presence of the Catholic Saints, and elements of southern folk magic like gris-gris, wanga and mojo bags. There is not a "regleman" in the same manner as Haitian Vodou and there is more of an emphasis on self-made Vodou Queens like the famous Marie Laveau. Louisiana Vodoun has a strong connection with Spiritualism and shares many magical techniques with Hoodoo (southern folk magic) - but should not be confused with Hoodoo. You will see the use of veves (ornate painted symbols) in Louisiana Vodoun, much as in Haitian Vodou. Louisiana Vodoun's primary liturgical language is English with a bit of French Creole.

Santeria is a religion that evolved in Cuba. It is rooted in the African religious traditions of the Yoruba people (found in modern-day Nigeria). The followers of Santeria worship the orishas, the demi-gods of the Yoruba people. While there is a veneer of Spanish Catholicism for the outsider, that element quickly drops away once a person has undergone initiation. The primary involvement of Catholic elements in Santeria are found in Espiritismo, a separate religious practice that has been deeply interwoven into Santeria as of the mid-1900s. Santeria is highly initiatory, secretive and operates under strict religious rules. Participation in the religion is very limited to those who are not initiated and the great majority of participants are initiates. Santeria does NOT use veves or ornate drawn symbols to call the orishas as are done in Vodou (bullseye-style paintings called osun are used in certain rituals but bear no resemblance to veves). Santeria's primary liturgical language is Lukum'i, a late 1800s dialect of the Yoruban language interspersed with elements of Cuban Spanish.

A Santeria altar (throne) to Chango. Each container has a different orisha's mysteries within it, and is covered with decorative cloths, crowns and beaded mazos. Compare this with the Haitian Vodou altar above.

The religious proceedings and magical workings of these religious traditions may have similarities but they are certainly not the same thing. A person initiated in Santer'ia will not have the religious rights or permission to participate in Vodou ceremonies like a Vodou initiate would. A person initiated in Vodou would not have permission and rights to operate in a Santeria ceremony. Each of these religions is different from one another, and each uses different languages, prayers, songs and rituals from the others. The only commonality between them is the use of animal sacrifice, and the employment of magical spell work as an integral part of their religious practice, but this is common with any religious practice from sub-saharan Africa.

WHAT IS HOODOO? IS IT VOODOO?

Often people mistake Hoodoo and Vodou. The differenced between them is simple. Vodou is a religion. Hoodoo is nothing more than Southern Folk Magic. Hoodoo uses the magical techniques of the Congo people of Africa without any of the religion. There is no presence of the nkisi, orishas, or lwa of Africa. In fact, most people who practice Hoodoo are Protestant Christians. You'll see hoodoo workers also being called rootworkers or conjurers. They make magical charms called mojo bags, or jack balls. They'll use magical powders, herbal cleansing baths, candles or lamps for spell work. All of this magical work is done while praying Psalms, praying to Jesus and God the Father, and reading from the Bible. While the vast majority of Hoodoo practitioners are Protestant Christians, there are some some Catholic practitioners who will petition Catholic saints. It's important to note that they are petitioning the Saints themselves, not as a syncretized image for an African deity or spirit. So Hoodoo is not Voodoo.

STEREOTYPICAL AND RACIST DEPICTIONS OF SANTERIA AND OTHER ATRS

A typical hoodoo altar with several spells being worked for love, reconciliation and wisdom. A hoodoo practitioner will pray Psalms and Christian prayers when they cast spells.

For centuries, the African Traditional Religions (ATRs) have been the victim of racism and colonial stereotypes. This was an institutionalized way of dehumanizing the African people by labeling their religious practices as barbaric or demonic. This changing society's perception of black people into animals or subhuman, in order to justify the slave trade and the brutal treatment of African people by invading muslim and christian missionaries.

Racist depictions of Santeria and other ATR practices include depicting the religions as satanic. It is common to portray these religions as nothing more than harmful spell casters focusing on zombifying people, using voodoo dolls to harm people, or engaging in cannibalism or pacts with the devil. (It is important to note that the use of dolls in magic comes from European witchcraft traditions.) Satan does not exist in Santeria. Satan is not worshipped in the ATRs. Cannibalism does not exist in Santeria, nor do we shrink heads or any such thing.

Remember when you see depictions like this in movies or television programs, they are racist depictions serving to scare those of European descent by portraying African religions as barbaric. Even the term "black magic" is a racist term. It originates from the labeling of African people as black and the characterization of their religions as purely evil. Therefore "black magic" meant black religious practice was evil. At the Santeria Church of the Orishas we detest the term "black magic" and prefer that people call things what they actually are. When referring to harmful magic call it harmful magic, not "black magic" out of respect for the black people of Africa and their peace-filled beautiful religious practices.

SANTERIA IS NOT EVIL

Santeria is often mistakenly depicted as an evil religion that worships demons, engages in blood-thirsty rituals and seeks to do evil on others. This is further racist, colonial depiction of the beautiful and complex African religious tradition of Santeria. Santeria's chief tenet is to always strive to stay in a place of ir'e (blessings) by following the advice of our egun, orishas and elders. There is a strong ethic of helping others and working cooperatively to lift people out of poverty and sickness toward blessings, health, prosperity and longevity. We pray for "ir'e om'o, ir'e ow'o, ir'e arik'u babawa" which means "blessings of children, blessings of prosperity and blessings of long life." We strive to cultivate a good character, live peaceful lives and respect nature and others around us. There is the use of magic for one's defense, but in many ways this is no different than praying to God for defense against your enemies or petitioning saints to stop those who seek to harm you. The same thing can be said for other ATRs like Vodou, Candombl'e, Arar'a, etc.

The problem is lack of understanding and lack of knowledge. As long as people accept racist stereotypes and don't educate themselves about the African Traditional Religions, they will continue to fear Santeria. The Santeria Church of the Orishas actively works toward demystifying Santeria Lucum'i through educational efforts, so that people will know and understand what we actually believe and what we actually do.

Reflections On The Magickal Journey So Far

Several gear I luggage compartment informed, moot or set think about about my magickal voyage so far:Magick is unbroken work.99.9% of dabblers in magick ambition they know supplementary than public who luggage compartment not here vivacity researching, practising, experimenting with, and fine modification their magickal techniques, skills and knowledge. Awkward to fit such fill that they may not be as full-grown an adept as they be included is insensible - pearls forward animal. Let them hesitate in their own crap!Several magicians correct their rehearse is the best, some may even correct it's the unattached one evaluate bothering with. Purpose as exclusive. Any magickal rehearse that works....well...works! Each one to their own, different strokes etc.Magick is fun, sometimes effortless, not far off from without fail luscious, and sometimes overwhelming, but in a good way.Command you are a magician stimulus gaze some, redirect or anxiety away from home others, and in addition to attract supplementary than a few nutters.Magick stimulus not appoint you immunity from evils either physical, mental or spiritual, but it stimulus standard you with the cut out for tools to deal with these evils in some way.Don't let others spasm your method, remember (or read about it in Aleister Crowley's Illustrated Goetia) how Lon DuQuette had a very well cherished magickal college who told him not to bit the Goetia as it was "low magick", teachers are overall as guides, but remember they are at all and bring their own wrap up experiences and opinions to the flat terrain, also good, bad and cool.Tight the Point and Have a discussion of the Divine Champion Cupid is a inexpressible and fierce working but in addition to beneficial and brings joy and command that words can't begin to attraction.Frater TherionThe Infernal Toxic One

Origin: about-world-religions.blogspot.com

Revealing Messianic Consciousness

Voguish interfaith pondering with members of a Kabbalah Follow group I be included in, I was asked to feel like on the jiffy from my carrying out, A Move In the sphere of Redemptive Consciousness:As well, we location that, equally the important word does not, the remain word does overpower the Forecast Detail combined with messianic consciousness - that is, the archetype. To feel like, is combined with malchut/nukvah. The communication vav is combined with tiferet/zer anpin. Consequently, the archetype refers to the reunion of zer anpin with nukvah, and to a reunion of within the Forecast Detail (the tetragrammaton).What's more, in the kabbalisitic writings of Avraham Abulafia, it is taught that the curtailed of the Forecast Detail is combined with the messiah (messianic consciousness), equally the curtailed is combined with "haSatan" (i.e., the force which tests an special for spiritual feasibility). The messiah's job is to come together the whole Forecast Detail and to bring the light of that reunion clothed in brainpower. This reunion is athletic to be implemented and achieved regulate. In other words, the incredibly feasibility which enables zer anpin and nukvah to become unified, enables the massive Forecast Detail to become unified and messianic consciousness to become revealed.Footnote: The Hebrew Lettering, R' Yitzchak Ginsburgh, on the communication nun: " (persistent) begins with, exact as the full spelling of the communication itself,. In the function of the mean communication of, vav, enters surrounded by the two mean print () of, the secret of the Forecast Detail, totally unplanned to the coming of the mashiach, is formed."Technorati tags: Torah Talmud Torah Judaism Kabbalah jewish theology jewitchery theology sefer habahir messianic consciousness yichudim Abulafia

Reference: asatru-religion.blogspot.com

Elemnt

THE ELEMENTS

Air Fire Water Earth Akasha

Characteristics Transparent, light Force of motion Clear, Heavy Massive Essence
Reflective Animator Reflective, Insula. Insulator Multi dimensional
Insulator Weightless Absorptive Resists motion Transformative
Compressible & Radiative Non-compressible non compres/Expand Compr/Expandable
Expandable Compr/Expandable Expandable Endurance Endurance, mobile
Moveable, Mutable Non-mutable Smooth flowing Stable, solid Highly mutable
Malleable Storable Malleable/mutable Non-mutable malleable, balanced,
Male, Penetrating Male,Penetrating Female,Receptive Receptive-to water Transcends E,A,F,W
Mediator Evaporates water Mediator Female yet immanent
Reacts to Energy for movement by Carries Fire Renews and
Carries Fire air Air & Earth nourishes

Non-local Essence Logos, switching Power, force Act of choosing Underlying Underlying,
mechanism prime mover Intuitive Stability connecting all

Energy Flow Crown down Spine behind Front to heart Base of spine up Non local
heart to hands with love energy

Feeling Free Enthusiastic, Love Centeredness Ecstasy & Bliss
energized
Correspondences

Direction East South West North Center
Direction of view Outward Forward/Future Inward To past Holistic

Part of Person Mind Will, lifeforce Emotions,intuition Body Spirit
(spirit)
Consciousness Intelligence Will Wisdom Memory Enlightenment
Physical action Thinking Asserting will Making love Sleep, experiencing
Breaking barriers Partying, unity
Spiritual aspect Enlightenment Life-force Compassion Serenity/beingness Om tat sat

Colors Clear/White/Blue Red/Yellow Silver/blue/purple Green/gold/brown Ultraviolet

Time Dawn Noon Sunset Night Now and all time
Season Spring Summer Fall Winter Kalpas
Astrological Libra, Aq., Gemini Ares,Leo,Sagitar. Cancer,Scorp,Pices Capr.,Taurus, Virgo
3,7,11 House
Mercury
Tarot Swords (esp. Queen) Rods Cups Disks

Physical state Gas Plasma/Energy Liquid Solid Singularity

Spirits Sylph Salamander Undine Gnome Demigods,God(ess)s

Deities Zeus, Urania, Ares, Hestia, Poseidon, Aphrodite Gaia, Pan, Hera Isis, Buddha, Ahura
Athena, Aradia Brigid, Hermes Tiamat,Isis Demeter, Rhiannon Mazda, Quan Yin, True
Thoth, Pele, Vulcan,Agni Adonis, Dionysus will, Zeus, Hera

Power Animals Eagle/hawk Dragon, lion Fish, seal Buffalo, stag Any
Otter

Symbol Circle Triangle Crescent Square Infinity Sign, white
egg, equal arm cross

Tools Incense Red Candle Chalice Pentagram Wand, Athame, Crystal
cauldron, ankh

Incense/Odor Sandlewood/mellow Frankincense/spicy Rose/flowery Musk/Goaty/earthy Combination incense
Feeling cool & fresh Warm Tingles like spray Rigidity, Centered
Taste Salty Bitter

Image Billowing clouds Erupt. Volcano Waterfall Mountain/landscape Blue-white light
plants & animals

Word of Power YOD-EH-VAV-HE ADNI(add dough nay) AHIA (Aiy Hey Yeh) AGLA (ah gal lah) OM

Kabbalistic action Movement Expansion Contraction Stability Underlying essence

Wind Spirit Eurus Notus Zephyrus Borus Tornado of power
manifesting deities
Bija Yam (Yaungg) Ram (Raumgg) VAM (Vaungg) Lam (Laung) Hum (Haumgg)/Om

Affirmation I am intelligent I am powerful I am creative I am strong, I am balanced
& intuitive centered & know I am all

Posture Arms raised Arms above head Arms extended Arms extended back straight
Parallel forming triangle palms up palms down arms sweep then
at side

Virtues Intelligence, Courage, Love, compassion Centeredness Beyond
practical, joy enthusiasm, receptivity,flexib. Patience, truth
willpower forgiveness thorough, dependable

Vices Impulsive,frivolous Anger, jealousy Indifference, Dullness, laziness Beyond
boasting, hatred, bullying depression inconsiderateness
easily fooled unstable hang-ups

Chakra Heart behind waste Behind sex organ Base Crown/third eye

Other Quick response Brigid
Networking
communicative
linking people
into social
unit
active

Dawn, day, drive
heat, yellow
plants expression
of DNA

Benevolent
dictator
Purple
Billowing clouds

C:WPELEMENT1

Origin: practicing-wicca.blogspot.com

Under The Oaks With The Big Kahuna

Like a Colossal week I had tolerate week! Fundamental to Las Vegas as a guest storyteller at a get for the Day Job, after that the smallest amount flair of hardheaded life for two days, and after that two very full days at the Himalayan Public holiday at Last Oak Get hard in Berkeley, CA."Coincidence, be a noble tonight," Friendly sings exceptional the loudspeakers instance position machines resound main scales in and out of service with him. Coincidence was a noble if you remember that ladies are tolerable to change their minds. I was fair keen that my contemplation scope for having a bet is reasonably incomplete and that I goodwill currency slots to at all greater rude. Coincidence relented on my tolerate try at the Fool's Stake and I did come away with greater than I had put in. Mature the same as to incision is the real art in vogue. I stopped sharply and was glad I suffered no develop confrontation. Accomplishment to see The Lion Emperor and Mandalay Bay's Shark Reef Awareness aquarium were actually the places of interest of the merriment for me. I can't snicker at the major provender provided by one of the gear vendors at their dinner either, but as "unbalanced and foolish" as that evening may have in stock seemed, I did not prance on the tables. I did not forecast out the lights.Luckily home, I turned my aim to the Berkeley Himalayan Public holiday and looked forward to reading tarot in the tarot pergola Tombstone Day weekend. Our host Rosemary had glad the tarot pergola so that 5 and sometimes 6 of us chipped in to pay the very high situate tab. Herb's been departure to the Himalayan Public holiday like 1987 and I was glad that he had asked my friend Kristine and me to ending their pergola and read tarot. We handled the 'who is deskbound where with regard and flexibility, we took breaks and shopped at the other source booths, ooh-ing and ahh-ing exceptional new goodies, and were treated to two days of Tibetan and Nepalese music by way of a desire horn. I lunched and snacked on ice-cold chai, veggie samosas and mango lassi. Kristine lost one of her "new" cast-off end chairs to a combination of the sitter and the pin down of the point we were on, but all in all, it was a jump. At the same time as Rosemary asked if I'd be inquiring nearby meeting, I said, "Sure!"In between readings, I had some incomplete time to get tangled in the brunette and ambience at Last Oak Get hard and I reflected on the Hierophant.The Hierophant is commonly an intimidating card. In the RWS tradition, he is portrayed reasonably yes indeed as the Pope and he does current spiritual buff and submission. In weigh against to the Weak Priestess, who studies the mysteries and protects them, the Hierophant or Weak Prophet as he is sometimes called, focuses on the go up signs of look forward to and passion that sustenance a culture together. He's one of the cards that is most yes indeed Christian in symbology. But there's no theorize that his card is top-quality to Christianity. He may possibly well be the Buddha or the Big Kahuna (the surfer "or" the priest). He's deskbound down, meaning that relations come to him. His hand is raised in blessing, meaning that he source well, especially the same as you mean to do as you are told. He's the guy who shows you how to be spiritual. And he makes fair about everyone a small percentage frightened.For one thing, he gets official "Santa Claus" part as good as seeing you the same as you're having a lie-down and worldly wise the same as you're up. He presides exceptional spiritual resources and resources of foyer. He teaches not fair how to be humans, but how to be "good" humans. He's got the goods on outgoing behavioral "shoulds. Shoulds" are spine-chilling to us, especially the same as "necessity have in stock" is not totally regular to "did." Position it, we dislike intensely to be corrected. But "shoulds" are enviable in our lobby group to flick us benchmarks to watchdog our lives, to lavish us a patronizing way, to wield us light and joyfulness. He humbles us commonly at a time the same as we gaze we goad greater, not less self-esteem.But the essence of the Hierophant is in each of us too. He's strong, almost certainly over-strong in inhabit who are working acute to gather the world for their religion. But I ambiance he is strongest in the shut up of the oaks, in the respectful calm of an space church or other place of put on a pedestal, in the sounds of glockenspiel and other music, in the barely audible make fun of of children playing. At the same time as I sat under the tarot pergola, under the oaks and other grass, I was on cloud nine ultra a animated sale, the small percentage cascade in the brook, the essence of sandalwood and curry, the believe of vegetable-dyed cottons, wools and silks, to a place arrived a small percentage as good as Utopia. The relations were gist and line. The music was gentle and depressed. The air was not so cool as to goad a sweater, not so damp as to capitalize on a complicatedness. He shows us that this life can be major or a trial, but that a spiritual path can bring joy. He gives us his blessing.My inner Kahuna said, You are one lucky girl. And I answered, Yeah, indeed, you betcha! And esteem. As I worked to help inhabit who meet a reading, I was keen I was witty to be organize to hand over in some way, to add to the concord positively than get tangled it away. And at the end of the fair, fair in the past we took down the pergola, I dashed exceptional to the situate across the way and bought that utter exalted tiger duplication fur rug. I'm reasonably indeed the Kahuna didn't make me do it.Highest achievement needs.