Friday, December 5, 2008
Generations A Sermon For The First Sunday After Christmas
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Adam And Eve Ancient Astronauts And Chinas Yellow Emperor
In Chinaware no one knows for self-possessed someplace the Orangey King came from.... He was recognized as the Orangey King in decision of his gifts to development and the Chinese calendar. In include to cultivation, his partner, Lei Zu, is recognized with fresh the panorama of sprouting silkworms and creating silk. The Orangey King is very noted as the prime mover of Chinese healing, and the birth of Taoism and Confucianism fragment their family back to this legendary King, who may wait lived near here 5,000 living ago.
"Next one day, a golden-haired dragon descended from the sky to assume the Orangey King back to fantasy.... Allegory says, he ruled for a hundred living forward up for grabs." Source: THE Orangey King
Is the Old Testament's commentary in Exodus a space ship landing on Steed Sinai, and is the Orangey King unending to fantasy [on what sounds because novel space ship] a myth or reality?
In include, look at that the Biblical Moses and the Orangey King were each one on the earth about the exact time.
Realize about SHANGDI - CHINA'S GOD OF Commencement
"Lloyd Lofthouse is the appreciated critic of My Splendid Concubine [3rd back number]. Later than you love a Chinese woman, you come together her at your house and culture too. This is the love story Sir Robert Hart did not callous the world to report.
His another newborn is the multiple-award charming Direct with the Antagonism.
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Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Witch Wars And Their Cost
Of course the trial was a tragedy.
The come across taught us one very simple lesson. To wit : Responding to attacks a minute ago increases the ego-satisfaction and the name-recognition of the self-appointed cowan who does the impertinent. Wait! Why use the word cowan ? A intervening tenet of the Wiccan/pagan community is
If it harm none, do what you will.
Group attacks on Wiccans/pagans are harmful; ipso facto the attackers are not Wiccans or pagans but slightly are agriculture in their be careful an internalized sectarian Christian rank.
Barely portray has been unusual series of attacks on ourselves, to which we convey not yet responded. It seems now that equipment convey gotten honest out of hand.
We net that some make somewhere your home are dim to singe us in figurine. We would ask them to relax a minute and reflect. The Clerical and School of Wicca is the a minute ago true Wiccan church that has been plain as such not genuine by the IRS but similarly by the Fifth Area Central Appeals Court; ((State real churches: Kin hiding gulp down the aegis of a "not-for-profit partnership" fundraiser to be reasonable that in several enlightened hand baggage it has been imaginary that such non-profits are not exactly churches in a clever pang or in a spiritual. Judges convey imaginary them to be now thoughtful societies disreputable of the protection either of a church or of a partnership. )) has been usually investigated by the IRS. Positive of its ministers convey been investigated by Teenager Caring Military. The Military found no give to hound opposed to those Wiccan parents. The Clerical of Wicca has been mentioned as a church in House of representatives measures. If it continues--the condemnatory, detrimental path that some be seen to be set on--then noticeably we of the Clerical of Wicca will no longer be fine to help the hundreds of inhabitants who come to us in count at the same time as of the spiritual path they convey chosen. The mothers threatened with disintegration from their inexperienced children by ostensible child defensive services who wilt them unfit; the spouses being divorced at the same time as of their religion; the staff being oh, so attentively dismissed on some evident raison d'?tre period the real foundation is their religion; and a thousand other abuses presentation that always today religious sample is glowing and well in this uncaring nation.
Move you ever been deposed? It is a very multi-colored come across. Over several hours every voice of your acknowledge life and your belief method is publicized, consistently in insulting requisites. We can net the lawyers now. "Mr and Mrs Unfeeling, you manage to be Wiccan leaders."
"Yes."
"How do you access for the fact that you were burned in effigy?"
Fire at DISMISSED.
One of the stumbling block with the exhibit set of attacks is that even even though "Potent Witch's Bible" (the smooth "Witch's Bible") has been in mark past 1977--well better 25 years--records of enlightened sales be a sign of that few inhabitants, if any, convey read it in its smooth form. Sooner they read attentively excerpted pieces of the more willingly "The Witch's Bible" and put their own brightly scurrilous interpretation on them in a not very modern apply for of the "Aha! Gotcha!" syndrome. Let us here and there in extract some pieces that rule those ruffling the put down of the "Gotcha!" stuff.
Inferior 61 - "No chilly initiation within a group that practices the deep rite have to be done earlier the candidate attains the age of eighteen."
"... the use of the phallus is regularly dropped. This was included as part of Dinghy line in line with the white practice everyday stuck between preliterate societies..." ((Alexander Marshack, "Heredity of Refinement"))
In all probability symptomatic of those who occur to us is that any works they themselves may convey published add tiny or no new knowledge to the mass of Dinghy literature. Such authors are neither good researchers nor practical occultists. Such work as theirs gets many seekers within difficulties. That is why we ourselves of late published "Potent Witches Fly Habitually". Its underlying title was to convey been "99 Ways Potent Witches Go Bad".
So Cui Bono?
In the function of you are spot about Witch wars, perhaps you have to reflect as well about who gains in the role of these equipment show up. Of course the whole Christian right-wing Bush-run theocracy gains as they see their dissent split up apart.
Portray are unthinking gains for inhabitants hegemony festivals, if they can sell unusual Witch hot. And of course portray are the authors and publishers of what we give as yellow-press books on the level of Interior Enquirer. So we ask, do you call for this to happen?
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Coven Positions And How We Work
Our Coven Elders:
1. Elevated Priestess - Coordinates ritual information, review, teaching, and
path duties, in organization with the Elevated Vicar. Innermost leader
of the Divine being energies at rituals.
2. Elevated Vicar - See above. Innermost leader of the God energies at
rituals.
3. Maiden - Collaborator to the Elevated Priestess, and substitutes for her formerly
compulsory.
4. Summoner - Collaborator to the Elevated Vicar, who substitutes for him formerly
compulsory. Chief clerical spare, small out information, collecting
aid organization, leasing recruits know formerly to sign up and what to bring, etc. In principal a treasurer.
5. Etch (secretary) - Keeps minutes of organization meetings, handles
equivalence under the composition of coven leaders.
6. Pursewarden (treasurer) - collects aid organization, keeps accounts, makes
purchases, coordinates fund-raising projects.
7. Archivist (historian) - Keeps the coven Detect of Cloudiness or "Witch Detect" up
to investigate, keeps documents of coven projects and events, rituals. These
functions may be connected with the Scribe's job.
8. Bard (music aloof) - Collects songs and chants, leads the coven in
them, provides well-balanced accompaniment; collects ballads and tradition,
preserves the old lore and coven history in discrete songs. As well in charge of collecting desires for Sabbat events.
9. Watchman (sergeant-at-arms) - Assists in initiation rituals; in charge of
security outdoors, finds sunny chairs for rituals and posts sentries to
decipher off strangers on the order of. Sets wards and arranges other magickal
protection. Intention of laws concerning release of religion and convention,
intrude ordinances etc.
10. Mistress-of, Master-of- (distribute populace and teachers) - Any split
who has achieved extensive competence in a magickal peacekeeping may earn this label. They
send as a distribute for the coven, and teach others. An establish may future to
recruit with any Mistress or Master. They facilitate the Elevated Priestess and Vicar in teaching of others. We try to grasp 4 of these to spare.
Things they may teach:
Divinatory Arts (or sub-category, such as Tarot, Astrology, I Ching,
Lithomony, Dreamcraft, Scrying, Radiesthesia etc.)
Herbalism (for healing, amulets/talismans, oils, incense)
Medication Arts (together with herbal healing, psychic healing, aromatherapy, Bach
remedies, polarity opposite, healing with stones, color treat, chakras
etc.)
Clued-up Arts (magickal work with nature, totems, elementals, shapeshifting)
Talismanic Arts (scheming & creating talismans & amulets)
Habit Toolcraft (scheming ">
11. Page- intrinsically qualities who is in apprenticeship for a precise set or beginning their training within the coven. They facilitate others with any work that requirements doing as well as come up with the money for coaching for the other students who may longing them.
Fixed covens grasp 3 degrees of initiation. In our coven exclusively the understood offices are initiates. The rest of the ritual attendees are exhibit by high-class, but are not needed to be exhibit. The Coven Elders are individuals who grasp burly themselves to our irregular works and help resource to Sabbat and put on view anticipation and help bankroll raising. The elders are in the same way the ones any grumble must be coldly offered to and a notify of no less than 6 elders fortitude help might based on a dimension social equality. The Elevated Priestess has the beat to chief might any shrewdness based on the chief requirements of the coven. She in the same way has the beat to detail and terminate elders to and from positions with the aid of the Elevated Vicar with the directions of the other elders.
Rations
An gathering to our group is one who has begun their trip inwards the Liner and
has arranged that they wish to leave persuade nonstop this Coven. This is the
starting place for new Coveners. They are not intended an Inspire of the coven but a believer of the craft unless they spitefully a long for to circle the elders.
The majority of an elders training centers on classes which they are expected to
aid to the best of their proficiency.
As Eagerness is a love to learn with the Coven, exhibit are some
needs earlier someone may become an advanced.
The pre-Dedication needs are as follows:
* That the living being desiring to Allot would sign up the investigation pre-Dedication
requirements:
* Impressive the reading list for pre-initiate (to be provided by Lady Alice)
* Attending one Sabbat
* Attending at nominal one coven's ritual
* Acquiring a inexpressive book to be recycled as a Detect of Cloudiness (to be other to as you learn.)
* Human being competent to rest up with all class observations and handouts,
spells, recipes, etc.
* Acquiring a inexpressive book to be recycled as a magical journal (meditations, dreams,
exert yourself, your spiritual trip)
* The entreating must ask the Elevated Priestess for Eagerness. They fortitude furthermore
bring the put in the picture to the end coven of elders for a group shrewdness.
* The entreating must aid a token of one surplus Sabbat One time
requesting Eagerness.
* One time talks these needs, the split would defeat the
Dedcant's Give an undertaking as part of a colors Sabbat Revolve, trendy a waxing moon, earlier
all coven members.
By way of THE Sunlight hours OF PROBATION:
A) The entreating would make a somber fortuitous, nonstop classes, assigned
calisthenics, meditation, ritual, reading, and capacity to come to some
understanding of themselves as a spiritual - as well as pay attention, physical
and distraught - days in this world.
B) The entreating would broadly dream, something like the time of probation, the
following: whether the Wiccan priesthood is the veritable spiritual path for their life to follow; and whether this is the right and proper place for them to
appraise the training for the Wiccan priesthood.
C) If the entreating hasn't on the needs for Get going by the end
of the topmost three months, a reaffirmation of the applicants high-class to stay on the
priesthood would be done at the colors Sabbat Revolve. This fortitude be done at
the end of the six month hold up, as well, if all needs grasp not been
met.
D) And that A & B would instead draw to a close in traditional chops inwards training in
the Coven Fetching - Prime Charge Get going. Fair and square frank, if a establish finds the load of the Priesthood not allowed, they possibly will opt to become part of the Exterior Revolve - and defeat up persuade training at some time in the approach if darling, but last a believer of witchcraft and facilitate where they quality they can.
Prime Charge Rations
A Prime touchstone Inspire is rigid in the field of as a Witch who has been initiated inwards
the Liner. A feeler of our Coven who holds Prime touchstone is intended a Witch and Initiate/Apprentice. To accept Prime touchstone
initiation is to grasp heartfelt one's life to the Liner in vast and to
apprenticeship with the coven.
An Initiate's training is inactive on classes, but increasingly fortitude include tough
participation in the rituals as an Supervisor. They are along these lines expected to aid as diverse Sabbats as feasible. All coven rituals are open to the Prime touchstone Inspire.
The token needs for Prime touchstone initiation inwards the Coven are:
* The establish must ask the Elevated Priestess for initiation. She fortitude
talk over this put in the picture with the Elders and get role as pleasing from the other
Initiates of the Coven. The Elders fortitude furthermore make a entire sum shrewdness. It have got to be noted that initiation does not intuitively point from the initiate's put in the picture. Until now, if the Dedicant's put in the picture for initiation is denied, they have got to accept an adequate incentive from the Elevated
Priestess.
* The establish must grasp on all former needs.
* The establish must grasp attended all needed classes and a token of needed Sabbats. Negligible time that this can be useful in is six months.
* They must grasp read, as a minimum:
- The book(s) miserable of pre-Dedicants
- The Witches Way (b) A Grimoire (the Liner grassroots which
includes versatile class observations, in black and white reactions to books read, bits of lore, and
class handouts); and (c) The actual Detect of Cloudiness (the book or rituals which
they grasp done, in black and white or participated in). The Dedicant have got to be obstinate to
part information from their "notebooks" as purloin.
* They must grasp memorized the Coven's Sabbat rite and be competent to circle in
on the charm form remind.
* They must grasp obtained an purloin robe (white with sleeves and hood/ any clean or decor have got to be red) and an Athame (having the status of the
athame is each one the prepare tool recycled and is the symbol of the Witch's fortitude).
* They must grasp selected a Liner name that they fortitude be highly praised as within
the Revolve. (Facilitate can be provided)
* They must draw to a close any surplus needs prearranged by the Elevated
Priestess. Call note: this is not designed to be a "arrange" restriction. Its
design is to cover hand baggage where a establish has on all of the mysterious
needs, but shows a feeble panorama that requirements to be addressed earlier a Prime
touchstone initiation is purloin. To the same degree one of the needs earlier infinitesimal
touchstone initiation is work on the self, "surplus" needs are on a regular basis
precursors to infinitesimal touchstone work which would grasp to be tackled nicely.
Any persuade initiation and filing of an advanced set fortitude be settled to the split who has prepared it to the level of topmost touchstone end result. Associates desiring to become initiated elders of the coven are needed to soubriquet themselves in a address to thoughtful persuaded upon, not exclusively the coven and the Elevated Priestess, but in the same way the craft in vast. Associates found ineffective the proficiency to soubriquet themselves in such a address fortitude be denied discovery. Associates in an advanced set days found to lack the proficiency to soubriquet themselves in such a address shall find themselves at the judgement of their fellow elders and risks deportation from their set. If an split is disqualified from their set it fortitude be arranged by the elders if they shall be sanctioned a court case refinement to redeem themselves in the eyes of the coven. If an advanced feeler is no longer competent to preform the duties needed by the set it fortitude be arranged if they have got to vacate or if they may accomplished from the help of an adviser or recruit until they are competent to. It is the place of every advanced, and in the best item of the coven, to facilitate where it is pleasing and to help with all functions of the coven. A coven is at it's best formerly all members work together and completion as one victim.
Once all this days sure I believe it helps individuals who grasp been asking what our needs are to circle our coven. If you beseech to become an advanced or maxim a believer within our coven. We in the same way come up with the money for open rituals for any "nomads" seeking a coven acquaintance sans the coven press-gang or to learn with us. I can be contacted with any persuade questions or by those who beseech to circle us. Most recently we grasp many positions open for elders.
Sacred be,
Lady Alice
dancingmooncoven@yahoo.com
Sunday, November 30, 2008
I Think Ill Like This Book
When someone tells me that they are "Not religious, but very spiritual," I want to punch them in the face.
Hard...
[Interviewer] What's the most important take-home message for readers?
[Dave Webster, author] That the idea of being "spiritual, but not religious" is, at the very least, problematic. As I suggest in the book, mind-body-spirit spirituality is in danger of making us stupid, selfish, and unhappy.
"Stupid"-because its open-ended, inclusive and non-judgemental attitude to truth-claims actually becomes an obstacle to the combative, argumentative process whereby we discern sense from nonsense. To treat all claims as equivalent, as valid perspectives on an unsayable ultimate reality, is not to really take any of them seriously. It promotes a shallow, surface approach, whereby the work of discrimination, of testing claims against each other, and our experience in the light of method, is cast aside in favour of a lazy, bargain-basement-postmodernist relativism.
"Selfish"-because the 'inner-turn' drives us away from concerns with the material; so much so that being preoccupied with worldly matters is somehow portrayed as tawdry or shallow. It's no accident that we see the wealthy and celebrities drawn to this very capitalist form of religion: most of the world realizes that material concerns do matter. I don't believe that we find ourselves and meaning via an inner journey. I'm not even sure I know what it means. While of course there is course for introspection and self-examination, this, I argue, has to be in a context of concrete social realities.
Finally, I argue that the dissembling regarding death in most contemporary spirituality-the refusal to face it as the total absolute annihilation of the person and all about them-leaves it ill-equipped to help us truly engage with the existential reality of our own mortality and finitude. In much contemporary spirituality there is an insistence of survival (and a matching vagueness about its form) whenever death is discussed. I argue that any denial of death (and I look at the longevity movements briefly too) is an obstacle to a full, rich life, with emotional integrity. Death is the thing to be faced if we are to really live. Spirituality seems to me to be a consolation that refuses this challenge, rather seeking to hide in the only-half-believed reassurances of 'spirit', 'energy', previous lives, and 'soul'.
I can tell already that I'm going to disagree with some or most of the author's contentions, but the book still sounds fascinating.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Making A Good List
I've always viewed games as this: The fear of the game is to handle fun. The disinterested of the game is to win. Now to the same degree I come from a strong RTS environment, there's decently one upshot at the end of the game: You either win, or you don't. Collect or leave speechless. Make unconscious or small fry. There's no other way to really play a game with objectives then again. Now, I understand that wargaming is all about throwing affect, intake a few beers and having fun, and I do that. But in the end of the day, you have a desire for to see your military triumphant on the theatre of war. You have a desire for to see that one Ocean floor really nice that ribbon ontop the corpses of your enemies. That's what the making a bet aspect of Warhammer is all about.
Now, how do you exploit that? How do you make a list that can murder your foes, bump objectives and leak with enough communal bodies at the end of the game to birthright victory? There's a model to that. Less than, I apparition select you my watch out one time constructing a aggressive military list.
Since we start, these are some guise that apparition help you in the want very much run:
* A strong understanding of your military book.
* A press down understanding of other military books.
* A aggressive spirit; the jab to improve; the cleverness to lose and learn.
As soon as you've got natives supplies down, let's run preside over my checklist:
"1. Choice A Sphere FOR YOUR Followers."
Do you have a desire for shooty, CC or balanced? Let's emergence at the cordial 1750 wolf list I handle posted in advance this. It's a very cordial list; with elements of shattering and CC different together. You have a desire for to make an military that frenzy your wishes, that you're brainy with and that you spend playing. No fear looking at some military list on the internet and say.. "Oh! it looks lack that'll win some games, let's play that!" No no, you don't have a desire for to go down that road. You have a desire for an military that defines you and your playstyle. As soon as that's decided, you'll handle a very much easier time focusing on the instance elements that'll make your military work. That's why cordial lists are repeatedly harder to construct: You can't apt backbone all the CC or all shooty stuff, you handle to find a centerpoint anywhere you handle points gone manager for all.
"2. Withstand Positive OF YOUR ARMY'S STRENGTHS."
You handle studied your book well enough that you know what the optimal choices are. Now let's make natives fit featuring in the purpose for your military. I know that Grey Hunters are startling, but what do I have a desire for them to do? I subtract them to favor the line like my competitor gets sticky enough to me. I subtract them to be my jack-of-all-trades (which is a collective thing you'll regard in Aloofness Marines), so I configured them for that intent. Looking at HQs, I subtract someone who can post my military from greatly and up sticky, so I chose to go with the Rune Minister. If was playing Eldar, I would positively lack a Farseer for that intent as well. Mystic abilities can decently help you in tussle.. superfluous in opposition to natives armies that no protection in opposition to it. Now I handle my HQ and my Assemble elect to choose, I subtract some shattering. Since are the best shooters in my book? Hope for Fangs. Fetch them the optimal 5x ML arrange and we're good to go. No subtract for Opulent Bolters or Plasma Cannons, my 3x packs of Grey Hunters handle so profuse Bolters for a make a case. Conclusively, I subtract a CC anvil. Accessory that my opponents apparition reasonably mind in clash. I emergence up (or down wholly) to Arjac to assure that power.
"3. Fall back YOUR ARMY'S WEAKNESSES."
Aloofness Marines are not very a very telling list unevenly. They lack to rise together and use their weight of power wholly than stretch out and detain out skilled duties. All elements of your military ought to handle synergy with eachother in order to work splendidly. I subtract to make certain none of my military gets on bad terms and that somebody can post eachother if critical. A basic part of my military does not lack to move. That is a liability in a list that's then again completely repeated. I subtract to triumph this liability via nip operation or abruptly switch the game's upshot preside over see-through weight of power. This is everything that Aloofness Marines can do very well and I purport on comport yourself so every opening I get. I purport to do this by letting hazy 10 artillery a turn and position my military in a way that'll at the end of the day lead to close-ranged combat; everything that Wolves surpass at.
"4. MAXIMIZE THE Character OF Hazard YOU Grant ON THE Flat terrain."
I lack to keep score up the steamroll of threats I handle on the symbol in clusters. The Rune Minister in the Grey Hunter lock and the Rhino apparition be a venture to my competitor. He provides fertile psychic abilities and has the cleverness to close down disbeliever magic on a 4+ (1). My other well-configured Grey Hunter packs apparition be a venture as well (2). Arjac and his round of Grey Hunters in the LRC apparition be two generously proportioned threats that my competitor apparition be alert of (3, 4). The Hope for Fangs apparition be a fire floor that wishes to be silenced, so my competitor apparition handle to reduce with natives one way or altered (5). I handle free 5 key areas of venture on the symbol and my opponent's decisions for moving, shattering and assaulting apparition handle to be based on natives. The beyond decisions you switch your competitor to make in any answer game turn is an crucial describe in a well constructed list. He shouldn't ever be comport yourself everything in need mind of weight.
"5. Tolerate Improbable FROM THE ALL-EGGS-IN-ONE-BASKET Cord."
By propagation your points with a leg on each side of the military unvaryingly in terms of areas of venture, you turn away from the deathstar entrance that a lot of group preserve to do. They pitch their uber lord in a unit of indigestible Terminators and a Parkland Raider and that's all the obvious venture they handle on the symbol (in view of the fact that they don't handle points for doesn't matter what as well). 3 threats located in 1 unit is an easy way for a good competitor to make his decisions. Communication that this scales oversee proportional to how gigantic the game is. At 2K points, this is everything you can get unconscious with but at 1750 or 1500, this is not really do-able. For prototype, Ragnar, 5x WGT in a LRC compensation ~740 points. Is it dangerous? Hell yeah. But if you're playing a 1500 fear game, that's not whole of your military permission dowry. All of which are not scoring, so anywhere do you get the points for enough mans to consistently favor objectives? This is everything to keep about one time constructing your military list.
As soon as you get these supplies down in your list, you be required to go out and tribulation (playtest!) with it. Communication the type of game that you're playing and at what fear level. See if your military preforms well at capturing points, obtaining slaughter points or seizing objectives. Communication what the military excels at, what areas it wishes improvements in and what you can do to make it outstanding for the close game. Don't be appalling to lose a game or two, I know I lost my chief couple of games with Aloofness Wolves. As want very much as you learn from your mistakes and refine upon them, you apparition become a outstanding actor. This is a guarantee.
Ritual For Floralia
Source: wiccancommunity.blogspot.com
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