MSB, I think you should decide why you really bought that old truck, and what you had intended to do with it. If you are going to cherry it out, and you really love driving it, at least you know already what is wrong with it. A nicely kept truck can last almost forever. Sometimes around here I see old Ford pick-ups from the thirties and forties, and their lines are still beautiful and I am happy that someone bothered to restore them.
So why did you buy it? Ha ha, though, no matter what your reason is, SJ's IRA account might be more profitable in the long run, although I'll bet you will have a lot more fun!!
Pagans are people who do not believe in Christianity, or other relatively modern organized religions, but rather that life is best lived in the present, in the physical universe, and they revere the earth, the moon and stars, and the animals and plants. Some pagans believe in or at least highly respect some of the more ancient gods and goddesses. Paganism respects the power of women, and holds that male and female energy are both essential.
Most modern pagans are monogamous environmentalists, and many are vegetarians. Because pagans worship nature, they obviously are motivated to preserve the earth and her treasures. American Indians would be good examples of pagans, in that they had a lot of knowledge of healing plants and herbs, and the seasons, and in their art and spirituality loved the earth. When they killed animals, they communicated with, and respected, their spirits, and used every part of the animal to show their reverence.
Even more importantly than what pagans are, is what they are not. Paganism has absolutely nothing to do with satanism, which is actually a negative offshoot of Christianity. And while you could say that all those who practice Celtic magic, or wicca--also referred to as white, or positive, witchcraft--are pagans, certainly not all pagans are witches. Wicca, incidentally, is the "old religion", the collective power and wisdom of women who knew the healing plants in Europe, and which has been practiced there since before the Christians came.
My own personal opinion of modern witches, and there are many covens in America, is that while a few are actually powerful and blessed women who lead the rest, like the Bay Area witch Starhawk who is also on the faculty of a Catholic university because the Jesuits believe her spirituality is strong and relevant, most are people who somehow feel alienated or different, and seek companionship outside of mainstream society. This is understandable, but does not necessarily give them magical powers or knowledge. They just want to make the scene or something!!!!!
Here are a couple of pagan/witchcraft urls for your perusal:
witchesweb.com.indexa.html
cascade.net
What happens to atheists when they die? I don't know, and no one else does, either. Whatever it is, it is what happens to everyone, if you want my opinion. The notion that there is a heaven and only Christians can go there seems illogical to me. In the history of the world, and as a proportion of religious people, Christians are in the distinct minority. So it must be a very small place, and besides that I suspect it is a little narrow-minded!!!
But I also think that if your own beliefs give you comfort, you are lucky, and that everyone is entitled to their own dreams of immortality. I do object to people who try to push their own religion on others, and of course to all the horrible violence and death that is always the result of wars between religious groups. Organized religion often seems to bring out the worst in people!!!!
So what does happen to atheists when they die??
Oh, incidentally, Halloween is an old pagan holiday, which originated as we know it with the Celts in Ireland. Here is a little of its history:
Samhain (October 31st)
also known as: Halloween, ShadowFest, Martinmas, Old Hallowmas
Samhain is the Witches' New Year's Eve, November 1st is the first day of the new year, it marks the end of
one summer and the beginning of winter. It is the final harvest of the year. This is the time of the year when the
ancient tribes harvested for the last time during the year, and prepared for the long months of winter. Food
was stored, animals brought in from the fields, animals needed for food supply were slaughter and prepared
for long storage, activity was moved from outdoors to indoors, by the warmth of the hearth fire.
The ancient tribes celebrated the Celtic Feast of the Dead, a practice which is carried on today. Samhain is a
time when we honor our ancestors and the memory they left behind. On Samhain the veil between all worlds
is the thinnest. It is a powerful time for divination and contacting those who have walk these lands before us.
This is the time of the season which the Crone rules. She is one aspect of the Goddess, Crone, Maiden, and
Mother. It is She who opens the Western gate for those departed to travel into Summerland. She rules areas
of death and regination, occult sciences, healing, and the wisdom of the ages. She comes in the form of
Cerridwen, Hecate, Arianrhod, Persephone, among many others. We use the Crone to assist us in transition
from one life to the next, of leaving one level of our existence and entering the next. To bring us into the
Womb of the Mother only to assist us in being reborn once again. For it is through Her Wisdom and guidance
we learn lessons from experience past and begin life anew from the wisdom gained.
Ritual fires of Samhain were lit at the fall of dusk on the sacred hilltops, of ancient times, for the protection of
people and land. Today we use fire in our Magic Circle to build a shield of protection and to light the Path for
the future. Witches perform rituals, using the Crone's assistance, to leave behind that which they do not want
to carry on into the future; outdated habits, completion of past relationships; insecurities and those thing which
do not service to carry on. Magic is done to better our lives, the lives of those around us, and all connected to
the web of life
It is customary for Witches to dress on Samhain eve, the costume reflect the Witches projection for the
upcoming year. It is a festive, joyful time, where we visit friends and share treats stories and memories.
Trick or treat, MSB!!!! |
