There have been several blogs on this topic, and a reader emailed me yesterday to ask if all things used in any type of prayer, ritual or ceremony need to be treated special all the time.
The answer is yes. When you want to get into seriously doing spiritual work, you need to have the right "tools". The tools should be in a toolbox that is protected and used just for those things. It doesn't have to be made of gold, but if you carry your drum in it one day, you don't carry your laundry in it the next day.
Each "carrier" or case should be cleansed, protected, and honored too. Our drum is in with sage and other items to protect it. It isn't tossed in a basement or attic and disrespected. It is honored.
Items are also only to be used with the right intent. Always in a positive way. A drum, flute, chalice, wand, crystal, has in it the energy it was "born with" and more importantly, the energy you put into it. Never use any item to send harm, upset, or negativity in any way. When you cannot find a way to do it positively, leave it to the Universe to take care of it.
I have spent many a time taking ritual objects that people have touched (no one touches my tarot cards), used, or basically abused, to clean, bless and clear the energy. I have only had to cleanse the pow wow drum once, but it was done immediately. Ritual objects need to be honored, protected and treated as if they are your grandparents. Treated in other words with respect and love. There are specific ways to do these things, and there are a multitude of ways, depending on the item and tradition behind it. When you don't know how, find someone who does.
Be mindful. Most people who have such tools would never think of using them for anything other than their intended purpose. They would never allow strangers or people who gave them bad vibes to handle them. They protect them as they would a grandparent. They don't bring them into places that are inappropriate or allow others (who don't know what they are doing), to handle them.
I am a stickler about keeping ritual items cleansed,heck, I am anal about it.When I have to suddenly use an item in time of need or trouble, I do not want to have to stop and cleanse it first. The key is to originally cleanse it, use it properly and treat it responsibly. Put it away in the right manner in a safe and protected place, and to cleanse it when necessary.
I have rattles that are only used for drumming, and others only used for healing, each rattle has a purpose and a way it is used. There are several tarot decks, drums, flutes, and such in my possession that I use just for a specific purpose . Some have more than one purpose, but they will be close purposes, such as the pow wow drum. All are kept with, love, integrity, and honor.
There are people who have objects they have no idea how to use or to honor. There are ways to cleanse every object and none ever needs being destroyed, but spending your life cleansing sacred objects is not only time wasting, but does take away from the object.
Be careful how , when, and where you use an object, and make sure it is always for a positive purpose. Intent is important.
Be careful with that which you have that is sacred. People who follow Native American spirituality; Wiccan and other Nature and goddess based lives; religious people, and more, all honor that which they use.
Respect each other, and respect the item for it's use. There is an energy in that object. It has a purpose, and it is a spirit. It needs to be treated properly. It will teach you when you make a mistake, but when you blatantly disregard the true nature of the object, it will turn out very badly in the end.
Respect and honor that spirit always.
When mistakes happen, correct them and cleanse the item.
Do the right things for the right reasons.
Peshaui Wequashimese
(C)Dr R M Wolf, May not be used, copied or reproduced without prior written permission.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Holidays can be depressing for some
I usually receive email on metaphysical questions, but the latest was
asking about my training in psychology. A woman is very concerned about
a friend of many years as her behavior had changed after two deaths in
the family.
There is some concern as the family members died from a congenital disease, so it would be normal to have some concern and have things checked out. The friend sent me a list of behavior she was concerned about, and should be, since the holiday season is a time for heightened depression and suicide. Don't confuse a normal sadness with depression, they are two different things, mostly due to severity and duration.
People think that most suicides occur in the winter months, generally around the holidays. It is a time of heightened suicide rates, but the peek times are late spring and early summer. It is important however to make sure that we are aware of signs of depression in people around us.
Suicide is preventable. Depression is manageable. Signs of depression include:
When people "drop out" of life. They don't do things they used to love doing. They don't participate in group activities. This can mean not showing up , or being there and being totally unplugged. Not participating in the conversation, or physically withdrawing. Doin gthis at home is even more serious, and is a sure sign that something is wrong.
Shut out loved ones. Family, friends, partners are avoided and closed out. They may literally hide from them, or absorb themselves in other things so as not to become involved emotionally.
Saying and doing things that tell you they feel there is no hope. Hopelessness is a major part of depression and is one of the differences between being sad and being depressed. Saying things like "I will never be happy again", "or life is hard, it always is, I will always have problems".
Lack of concern with appearance of themselves and their surroundings. They don't have to be a Fashionista or Martha Stewart to be healthy, but if a person is no longer paying attention to hygiene, or has gone from looking nice to wearing sweats and a bathrobe all the time, be concerned. It is the change in a downward or less concerned way, that you are looking for.
When a normally clean home goes to being totally unkempt, that is a cause for concern.
This also includes a loss of appetite, or desire to do the basic things we normally do to survive.
They find things to absorb them so they don't "have time" to do things they normally did or to be plugged in to the world. Some people become workaholics, others suddenly develop what seems like an addiction to a hobby, pass time or endeavor. It consumes them and their time, and allows them to "check out" of daily, family and/or work life.
They dwell on the past or a particular event in their life that was devastating to them. A divorce, death, loss of job. They still mourn the loss of something. People do heal at different rates, but after a year has passed, and the person is still mourning, there is an issue. Most people heal in a matter of a few months.
Endangering other aspects of life. Some who are depressed will do things that put them at risk, and make them cause issues to give them something to be depressed about. You will see this in Borderline Personality Disorder. The most common ways of doing this is spending money to get in to a huge financial hole that is next to impossible to climb out of. Others put themselves in physical danger, that can vary from them not eating well, or taking their medications to have unprotected sex with dangerous or ill people. They may take up dangerous hobbies, or sports that put them at risk. They put themselves at risk in any way imaginable.
Body pain. Clinical depression many times comes with body aches and pain. Not always, but some cases do involve physical pain.
Causing minor harm to themselves. They may start by cutting themselves , the physical pain takes their mind off of the emotional pain for a short period of time. They may also "accidentally overdose" on regular medication, or increase in drinking or drug use.
Trouble sleeping at night. Excessive sleeping to escape during the day.
Difficulty concentrating.
Any of these things should be a cause for concern, and prompt a visit to your doctor. There is not an immediate need to visit a psychologist or psychiatrist, but it is imperative to seek help. When these signs are severe, or all of them show up, it is time for a visit to a psychiatrist. Not only is there danger of a suicide, but people are not living their lives, and are cheating themselves and their loved ones out of their attention, love and creation of happy memories.The key is to watch for change, duration and intensity. Help your loved ones by protecting them. They may not like being dragged to the doctor's office, but when their lives are happier they will not be able to thank you enough.
Peshaui Wequashimese
(C)2012 Dr R M Wolf. May not be used, copied or reproduced without prior written permission.
There is some concern as the family members died from a congenital disease, so it would be normal to have some concern and have things checked out. The friend sent me a list of behavior she was concerned about, and should be, since the holiday season is a time for heightened depression and suicide. Don't confuse a normal sadness with depression, they are two different things, mostly due to severity and duration.
People think that most suicides occur in the winter months, generally around the holidays. It is a time of heightened suicide rates, but the peek times are late spring and early summer. It is important however to make sure that we are aware of signs of depression in people around us.
Suicide is preventable. Depression is manageable. Signs of depression include:
When people "drop out" of life. They don't do things they used to love doing. They don't participate in group activities. This can mean not showing up , or being there and being totally unplugged. Not participating in the conversation, or physically withdrawing. Doin gthis at home is even more serious, and is a sure sign that something is wrong.
Shut out loved ones. Family, friends, partners are avoided and closed out. They may literally hide from them, or absorb themselves in other things so as not to become involved emotionally.
Saying and doing things that tell you they feel there is no hope. Hopelessness is a major part of depression and is one of the differences between being sad and being depressed. Saying things like "I will never be happy again", "or life is hard, it always is, I will always have problems".
Lack of concern with appearance of themselves and their surroundings. They don't have to be a Fashionista or Martha Stewart to be healthy, but if a person is no longer paying attention to hygiene, or has gone from looking nice to wearing sweats and a bathrobe all the time, be concerned. It is the change in a downward or less concerned way, that you are looking for.
When a normally clean home goes to being totally unkempt, that is a cause for concern.
This also includes a loss of appetite, or desire to do the basic things we normally do to survive.
They find things to absorb them so they don't "have time" to do things they normally did or to be plugged in to the world. Some people become workaholics, others suddenly develop what seems like an addiction to a hobby, pass time or endeavor. It consumes them and their time, and allows them to "check out" of daily, family and/or work life.
They dwell on the past or a particular event in their life that was devastating to them. A divorce, death, loss of job. They still mourn the loss of something. People do heal at different rates, but after a year has passed, and the person is still mourning, there is an issue. Most people heal in a matter of a few months.
Endangering other aspects of life. Some who are depressed will do things that put them at risk, and make them cause issues to give them something to be depressed about. You will see this in Borderline Personality Disorder. The most common ways of doing this is spending money to get in to a huge financial hole that is next to impossible to climb out of. Others put themselves in physical danger, that can vary from them not eating well, or taking their medications to have unprotected sex with dangerous or ill people. They may take up dangerous hobbies, or sports that put them at risk. They put themselves at risk in any way imaginable.
Body pain. Clinical depression many times comes with body aches and pain. Not always, but some cases do involve physical pain.
Causing minor harm to themselves. They may start by cutting themselves , the physical pain takes their mind off of the emotional pain for a short period of time. They may also "accidentally overdose" on regular medication, or increase in drinking or drug use.
Trouble sleeping at night. Excessive sleeping to escape during the day.
Difficulty concentrating.
Any of these things should be a cause for concern, and prompt a visit to your doctor. There is not an immediate need to visit a psychologist or psychiatrist, but it is imperative to seek help. When these signs are severe, or all of them show up, it is time for a visit to a psychiatrist. Not only is there danger of a suicide, but people are not living their lives, and are cheating themselves and their loved ones out of their attention, love and creation of happy memories.The key is to watch for change, duration and intensity. Help your loved ones by protecting them. They may not like being dragged to the doctor's office, but when their lives are happier they will not be able to thank you enough.
Peshaui Wequashimese
(C)2012 Dr R M Wolf. May not be used, copied or reproduced without prior written permission.
Monday, December 10, 2012
What is this about "Catfish"? Internet scams.
The internet is a vast array of information, but it is also a vast array of MISinformation. More and more of what is on the net is pure nonsense. You cannot believe half of what you read on the net, and further research is always needed. Add to that the fact that you will get a "slant" of the publisher of the page, not 100% truth in many instances, adds to the confusion. I remember during the election telling people that getting any information from a partial site (like a party site), or slanted news service was pure intellectual suicide.
Last week I alluded to the fact that the internet is not a place where you want to take any one stab in the dark and believe it. It may be a page that is 100% true, but having backed up that information is invaluable. There are sites that will help you find if things are true or not, like Snopes or Truthorfiction. They research and find the source and are 100% unbiased. They have no reason to lie to you, and will tell you if something is true or not , or even partially true.
Sadly there are a bunch of sickos out there that get supreme pleasure in trying to attack and discredit successful businesses and people. They have meaningless , unpleasant lives and get their jollies out of making large companies or famous people look bad. Harming a person's business out of pure lies and pleasure is sick, disgusting, and criminal. Laws have been enacted to prosecute internet bullies and slanderers. I say , it is about time!
Yet there is a step deeper into internet lies, deceit, and hate.It is a behavior that is deplorable. We all know that there are people on dating websites who play themselves up. They may even have a picture from 10 years ago, or a description that makes them look irresistible. My clients fall for them all the time. Did you ever wonder what all those Prince Charmings are doing on a website, yeah me too. The fact is, dating websites are a joke. They can advertise in ways to lure you in like "more weddings". Ok, so your site had 3% instead of 2.5%, and none of them lasted? Great statistic. You have a better chance of being struck by lightning.
So, we all know dating sites are full of people playing up their best (or imagineed attributes), and downplaying the bad side. People fish hoping to catch that one gem in the ocean. They prepare for that, so what? The" what", is that there are people out there who totally and completely fabricate a persona, and never intend to meet the person they are communicating with. The reason, psychosis. They are called "catfish".
Recently in the news was a person who had 30 plus women that they were communicating with. There were phone calls, texts, pictures, email, but never a face to face meeting. Every time the face to face meeting was arranged, there would be a disaster that would keep the two from meeting. The reasons included surgery, near death of family members, illness, accidents, and being stranded somewhere due to weather, or other serious issues.
These relationships would seem monogamous to the person involved. There would be talk of marriage, even gifts sent, but the meeting would never happen. The reason why? The person who for months on end was courting these women, was another woman. She was doing this for her own twisted, evil amusement. She is a catfish.
There is no financial gain, nothing but pure trickery in order to amuse themselves. Catfish are becoming more and more prevalent on the internet. This one was even "brave" enough to suggest to a girlfriend that she contact "this guy" (who was actually herself), who was really sweet. The girlfriend was very savvy and not desperate at all. She figured it out when the attempts to meet were always thwarted by major issues. She caught on right away.
The pictures this woman was using was from the internet, a man who is a local singer and model who had many pictures on the net. She "became" him. When the made up persona had "serious accidents",keeping him from a face to face meeting, his "sister" (the catfish) , would call and tell the poor woman who was being played that her "brother" was in a serious accident, or some other dramatic reason they could not meet.
When one girl caught on, she asked for a picture taken that day with a newspaper or some other non alterable item with the current date on it. She never got the picture, because the catfish could not create that.
This woman had the time to play out these 30 women over time, one girl up to 30 months.
There are people in this world who get nervous about dating again, they get funny about meeting up. Yet, 30 months? That is way too long. Two meetings cancelled by the same person for the original meet up , should be the maximum.
Dating outside the country is also asking for trouble. There are not only catfish galore, but people who will try to scam you out of money. One man told a client he needed money to pay his taxes to leave the country. That is pure BS. Another wanted citizenship , and another a job here. If you think for a moment these people will not pull out all the stops and promise you the moon, you are highly delusional. This is very important , heartbreaking stuff here.
Do not internet date a person from another country, one you have not met in a reasonable amount of time, or one that says they need money first for ANY reason. They are all scammers.
The catfish are, to me, the sickest, as they just do it for personal pleasure. So if you have a hard time believing someone will make a sign for Facebook with information that isn't true, think about Catfish.
The internet is a place where people can hide. They sometimes become bullies, scam artists, or even Catfish. Beware any internet predator, it is a jungle out there!
Peshaui Wequashimese
(C)2012 Dr R M Wolf. May not be copied, reproduced, or shared without credit or prior written permission.
Last week I alluded to the fact that the internet is not a place where you want to take any one stab in the dark and believe it. It may be a page that is 100% true, but having backed up that information is invaluable. There are sites that will help you find if things are true or not, like Snopes or Truthorfiction. They research and find the source and are 100% unbiased. They have no reason to lie to you, and will tell you if something is true or not , or even partially true.
Sadly there are a bunch of sickos out there that get supreme pleasure in trying to attack and discredit successful businesses and people. They have meaningless , unpleasant lives and get their jollies out of making large companies or famous people look bad. Harming a person's business out of pure lies and pleasure is sick, disgusting, and criminal. Laws have been enacted to prosecute internet bullies and slanderers. I say , it is about time!
Yet there is a step deeper into internet lies, deceit, and hate.It is a behavior that is deplorable. We all know that there are people on dating websites who play themselves up. They may even have a picture from 10 years ago, or a description that makes them look irresistible. My clients fall for them all the time. Did you ever wonder what all those Prince Charmings are doing on a website, yeah me too. The fact is, dating websites are a joke. They can advertise in ways to lure you in like "more weddings". Ok, so your site had 3% instead of 2.5%, and none of them lasted? Great statistic. You have a better chance of being struck by lightning.
So, we all know dating sites are full of people playing up their best (or imagineed attributes), and downplaying the bad side. People fish hoping to catch that one gem in the ocean. They prepare for that, so what? The" what", is that there are people out there who totally and completely fabricate a persona, and never intend to meet the person they are communicating with. The reason, psychosis. They are called "catfish".
Recently in the news was a person who had 30 plus women that they were communicating with. There were phone calls, texts, pictures, email, but never a face to face meeting. Every time the face to face meeting was arranged, there would be a disaster that would keep the two from meeting. The reasons included surgery, near death of family members, illness, accidents, and being stranded somewhere due to weather, or other serious issues.
These relationships would seem monogamous to the person involved. There would be talk of marriage, even gifts sent, but the meeting would never happen. The reason why? The person who for months on end was courting these women, was another woman. She was doing this for her own twisted, evil amusement. She is a catfish.
There is no financial gain, nothing but pure trickery in order to amuse themselves. Catfish are becoming more and more prevalent on the internet. This one was even "brave" enough to suggest to a girlfriend that she contact "this guy" (who was actually herself), who was really sweet. The girlfriend was very savvy and not desperate at all. She figured it out when the attempts to meet were always thwarted by major issues. She caught on right away.
The pictures this woman was using was from the internet, a man who is a local singer and model who had many pictures on the net. She "became" him. When the made up persona had "serious accidents",keeping him from a face to face meeting, his "sister" (the catfish) , would call and tell the poor woman who was being played that her "brother" was in a serious accident, or some other dramatic reason they could not meet.
When one girl caught on, she asked for a picture taken that day with a newspaper or some other non alterable item with the current date on it. She never got the picture, because the catfish could not create that.
This woman had the time to play out these 30 women over time, one girl up to 30 months.
There are people in this world who get nervous about dating again, they get funny about meeting up. Yet, 30 months? That is way too long. Two meetings cancelled by the same person for the original meet up , should be the maximum.
Dating outside the country is also asking for trouble. There are not only catfish galore, but people who will try to scam you out of money. One man told a client he needed money to pay his taxes to leave the country. That is pure BS. Another wanted citizenship , and another a job here. If you think for a moment these people will not pull out all the stops and promise you the moon, you are highly delusional. This is very important , heartbreaking stuff here.
Do not internet date a person from another country, one you have not met in a reasonable amount of time, or one that says they need money first for ANY reason. They are all scammers.
The catfish are, to me, the sickest, as they just do it for personal pleasure. So if you have a hard time believing someone will make a sign for Facebook with information that isn't true, think about Catfish.
The internet is a place where people can hide. They sometimes become bullies, scam artists, or even Catfish. Beware any internet predator, it is a jungle out there!
Peshaui Wequashimese
(C)2012 Dr R M Wolf. May not be copied, reproduced, or shared without credit or prior written permission.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Hanukkah, a different side of the story
Saturday at sundown marks the beginning of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Light. There are many cultures that have a "festival of light", Christmas began as one, and pagans celebrate the solstice as a festival of light. The Romans had Saturnalia. December 21 (or thereabouts), may be the shortest and therefore darkest day of the year, but as the next day dawns, light starts creeping back into the world. We have a little more daylight each day until we reach the summer solstice (in the northern hemisphere).
When you delve into learning about religions and the history surrounding them, you see them from a whole different perspective. You see the connections to other faiths, you see where differences lie, and sadly you see a lot of war. Many places, many reasons, every religion.
I had heard the stories of the Maccabees and how they fought for their religious freedom. I knew how they had won a battle and reclaimed the Temple. They went to clean and restore it and found that the little oil left in the lamps that were next to empty, lasted for 8 days. Thus we have the festival of light, Hanukkah, that lasts 8 days. A candle is lit each night to celebrate this religious victory.
Since there are many "festivals of light", and they go back to the winter solstice, I am sure much of it was wrapped around the old beliefs (solstice celebrations), after all, at this time religion was in flux, Christianity was not established yet, there were many celebrating the old ways, gods and goddesses. When I was studying for my doctorate I heard a very different take on things, and one of the advisers said to remember that when you hear a story, it depends on if you are hearing it from the winning side or the losing side. It depends on if you are hearing it from the person who was miles from the battlefield or deep inside it. They will have different perspectives, beliefs, and come with a different set of tools to process everything.
The most surprising part she told me is that the story of the Maccabees isn't part of the Torah. The Torah is the Jewish scrolls that govern the religion and its' history, it is basically the Old Testament of the Bible. I would have figured that out for myself if I would have thought about it, because I knew that New Testament books, and information are not in the Torah.Depending on your version of the Bible, the information is different, so stepping outside the religion, of course things will be different. You can read about the Maccabees in Hebrews (New Testament)...but the interesting part of all of this is that when the story as history is told, not the story as religion, it is a different story.
I did some research this year as Hanukkah is just around the corner, and as with most religious stories, it wasn't exactly the way it went. The history of religion is filled with bloodshed, and this "battle" wasn't quite the "fight for religious freedom", that it is touted to be. A Jewish scholar named Shawna Dolansky (yes she is Jewish), even called the Maccabees "religious terrorists". Once I read the history, I had to agree.
The story in the "pretty version" is the Jewish people, as represented in the story as the Maccabees, began an uprising for religious freedom. However, they did not simply fight against the King, but everyone who wasn't a Maccabee (religious priestly class). They not only fought, killed and tortured non Jews, but other Jews as well. This was not a Jewish revolt, but a revolt by a small group of Jews. It was ugly. The ugliest part was the Maccabee Jews killing other Jews becasue the majority of Jews wanted to assimilate into the King's way of doing things. Maybe they had a point in wanting to keep their religion pure, but then we have to say the same about the Muslim extremists today (see it IS all in the perspective).
The Maccabbes killed other Jews and performed forced circumcisions on them (OUCH, I can't imagine that went well). They forced those who were reforming their religion, to worship in their way of doing things. Once they won the war and their " religious freedom ", they didn't stop, they then forced everyone else to do as they did, in essence taking away THEIR religious freedom. They were priests and religious zealots (which is never a good thing in any religion), who imposed their will on others. You can see them as religious terrorists or pious men who saved their original religion. Either way , they killed people and forced them to believe as they did, and I have a very hard time with that.
The Talmud introduced the story as a dedication ( the word Hanukkah means dedication),of the Temple 600 years after the fact. This is where the oil story gets introduced. Many scholars believe it was a story invented by the Rabbis, as it was never mentioned before that time. They believe that this way it is a story of the power of God, not a story of a bunch of religious fanatics killing others.
The stories of religion are usually ones of hate, negativity, and bloodshed. It is so ironic, and the story here isn't to put down the Jews, but to show how things can get presented the way those in power of the religion want you to see it. This tactic doesn't just limit itself to religion.
The message here is not really about Hanukkah, but about looking at things carefully. Making sure that you see the other side of the story (or all three....), and making sure that you are not led into believing something that isn't entirely true. It is about research. A few years ago Biblical scholars wouldn't dare say things like "Jesus was probably married", or "the Maccabees killed more fellow Jews than others". They would be ostracized, and worse. Today the information and the tools to gain it are out there. It is hard to refute it, and people can still continue to believe as they wish. We have religious freedom in this country (not every country does), and we have access to a vast array of knowledge. Use it.
This doesn't just pertain to religion, but to every aspect of your life. Today there are multitudes of people who spread all kinds of nonsense through the internet and unfortunately many who believe what they write. Monday I will write about "Catfish", and give you an idea of the senseless craziness that goes on via the internet, and why it is important to not buy into others stories, beliefs, and agenda, but to listen, research (and research the RIGHT way), and make an informed decision. You cannot make an informed decision after reading an email, looking at a Facebook posting, or even (GASP) a blog. RESEARCH!
Meanwhile, I can not look at Hanukkah the same again, but at least I see the other side of the coin now, and to me that is fascinating, as it just goes along the same historic path many other religious stories have.
Research, learn and grow!
Peshaui Wequashimese
(2012) Dr R M Wolf. May not be used, copied or reproduced without prior written permission.
When you delve into learning about religions and the history surrounding them, you see them from a whole different perspective. You see the connections to other faiths, you see where differences lie, and sadly you see a lot of war. Many places, many reasons, every religion.
I had heard the stories of the Maccabees and how they fought for their religious freedom. I knew how they had won a battle and reclaimed the Temple. They went to clean and restore it and found that the little oil left in the lamps that were next to empty, lasted for 8 days. Thus we have the festival of light, Hanukkah, that lasts 8 days. A candle is lit each night to celebrate this religious victory.
Since there are many "festivals of light", and they go back to the winter solstice, I am sure much of it was wrapped around the old beliefs (solstice celebrations), after all, at this time religion was in flux, Christianity was not established yet, there were many celebrating the old ways, gods and goddesses. When I was studying for my doctorate I heard a very different take on things, and one of the advisers said to remember that when you hear a story, it depends on if you are hearing it from the winning side or the losing side. It depends on if you are hearing it from the person who was miles from the battlefield or deep inside it. They will have different perspectives, beliefs, and come with a different set of tools to process everything.
The most surprising part she told me is that the story of the Maccabees isn't part of the Torah. The Torah is the Jewish scrolls that govern the religion and its' history, it is basically the Old Testament of the Bible. I would have figured that out for myself if I would have thought about it, because I knew that New Testament books, and information are not in the Torah.Depending on your version of the Bible, the information is different, so stepping outside the religion, of course things will be different. You can read about the Maccabees in Hebrews (New Testament)...but the interesting part of all of this is that when the story as history is told, not the story as religion, it is a different story.
I did some research this year as Hanukkah is just around the corner, and as with most religious stories, it wasn't exactly the way it went. The history of religion is filled with bloodshed, and this "battle" wasn't quite the "fight for religious freedom", that it is touted to be. A Jewish scholar named Shawna Dolansky (yes she is Jewish), even called the Maccabees "religious terrorists". Once I read the history, I had to agree.
The story in the "pretty version" is the Jewish people, as represented in the story as the Maccabees, began an uprising for religious freedom. However, they did not simply fight against the King, but everyone who wasn't a Maccabee (religious priestly class). They not only fought, killed and tortured non Jews, but other Jews as well. This was not a Jewish revolt, but a revolt by a small group of Jews. It was ugly. The ugliest part was the Maccabee Jews killing other Jews becasue the majority of Jews wanted to assimilate into the King's way of doing things. Maybe they had a point in wanting to keep their religion pure, but then we have to say the same about the Muslim extremists today (see it IS all in the perspective).
The Maccabbes killed other Jews and performed forced circumcisions on them (OUCH, I can't imagine that went well). They forced those who were reforming their religion, to worship in their way of doing things. Once they won the war and their " religious freedom ", they didn't stop, they then forced everyone else to do as they did, in essence taking away THEIR religious freedom. They were priests and religious zealots (which is never a good thing in any religion), who imposed their will on others. You can see them as religious terrorists or pious men who saved their original religion. Either way , they killed people and forced them to believe as they did, and I have a very hard time with that.
The Talmud introduced the story as a dedication ( the word Hanukkah means dedication),of the Temple 600 years after the fact. This is where the oil story gets introduced. Many scholars believe it was a story invented by the Rabbis, as it was never mentioned before that time. They believe that this way it is a story of the power of God, not a story of a bunch of religious fanatics killing others.
The stories of religion are usually ones of hate, negativity, and bloodshed. It is so ironic, and the story here isn't to put down the Jews, but to show how things can get presented the way those in power of the religion want you to see it. This tactic doesn't just limit itself to religion.
The message here is not really about Hanukkah, but about looking at things carefully. Making sure that you see the other side of the story (or all three....), and making sure that you are not led into believing something that isn't entirely true. It is about research. A few years ago Biblical scholars wouldn't dare say things like "Jesus was probably married", or "the Maccabees killed more fellow Jews than others". They would be ostracized, and worse. Today the information and the tools to gain it are out there. It is hard to refute it, and people can still continue to believe as they wish. We have religious freedom in this country (not every country does), and we have access to a vast array of knowledge. Use it.
This doesn't just pertain to religion, but to every aspect of your life. Today there are multitudes of people who spread all kinds of nonsense through the internet and unfortunately many who believe what they write. Monday I will write about "Catfish", and give you an idea of the senseless craziness that goes on via the internet, and why it is important to not buy into others stories, beliefs, and agenda, but to listen, research (and research the RIGHT way), and make an informed decision. You cannot make an informed decision after reading an email, looking at a Facebook posting, or even (GASP) a blog. RESEARCH!
Meanwhile, I can not look at Hanukkah the same again, but at least I see the other side of the coin now, and to me that is fascinating, as it just goes along the same historic path many other religious stories have.
Research, learn and grow!
Peshaui Wequashimese
(2012) Dr R M Wolf. May not be used, copied or reproduced without prior written permission.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Classic metaphysical
I frequently gets email asking what books I recommend in a certain area of metaphysics. There are a lot of great books out there, and a pile of , as Dr Sheldon Cooper would say, "hokum".
Recently a young man who is just starting to learn about metaphysics asked what to read to get started. That is a tough question. It is also a TON of reading. There is no easy answer, but I say start with two things, first history. Yes history. Read about the Roman gods and goddesses, the Celts (especially the Druids), Native American spirituality (the Hopi will amaze you), pagans, Norse mythology and on from there. This will give you a good basis for really understanding what you are reading. It is also essential if you are going to do any spiritual work, like cleansings. Not every issue in a place is a demon. You need to know what to do in every contingency, and that means knowing a lot about a lot of different things out there.
Then move on to studying pagan and wiccan traditions, they are going to repeat some of the history you read about, but in a new light. The earth and Her power will help you understand even more deeply and appreciatively.
Then move on to the "classics". The books written when the subject of metaphysics was just beginning to be studied, and some newer books that are essential. These books are serious, accurate, and give you good roots and a basis to work on. Many new books use terms and instances as examples and readers who are not familiar with them, are quickly lost or miss the real gist of things. This comes from not having that prior experience. It is like trying to study algebra before basic math.
These are the "classics" I recommend. They are well written, explain things thoroughly, and are packed with good information. They are a sampling of different subjects, but they help you see how it all comes together. Many of these authors have multiple books that are a treasure trove. When an author resonates with you, read more!
First read the history we talked about, then books on all the major religions. Read the Tao Te Ching, Bhagavad Gita, The Tibetan Book of the Dead.
Then read on to these valuable tomes:
ESP, Hauntings and Poltergeists, a Parapsychologist's Handbook- Loyd Auerbach
The Gnostic Jung and the Severn Sermons of The Dead- Stephan A. Hoeller
Spirit Allies- Christopeher Penczak
Major World Religions From Their Origins to The Present- Lloyd Ridgeon
Book of the Hopi- Frank Waters
Jung the Mystic- Gary Lachman. Jung can be a heavy read, and if you are not familiar with psychology he may frustrate you. Reading books like this one where his works are interpreted by someone else and set out in plain, modern English (Jung wrote in German), make it easier to grasp his amazing concepts. I wrote my Master's Thesis on Jung for my degree and he was an amazing man.
The Golden Ratio- Mario Livio
Chariot of the Gods- Erich Von Daniken (information in this book has been updated, but still worth the read, it is only 150 some pages)
Supernatural and Fingerprints the Gods-Graham Hancock (Fingerprints delves into the Egyptians, Mayans, and alien helpers, it is full of myriad information).
Then read from a scientific viewpoint to see how the metaphysical is becoming more mainstream, in books like The Field and the Intention Experiment by Lynn Mc Taggart. When that grabs you, reach for books on String Theory like The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene
Read anything by Raymond Buckland, he focuses on mediumship and witchcraft; Wayne Dyer and Mike Dooley (learning about law of attraction);Sonia Choquette, and Carl Jung. You can then "specialize" in psychics, tarot, crystals, Reiki, ghosts.....wherever you want to go.
Yes, it is a lot of reading, but people who really know what is going on in the field have done two things, read a TON of books, and been in the field in different genres of the metaphysical. It is vast, and it is so very interesting.
My husband has devoured quite a few of these books. He wasn't a big reader in the past, more due to time available than anything else, now he is reading these books and loving them, especially Graham Hancock.
Once you read these and see how it all intertwines, your brain goes in many directions. Read reviews on Amazon before purchasing a book, or drop me an email. There is a lot of repeated information and garbage out there, everyone trying to make a buck on the changes coming this year, but there are still MONTHS of great reading out there.
Buy cheap used books on Amazon and make notes in them, or on them, and see the vines intertwine. Then find your passion and jump in!
Enjoy the good reads!!!
Peshaui Wequashimese
(C)2012 Dr R M Wolf, May not be used, copied or reproduced without prior written permission.
Recently a young man who is just starting to learn about metaphysics asked what to read to get started. That is a tough question. It is also a TON of reading. There is no easy answer, but I say start with two things, first history. Yes history. Read about the Roman gods and goddesses, the Celts (especially the Druids), Native American spirituality (the Hopi will amaze you), pagans, Norse mythology and on from there. This will give you a good basis for really understanding what you are reading. It is also essential if you are going to do any spiritual work, like cleansings. Not every issue in a place is a demon. You need to know what to do in every contingency, and that means knowing a lot about a lot of different things out there.
Then move on to studying pagan and wiccan traditions, they are going to repeat some of the history you read about, but in a new light. The earth and Her power will help you understand even more deeply and appreciatively.
Then move on to the "classics". The books written when the subject of metaphysics was just beginning to be studied, and some newer books that are essential. These books are serious, accurate, and give you good roots and a basis to work on. Many new books use terms and instances as examples and readers who are not familiar with them, are quickly lost or miss the real gist of things. This comes from not having that prior experience. It is like trying to study algebra before basic math.
These are the "classics" I recommend. They are well written, explain things thoroughly, and are packed with good information. They are a sampling of different subjects, but they help you see how it all comes together. Many of these authors have multiple books that are a treasure trove. When an author resonates with you, read more!
First read the history we talked about, then books on all the major religions. Read the Tao Te Ching, Bhagavad Gita, The Tibetan Book of the Dead.
Then read on to these valuable tomes:
ESP, Hauntings and Poltergeists, a Parapsychologist's Handbook- Loyd Auerbach
The Gnostic Jung and the Severn Sermons of The Dead- Stephan A. Hoeller
Spirit Allies- Christopeher Penczak
Major World Religions From Their Origins to The Present- Lloyd Ridgeon
Book of the Hopi- Frank Waters
Jung the Mystic- Gary Lachman. Jung can be a heavy read, and if you are not familiar with psychology he may frustrate you. Reading books like this one where his works are interpreted by someone else and set out in plain, modern English (Jung wrote in German), make it easier to grasp his amazing concepts. I wrote my Master's Thesis on Jung for my degree and he was an amazing man.
The Golden Ratio- Mario Livio
Chariot of the Gods- Erich Von Daniken (information in this book has been updated, but still worth the read, it is only 150 some pages)
Supernatural and Fingerprints the Gods-Graham Hancock (Fingerprints delves into the Egyptians, Mayans, and alien helpers, it is full of myriad information).
Then read from a scientific viewpoint to see how the metaphysical is becoming more mainstream, in books like The Field and the Intention Experiment by Lynn Mc Taggart. When that grabs you, reach for books on String Theory like The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene
Read anything by Raymond Buckland, he focuses on mediumship and witchcraft; Wayne Dyer and Mike Dooley (learning about law of attraction);Sonia Choquette, and Carl Jung. You can then "specialize" in psychics, tarot, crystals, Reiki, ghosts.....wherever you want to go.
Yes, it is a lot of reading, but people who really know what is going on in the field have done two things, read a TON of books, and been in the field in different genres of the metaphysical. It is vast, and it is so very interesting.
My husband has devoured quite a few of these books. He wasn't a big reader in the past, more due to time available than anything else, now he is reading these books and loving them, especially Graham Hancock.
Once you read these and see how it all intertwines, your brain goes in many directions. Read reviews on Amazon before purchasing a book, or drop me an email. There is a lot of repeated information and garbage out there, everyone trying to make a buck on the changes coming this year, but there are still MONTHS of great reading out there.
Buy cheap used books on Amazon and make notes in them, or on them, and see the vines intertwine. Then find your passion and jump in!
Enjoy the good reads!!!
Peshaui Wequashimese
(C)2012 Dr R M Wolf, May not be used, copied or reproduced without prior written permission.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
More Christmas tidbits
Some interesting Christmas facts:
Some countries celebrate Christmas on January 6, 7, or 19th. They tried to figure Jesus birth by conception date. Any Mom will let you know how well that works! Others will tell you that there would be no shepherds about on late December or early January, and that he was actually born in spring or early fall (September). Dates that are popular with scholars include May 20, April 18, and March 25.
Christmas had/has other names: "midwinter", "Yule", "Jol" and "Noel".
Places that don't celebrate Christmas include: China (except Hong Kong), North Korea, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Iran, Turkey and Japan.
In many officially Catholic countries, parades are held up up to the time of Christmas, all with a religious nature to them, of course.
The term "Christmas tree" was not recorded until 1835.
Christmas trees are German, pagan traditions, not Christian. The first Christmas trees were said to be used in Germany in the 18th century , although they weren't used primarily for Christmas in the beginning, but as a way to celebrate life and the winter solstice. They were ALWAYS green after all!
People began putting up Christmas trees in the US around 1870.
Santa Claus as we know him began as Sinterklaas with the Dutch. There were traditions of gift giving prior to "Santa Claus" in other places, like a witch who tossed gifts down chimneys at Halloween in Eastern Europe.
Other names for Santa include: St. Nick, Kris Kringle, Babbo Natale, Father Christmas, Saint Basil,and Joulupukki.
The modern image of Santa was created in New York thanks to author Washington Irving, who also wrote the Headless Horseman, a Halloween favorite!
Ancient documents on Jesus birth connect him the the sun. Like many powerful entities in many cultures, the sun was a god and was what ruled the earth. Jesus was literally described as the "sun" being born. "...the 'Birthday of the Unconquered'. Who indeed is so unconquered as Our Lord ...? Or, if they say that it is the birthday of the Sun, He is the Sun of Justice." We managed to change that to "son". There are pages and pages of prophecy about the "sun" being born, not the "son".
Christmas during the Middle Ages included gift giving, but only between those with a legal tie, such as landlord and tenant, or master and apprentice.
The English gave us the dancing, parties, and more public celebrations.
The Puritans in the US tried to ban Christmas. They succeeded in Boston from 1659 to 1681.It took many years after the ban for Christmas to become popular.
The German settlers in PA and NC celebrated Christmas on a large scale at the same time and made it very popular.
Christmas celebrations had died down for a while but were revived in the 1820's thanks to stories by Washington Irving in "The Sketch Book".
President U. S. Grant proclaimed Christmas an official Federal holiday in 1870.
There is so much more Christmas Trivia out there....enjoy the Holiday Season , no matter how you choose to celebrate it.
Peshaui Wequashimese
(C)2012 Dr R M Wold, May not be used, copied or reproduced without prior written permission.
Some countries celebrate Christmas on January 6, 7, or 19th. They tried to figure Jesus birth by conception date. Any Mom will let you know how well that works! Others will tell you that there would be no shepherds about on late December or early January, and that he was actually born in spring or early fall (September). Dates that are popular with scholars include May 20, April 18, and March 25.
Christmas had/has other names: "midwinter", "Yule", "Jol" and "Noel".
Places that don't celebrate Christmas include: China (except Hong Kong), North Korea, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Iran, Turkey and Japan.
In many officially Catholic countries, parades are held up up to the time of Christmas, all with a religious nature to them, of course.
The term "Christmas tree" was not recorded until 1835.
Christmas trees are German, pagan traditions, not Christian. The first Christmas trees were said to be used in Germany in the 18th century , although they weren't used primarily for Christmas in the beginning, but as a way to celebrate life and the winter solstice. They were ALWAYS green after all!
People began putting up Christmas trees in the US around 1870.
Santa Claus as we know him began as Sinterklaas with the Dutch. There were traditions of gift giving prior to "Santa Claus" in other places, like a witch who tossed gifts down chimneys at Halloween in Eastern Europe.
Other names for Santa include: St. Nick, Kris Kringle, Babbo Natale, Father Christmas, Saint Basil,and Joulupukki.
The modern image of Santa was created in New York thanks to author Washington Irving, who also wrote the Headless Horseman, a Halloween favorite!
Ancient documents on Jesus birth connect him the the sun. Like many powerful entities in many cultures, the sun was a god and was what ruled the earth. Jesus was literally described as the "sun" being born. "...the 'Birthday of the Unconquered'. Who indeed is so unconquered as Our Lord ...? Or, if they say that it is the birthday of the Sun, He is the Sun of Justice." We managed to change that to "son". There are pages and pages of prophecy about the "sun" being born, not the "son".
Christmas during the Middle Ages included gift giving, but only between those with a legal tie, such as landlord and tenant, or master and apprentice.
The English gave us the dancing, parties, and more public celebrations.
The Puritans in the US tried to ban Christmas. They succeeded in Boston from 1659 to 1681.It took many years after the ban for Christmas to become popular.
The German settlers in PA and NC celebrated Christmas on a large scale at the same time and made it very popular.
Christmas celebrations had died down for a while but were revived in the 1820's thanks to stories by Washington Irving in "The Sketch Book".
President U. S. Grant proclaimed Christmas an official Federal holiday in 1870.
There is so much more Christmas Trivia out there....enjoy the Holiday Season , no matter how you choose to celebrate it.
Peshaui Wequashimese
(C)2012 Dr R M Wold, May not be used, copied or reproduced without prior written permission.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Beginnings of Christmas
Several people have emailed and reminded me that I promised an "origin of Christmas" blog....I did allude to it a week or so ago, and they wanted to hear it. Readers who have been reading the blog for years or who are students of history, all religions, or are Pagans, will already be familiar with the origins of Christmas.
When the "Church" was first founded in the Roman empire, it needed members. This meant that they had to go out and convince the locals to join the church. This was a hard sell, especially in Rome. There were many temples, gods and goddesses. There were fun and interesting celebrations. Things were going very well, people weren't looking for an answer for the most part. The church realized that the best way to get people in the doors, was to make it familiar, and comfortable, so they borrowed the Pagan celebrations and holidays.
Oestre became Easter. It is a fertility celebration, about birthing new animals and growing abundant crops, it fits in with the whole Christian Easter story of rebirth (the world reawakening in spring), and fertility, life, and growth.
Christmas is all about Christ's birth, right? Christ's name IS in "Christmas". Well, yes, but that is because the Church made it that way. Jesus of Nazareth was born, most likely, in the spring. Scholars argue that point, and another group says September. Either way they agree it was no where near December 25. Jesus was born a Jewish boy who went to Temple, born in Nazareth, most likely in the spring time. He isn't a Capricorn, he is most likely a Taurus or Virgo. The Church already borrowed Oestre and made it Easter, so we can't crowd that all together. We have a huge Roman celebration that we need to fit into the scheme of things, Saturnalia. What to do?
This all wasn't a big secret really, but it wasn't broadcast either. The Catholic Encyclopedia in 1911 stated that "Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church…the first evidence of the feast is from Egypt.” Further, “Pagan customs centering around the January calendars gravitated to Christmas.” Under “Natal Day,” Origen, an early Catholic writer, admitted, “…In the Scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a great banquet on his birthday. It is only sinners (like Pharaoh and Herod) who make great rejoicings over the day in which they were born into this world”. The way the ancients marked a great man, was by honoring him on the day he died, not on the day he was born. That is a "modern" take on things.
The celebration of Saturnalia was of course to honor the god Saturn. It was a celebration that lasted December 17 through the 23rd. There was feasting, gift giving, parties and sacrifices. The best twist of the celebration was that the masters served the slaves. Everyone was involved in the carnival atmosphere that went on for days and even included gambling. There was singing and dancing in the streets, and human shaped biscuits were made and consumed. No one would want to end this fun festival for a new holiday in the Church! The Roman Catholic Church knew it had to include the celebration to get the people into the church. It took about 200 years. That's right, Christmas wasn't celebrated in the Church for about 200 years after Jesus was born.
Saturnalia was a "festival of light", so, by the way , is the Jewish celebration Hanukkah, celebrated around the same time. Hanukkah is to celebrate a battle. But they all celebrate, in essence, the winter solstice and bringing light to the darkness. The days are now again beginning to get longer the day after the winter solstice (usually December 21 in the northern hemisphere). The pagans will tell you that the Holly King is off of the throne and the Oak King has returned to bring back the light.
Saturnalia was always about gifts, family, parties, light, and fun, it just didn't have Christ thrown into the mix until 200 years after his birth. Saturnalia even continued to run hand in hand with Christmas for a while.We added to the celebration as the years went by including bringing in greenery to give us hope that spring would return. This was popular in Eastern Europe, but originated in the North. The Christmas tree has absolutely nothing to do with Christ or Saturnalia, it is a new twist. Some groups will have stories to add the reason for things like the tree, that make it "authentic", but trees had nothing to do with Christmas until modern times.
During the Middle Ages the Church banned gift giving at Christmas saying it was a pagan tradition as it harkened back to Saturnalia. Today gift giving is again included in Christmas, and many "non religious" people celebrate the holiday, some even in its' original form, as a celebration of light!
Today Christmas is a popular holiday , it is both secular and non secular. It is celebrated all over the world in different ways. At the same time, or close enough to it, the Jewish people are celebrating their festival of lights, Hanukkah, and the Pagans are celebrating the winter solstice as a celebration of light coming back into the world.
When the winter is long and the days are cold it is a little ray of hope to recognize that each day is light a little bit longer. Each day creeps closer and closer to spring.Light and warmth return, and the winter solstice is the beginning of that.
All the celebrations of the Church can be traced back to pagan roots, the fun part is to be open minded enough to find them. It will be interesting when some day a scholar is able to pinpoint Jesus birthday, will we change the date of Christmas or start a new celebration? We already have a day to mark Jesus death, as was the way in the olden days, but we seem to be a few months off on his birthday.
No matter how you choose to celebrate, be happy that you live in the most wonderful place in the world where you can choose your religion, rites, rituals, and celebrations. Not everyone is so lucky!
Peshaui Wequashimese
(C)2012 Dr R M Wolf. May not be used, copied or reproduced without prior written permission.
When the "Church" was first founded in the Roman empire, it needed members. This meant that they had to go out and convince the locals to join the church. This was a hard sell, especially in Rome. There were many temples, gods and goddesses. There were fun and interesting celebrations. Things were going very well, people weren't looking for an answer for the most part. The church realized that the best way to get people in the doors, was to make it familiar, and comfortable, so they borrowed the Pagan celebrations and holidays.
Oestre became Easter. It is a fertility celebration, about birthing new animals and growing abundant crops, it fits in with the whole Christian Easter story of rebirth (the world reawakening in spring), and fertility, life, and growth.
Christmas is all about Christ's birth, right? Christ's name IS in "Christmas". Well, yes, but that is because the Church made it that way. Jesus of Nazareth was born, most likely, in the spring. Scholars argue that point, and another group says September. Either way they agree it was no where near December 25. Jesus was born a Jewish boy who went to Temple, born in Nazareth, most likely in the spring time. He isn't a Capricorn, he is most likely a Taurus or Virgo. The Church already borrowed Oestre and made it Easter, so we can't crowd that all together. We have a huge Roman celebration that we need to fit into the scheme of things, Saturnalia. What to do?
This all wasn't a big secret really, but it wasn't broadcast either. The Catholic Encyclopedia in 1911 stated that "Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church…the first evidence of the feast is from Egypt.” Further, “Pagan customs centering around the January calendars gravitated to Christmas.” Under “Natal Day,” Origen, an early Catholic writer, admitted, “…In the Scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a great banquet on his birthday. It is only sinners (like Pharaoh and Herod) who make great rejoicings over the day in which they were born into this world”. The way the ancients marked a great man, was by honoring him on the day he died, not on the day he was born. That is a "modern" take on things.
The celebration of Saturnalia was of course to honor the god Saturn. It was a celebration that lasted December 17 through the 23rd. There was feasting, gift giving, parties and sacrifices. The best twist of the celebration was that the masters served the slaves. Everyone was involved in the carnival atmosphere that went on for days and even included gambling. There was singing and dancing in the streets, and human shaped biscuits were made and consumed. No one would want to end this fun festival for a new holiday in the Church! The Roman Catholic Church knew it had to include the celebration to get the people into the church. It took about 200 years. That's right, Christmas wasn't celebrated in the Church for about 200 years after Jesus was born.
Saturnalia was a "festival of light", so, by the way , is the Jewish celebration Hanukkah, celebrated around the same time. Hanukkah is to celebrate a battle. But they all celebrate, in essence, the winter solstice and bringing light to the darkness. The days are now again beginning to get longer the day after the winter solstice (usually December 21 in the northern hemisphere). The pagans will tell you that the Holly King is off of the throne and the Oak King has returned to bring back the light.
Saturnalia was always about gifts, family, parties, light, and fun, it just didn't have Christ thrown into the mix until 200 years after his birth. Saturnalia even continued to run hand in hand with Christmas for a while.We added to the celebration as the years went by including bringing in greenery to give us hope that spring would return. This was popular in Eastern Europe, but originated in the North. The Christmas tree has absolutely nothing to do with Christ or Saturnalia, it is a new twist. Some groups will have stories to add the reason for things like the tree, that make it "authentic", but trees had nothing to do with Christmas until modern times.
During the Middle Ages the Church banned gift giving at Christmas saying it was a pagan tradition as it harkened back to Saturnalia. Today gift giving is again included in Christmas, and many "non religious" people celebrate the holiday, some even in its' original form, as a celebration of light!
Today Christmas is a popular holiday , it is both secular and non secular. It is celebrated all over the world in different ways. At the same time, or close enough to it, the Jewish people are celebrating their festival of lights, Hanukkah, and the Pagans are celebrating the winter solstice as a celebration of light coming back into the world.
When the winter is long and the days are cold it is a little ray of hope to recognize that each day is light a little bit longer. Each day creeps closer and closer to spring.Light and warmth return, and the winter solstice is the beginning of that.
All the celebrations of the Church can be traced back to pagan roots, the fun part is to be open minded enough to find them. It will be interesting when some day a scholar is able to pinpoint Jesus birthday, will we change the date of Christmas or start a new celebration? We already have a day to mark Jesus death, as was the way in the olden days, but we seem to be a few months off on his birthday.
No matter how you choose to celebrate, be happy that you live in the most wonderful place in the world where you can choose your religion, rites, rituals, and celebrations. Not everyone is so lucky!
Peshaui Wequashimese
(C)2012 Dr R M Wolf. May not be used, copied or reproduced without prior written permission.
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