First let's watch a little film from a shaman in Utah, about the Hopi Prophecy and the collapse of the Mayan calendar in 2012.  There are various theories on this, but one thing is clear.  We need to pierce the veil of illusion and see the True Brother.  It's the little brother, in the prophecy...which I will unpack below...(to the best of my ability).  This is taken in the four corners region that the prophecy speaks of...

This is the film about the HOPI PROPHECY "Koyaanisqatsi"  with music by Philip Glass.  In the 80's our world was not as it is now.  We did not have GM modified seeds, and we did not have cell phones, or even this way of communicating with each other on the Internet.  Here is part of that film:

The word "Koyaanisqatsi" refers to "life out of balance"

Here you can read the entire HOPI PROPHECY over at Welcomehome.org!

Hopi Prophecy

The Hopis say this:

"...The Hopi and others who were saved from the Great Flood made a sacred covenant with the Great Spirit never to turn away from him. He made a set of sacred stone tablets, called Tiponi, into which he breathed his teachings, prophecies, and warnings. Before the Great Spirit hid himself again, he placed before the leaders of the four different racial groups four different colors and sizes of corn; each was to choose which would be their food in this world. The Hopi waited until last and picked the smallest ear of corn. At this, the Great Spirit said:

"It is well done. You have obtained the real corn, for all the others are imitations in which are hidden seeds of different plants. You have shown me your intelligence; for this reason I will place in your hands these sacred stone tablets, Tiponi, symbol of power and authority over all land and life to guard, protect, and hold in trust for me until I shall return to you in a later day, for I am the First and I am the Last..."

It is interesting to see what the Hopi people's elders forsaw, in light of the world we are now in and what has happened to the CORN.  Yesterday we saw how McCain had tried to get Geronimo's skull back, from all the skull and bone types.  But they wouldn't give it back.

The corn is sacred to the HOPI, and to America.  CommonDreams is going to tell you about the KERRYCORN, in this next article...

Revealed: health fears over secret study into GM food

And, OPEN SECRETS has more...

Power Struggle: Energizing the Presidential Race

"...To reduce reliance on oil from abroad, Obama is a strong proponent of domestically produced ethanol, which is usually derived from American-grown corn. McCain is against using corn for fuel and prefers sugar-based ethanol from a foreign source, Brazil..."

The Hopi say that the Blue Star Kachina will dance and remove his mask.

The AngryIndian has spoken, as I speak.  It is about the CORN we are growing, and who will profit from the terminator seed, and who will die.

International Indigenist Newswire Items for: 1.7.08

More of the Hopi Prophecy...

"...Hopi prophecy states that World War III will be started by the people who first received the Light -- China, Palestine, India and Africa. When the war comes, the United States will be destroyed by "gourds of ashes" which will fall to the ground, boiling the rivers and burning the earth, where no grass will grow for many years, and causing a disease that no medicine can cure. This can only mean nuclear or atomic bombs; no other weapon causes such effects. Bomb shelters will be useless, for "Those who are at peace in their hearts already are in the Great Shelter of Life. There is no shelter for evil. When the Saquahuh (blue Star) Kachina dances in the plaza and removes his mask, the time of the great trial will be here." The Hopi believe that only they will be saved.

The Hopi also have prophesied that "Turtle Island (the United States) could turn over two or three times and the oceans could join hands and meet the sky." This seems to be a prophecy of a "pole shift" -- a flipping, of the planet on its axis. The Hopi call this imminent condition -- and that of society today -- "Koyaanisqatsi", which means "world out of balance...a state of life that calls for another way... "

The HOPI prophecy means that we can turn back and follow the "pollen path" before it is too late.  Here is a picture of that pollen path... One way leads to "coin" and false corn, and one way leads to pure, natural unmodified corn...the pollen path of nature that will not kill the bees.  The pollen of the genetically modified corn may be responsible for the death of our bees...the HOPI chose the smallest ear of corn to preserve.   The seed is safe, if we turn back now.  The HOPI say:

"...The short line that returns to the straight Path of Life is the last chance for people to turn back to nature before the upper road disintegrates and dissipates. The small circle above the Path of Life, after the last chance, is the Great Purification, after which corn will grow in abundance again when the Great Spirit returns. And the Path of Life continues forever..."

One appears as a prophet, under coin, and with the swastika.

One appears under a star, and the star is now a blue star...

The true brother dances under a blue star in the four corners area.

The true brother will want the green way which will put us back on the pollen path...

The false brother will want only coin...

wittgenstein

Originally uploaded by Lao Wai

Wittgenstein, Ludwig (Josef Johann, 1889-1951)

Austrian-born British philosopher.

Wittgenstein studied mathematics at Cambridge under Bertrand Russell. While serving in the Austrian army during WW I, he argued in Tractatus Logico-philosophicus that any sentence is a representation of a fact and any kind of thought is a sentence.

In 1953 he rejected these ideas forwarded in Tractatus, coming to believe that linguistic meaning relates to the use of expressions.

This involves certain "language games" that inform and are informed by expressions. » Linguistics, Semiology

Add to this, report errors, suggest edits or voice your opinion by posting a comment

VOCABULARY:
You say "comfort room" instead of "bathroom."
You say "for take out" instead of "to go."
You "open" or "close" the lights.
You ask for "Colgate" instead of "toothpaste."
You ask for a "pentel pen" or a "ball pen" instead of just a pen.
You refer to the refrigerator as the "ref" or "pridyider."
You say kodakan instead of "take a picture."
You order a "McDonald's" instead of a "hamburger" (pronounced ham-boor-jer).
You say "Ha?" instead of "What?"
You say "Hoy!" to get someone's attention.
You answer when someone yells "Hoy!"
You turn around when someone says "Psst!"
You say "Cutex" instead of "nail polish."
You say "for a while" instead of "please hold" on the telephone.
You say "he" when you mean "she" and vice versa.
You say "aray!" instead of "ouch!"
Your sneeze sounds like "ahh-ching" instead of "ahh-choo."
You prefer to make acronyms for phrases such as "OA" for overacting, "DOM" for dirty old man and "TNT" for, well, you know.
You say "air con" instead of "a/c" or air conditioner.
You pronounce the following words:"hippopo-TA-mus," "com-FOR-table," "bro-CO-li," and "Mongo-mery Ward."
You say "brown-out" instead of "black-out."
You say "Uy!" instead of "Oops."

HOME FURNISHINGS:
You use a walis tambo and a walis ting-ting as opposed to a conventional broom.
You have a "Weapons of Moroland" shield hanging in your living room wall.
You have a portrait of "The Last Supper" hanging in your dining room wall.
You own a karaoke system.
You own a piano no one ever plays.
You have a tabo in the bathroom.
Your house is cluttered with burloloys.
You have two or three pairs of tsinelas at your doorstep.
Your house has ornate wrought iron gates in front of it.
You have a rose garden.
You display a laughing Buddha for good luck.
You have a shrine to the Santo Nino in your living room.
You own a "Barrel Man" (shwing!)
You have a parol hanging outside your house during the holidays.
You cover your living room furniture with bedsheets.
Your lampshades still have the plastic covers on them.
You have plastic runners to cover the carpets in your house.
You refer to your VCR as the "Beyta-Max."
You have a rice dispenser.
You own a turbo broiler.
You own one of those fiber-optic flower lamps.
You own a lamp with the oil that drips down the strings.
You have a giant wooden fork & spoon hanging in the dining room.
You have wooden tinikling dancers on the wall.
You own capiz shell chandeliers, lamps or placemats.

AUTOMOBILES:
You own a Mercedes Benz and call it "chedeng."
You own a huge van conversion.
Your car chirps like a bird or plays a tune when it's in reverse.
Your car horn can make three or more different sounds.
Your car has curb feelers on it.
You hang a rosary on your car's rear view mirror.
You have those air fresheners in a bottle.

FAMILY:
You have aunts and uncles named "Baby," "Girlie," or "Boy."
You were raised to believe that every Filipino is an aunt, uncle or cousin.
Your dad was in the navy.
Your mom or sister is a nurse.
You get smelling kisses from your grandma.
Your parents call each other "mommy" and "daddy."
You have a family member that has a nickname that repeats itself (i.e., "Deng-Deng," "Ling-Ling," "Jong-Jong" or "Bing-Bing.")
You put hot dogs in your spaghetti.
You consider dilis the Filipino equivalent to french fries.
You think that eating chocolate rice pudding and dried fish is a great morning meal.
You order things like tapsilog, longsilog, or tocilog at restaurants.
You instinctively grab a toothpick after a meal.
You order a "soft drink" instead of a "soda."
You dip bread in your morning coffee.
You refer to seasonings and all other forms of monosodium glutimate as "Ajinomoto."
Your cupboards are full of corned beef hash, Spam and Vienna Sausages.
"Goldilocks" means more to you than just a character in a fairy tale.
You appreciate a fresh pot of hot rice.
You bring baon to work every day.
Your baon is usually something over rice.
Your neighbors complain about the smell of tuyo on Sunday mornings.
You eat rice for breakfast.
You use your fingers to measure the water when cooking rice.
You wash and re-use plastic utensils and Styrofoam cups.
You have a supply of frozen lumpia in the freezer.
You have an ice-shaver for making halo-halo.
Your cloth tablecloths have tell-tale "toyo circles" on them.
You eat purple yam-flavored ice cream.
You gotta have a bottle of Jufran handy.
You fry Spam and hot dogs and eat them with rice.
You think half-hatched duck eggs are a delicacy.
You know that "chocolate meat" isn't really made with chocolate.

How do you see that scar on your knee or arm? Is it Scar Wars or War Scars?

I have a few scars dotted over my body:

There is the one on my knee from when I fell off my bike in the road around about the age of 8.  This scar is a "Scar Wars", I wear proudly, it symbolizes overcoming the challenge of riding a bike with out hands, learning something new.

I have a scar close to my right eyebrow which I was given during an intense hockey game.  The opponent swung her hockey stick a bit too wildly while I was defending, yip, smack bang dang in the head (I have never been the same since).  This scar is "Scar Wars", I wear it proudly for it symbolizes the lesson of not standing close to a woman with a big stick (very dangerous).

I have a scar on the middle of my hand from the time I was in hospital and the lovely nurse put the needle through my hand.  This scar is a "War Scar", I ignore it for it symbolizes the start of a phobia I am still trying to overcome.  It symbolizes hospitals.

I have a scar's on both my arms from the time I gave blood in order to get over my phobia of needles.  These scar's are "Scar Wars", I wear them proudly for the symbolize the fact that I was and am willing to face my fears no matter what they are, that I am willing to try anything to heal.

I have scar's on both of my thighs from the time when I was 6 and someone put lit cigarette's on my skin, there are 8 in total. Sadly I have an incredible memory.  These scars are "War Scar's", I hide them at all costs.  I used to hide them because they would bring it all back to me, if someone saw them they always asked questions which I couldn't answer, they were embarrassing.  These scars used to symbolize the fact that I was bad, that I didn't deserve things nor to be happy. These scars I hated, I still do, although now they are less obvious, more just slight dents, only 3 you can really see now.

I have a scar on my right foot from laughing and diving at the same time during swimming training, not recommended.  This scar is a "Scar Wars" and I wear it proudly for it symbolizes having a sense of humour while doing something serious... Not always a good thing, it all depends on how serious the other task is that you should be concentrating on. It also symbolizes taking a break every now and then during daily intensive training sessions.

In reality all scars are Star Wars, all scars are there to remind us of lessons that we learnt be it not to try balancing on a tall wall or how not to be, all are symbolic.

If we look at some of our scars as War Scars it means that there is a barrier still in place, that perhaps we haven't looked at everything.  Perhaps there is no way around it, perhaps War Scars are just those things we pick up as we go through life.  Is it not rather how we look at them?

Emotional Scars can be healed, ignored, locked behind thick doors or used for good.  Physical scars are permanent reminders of things that have gone past, how we choose to see them is up to us.  I have a choice.  Time to see those War Scars as Scar Wars?

Yeah I think so, but no, it is too cold to try on bikini bottoms for now so I'll stick to my jeans thank you very much!

War Scars or Scar Wars?

دانلود فیلم زیبای The Oxford Murders

اطلاعات :

کارگردان : Álex de la Iglesia

نویسندگان : Jorge Guerricaechevarría  و  Álex de la Iglesia

تاریخ اکران : 18 January 2008 در اسپانیا

ژانر فیلم : Crime , Romance و Thriller

خلاصه فیلم :

در دانشگاه آکسفورد ، یک پروفسور به کمک یک دانشجوی باهوش سعی در متوقف سازی یک سری قتل زنجیره ای دارند که ظاهرا این قتل ها با نماد های ریاضی رابطه مستقیم دارند .

لینک دانلود در ادامه مطلب

قیمت : -

لینک های دانلود The Oxford Murders

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دیسک دوم , قسمت اول | قسمت دوم | قسمت سوم | قسمت چهارم | قسمت پنجم | قسمت ششم | قسمت هفتم | قسمت هشتم

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While I really appreciate all you're doing for the city in vigilantia, I must take umbrage at the tactics enacted by your person at the orphanage fire last night.  Fine, yes, you got me: I was engaging in acts of nihilistic and bottomless evil.  But when I gained a temporary advantage in the battle—namely, a half-nelson headlock you were sure to lose consciousness during—was it really appropriate to sink your teeth into my exposed forearm?

As such a dubious force for good, should you really be risking a venture into more gray territory?  You and I are less dissimilar than you think—I have some boy slaves of my own (though I haven't dressed them up in anything nearly so campy, you've clearly outsickoed me in that department), and I suspect your alter-ego may have as much money in the bank as this comfortable emperor.  So why the eagerness to get your saliva into my bloodstream?  It's childish, unsportsmanlike, goes against all sorts of health standards.  I can only hope you meant it as a symbolic gesture, in which case, of course I'll be your wife, you silly flying rodent.

With confusing quantities of love and spite,

Caligula

He can make amusing George sounds too. 

Every morning, we watch Curious George at PBS Kids. I enjoy it for it's humor.

The show teaches him math, science and engineering concepts, so it's great. But oftentimes, it makes him take a few risks and has gotten him into trouble.

There is a reminder at the end of each story that "George is a monkey and sometimes he can do things that we can't". If you let a preschooler like my son watch it, some parental guidance is necessary. Jake and I talk about what's okay and not okay for him to do, and it usually helps. There are more viewing tips here. 

We saw an episode titled "Signs Up" where Curious George collected signs from all over town, and puts these signs back in the wrong places causing confusion everywhere. 

Like the real kids on the show, Jake got to work and made his own signs, and he explained what they say.

b

I was impressed that he was able to use symbols and posted the signs accordingly! It makes me and A smile when we see his work, all of them still hanging all over our house.

I'm glad that Jake is like Curious George. He can be mischievous at times, but he sees the world with so much wonder, and he loves to learn and try new things.  

I will always nurture his curiosity even if he get scrapes along the way.

Then, something breaks it into two.

Do you see how, suddenly, there is tremendous energy?

Oneness has a self-less character. There is the one, this-ness in the midst of the chaos, but there is not a sense of self-consciousness. The one is the state of being.

With two, there is self, and other.

Two-ness implies consciousness: there has to be a self to perceive not-self. Perhaps this is why so many images and symbols of the two are human figures. We can also see this aspect of the two in the young child, experimenting with boundaries: what is me, and what is the world?

The Greeks perceived that duality fosters movement: their god Janus ruled over doorways, gates, and transitions of all kinds. Ovid described Janus as arising out of the formlessness of the one:

The ancients called me Chaos (since I am of the first world):
Note the long ages past of which I shall tell.
The clear air, and the three other elements,
Fire, water, earth, were heaped together as one.
When, through the discord of its components,
The mass dissolved, and scattered to new regions,
Flame found the heights: air took a lower place,
While earth and sea sank to the furthest depth.
Then I, who was a shapeless mass, a ball,
Took on the appearance, and noble limbs of a god.
Even now, a small sign of my once confused state,
My front and back appear just the same.

The Hebrews described the creation of the world in terms of separation into dyads. First God created Heaven and Earth, then Day and Night, then the dry land and the seas.

The fish symbol of the vesica piscis that we saw in relation to the one is also a representation of the two, the spirit incarnated into matter, God and Man joined together.

In the spirit of joining, we of may then think of Adam and Eve. In the likeness of God, male and female.

And from this sacred beginning, the two move toward the sacred marriage. From one into two, and the two become one. As if the one and the two are in flux, creating and recreating each other. From individuation to unification.

When you make the two into one, and when you make the inner like the outer and the outer like the inner, and the upper like the lower, and when you make male and female into a single one, so that the male will not be male nor the female be female, when you make eyes in place of an eye, a hand in place of a hand, a foot in place of a foot, an image in place of an image, then you will enter the Kingdom.
Gospel of Thomas, 22

But, the two can also represent an opposition, an unharmonious coupling. We can talk of the Ego or Light, and the Shadow side. The Doppelgänger, the Mephistophelian double.

Fairy tales are always a rich source of symbolism. In "Rumpelstiltskin," the greedy, wizened little man is a symbolic double, and only in naming him (coming to consciousness) can the miller's young daughter gain control of him.

GOODPASSION ROJO FUEGOVERMELHOREDPOWERDEATHLIFEFASHIONBOMSANGUE FORTEVERMELHOVIDACORCRIARAHMARROUGEAMOUR

----

* Episode 1: The Hero's Adventure (first broadcast 6/21/1988 on PBS)

About Campbell, hero types, hero deeds, Jesus Christ, the Buddha, movie heroes, Star Wars as a metaphor, an Iroquois story: the refusal of suitors, dragons, dreams and Jungian psychology, “follow your bliss,” consciousness in plants, Gaia, Chartres cathedral, spirituality vs. economics, emerging myths, “Earthrise” as a symbol

---

* Episode 2: The Message of the Myth (first broadcast 6/22/1988 on PBS)

Creation myths, transcending duality, pairs of opposites, God vs. Nature, sin, morality, participation in sorrow, the Gospel of Thomas, Old Time Religion, computers, religion as “software,” the story of Indra: “What a great boy am I!,” participation in society

---

* Episode 3: The First Storytellers (first broadcast 6/23/1988 on PBS)

Animal memories, harmonization with body and life-cycle, consciousness vs. its vehicle, killing for food, story: “The Buffalo's Wife,” buffalo massacre, initiation ritual, rituals diminishing, crime increasing, artists, the Shaman, the center of the world

---

* Episode 4: Sacrifice and Bliss (first broadcast 6/24/1988 on PBS)

Chief Seattle, the sacred Earth, agricultural renewal, human sacrifice, sacrifice of the Mass, transcendence of death, story: “The Green Knight,” societal dictates vs. following bliss, “hidden hands” guiding life's work

---

* Episode 5: Love and the Goddess (first broadcast 6/25/1988 on PBS)

The Troubadours, Eros, romantic love, Tristan, libido vs. credo, separation from love, Satan, loving your enemy, the Crucifixion as atonement, virgin birth, the story of Isis, Osiris and Horus, the Madonna, the Big Bang, the correlation between the earth or mother Goddess and images of fertility (the sacred feminine).

---

* Episode 6: Masks of Eternity (first broadcast 6/26/1988 on PBS)

Identifying with the infinite, the circle as a symbol, clowns and masks, epiphanies and James Joyce, artistic arrest, the monstrous as sublime, the dance of Shiva, that which is beyond words.

A stop sign, a yield sign, a black X on a round yellow sign. A veil, a Mennonite woman's cap, a yarmulke, a hijab, an orange robe. A lotus, a lily, a bodhi tree. Your wedding picture, the photos on your mantelpiece, the photos on your fridge. The bibelots and knickknacks on your window sill, your bedside table, your desk.

What you hang from your rearview mirror, what you hang around your neck, what you wear on your left ring finger and your right. The cherished gift you received from someone who loves you; the cherished gift you want to give to someone you love. The inheritance from your parents; the thing she gave you; that item he left. The tattoo, the initials carved on the desk, the tree, the concrete; what he said when he proposed; what you screamed when you left.

All these are symbols; objects, emblems, and representations of some longing, relationship, person or truth; allegories that communicate something but are not the substance of what they communicate.

People are often confused about symbols, mistaking them for the actual, the real thing, "the final thing," as Joseph Campbell put it. This is why they will attack one another over symbolic substance and miss the spiritual reality of the symbol altogether; this is why people focused on Webster Cook's irreverence rather than looking deeply into their own. Webster Cook became a caricature and a symbol that some called "blasphemer" and others called "dissident" or "hero," but in fact Webster Cook is a person, someone's son, someone's friend, perhaps someone's lover. He is my brother, if I look closely enough. But he can never be that if I make of him only a one-dimensional symbol of what I believe him to be. I will never get to his essence that way.

"The mass is ended," says the deacon. "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord."

As the congregation trickles out of the sanctuary through the western doors, the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion make our way to the credenza behind the altar area, to the empty chalices and patens that have been purified by the priest and must now be washed.

We take them to the sacrarium, a special sink that drains directly into the ground. There's a regular sink, too, that drains into the city sewer, but we never use the regular sink for washing the vessels. We wash the vessels and rinse every last remains of the wine and host into the sacrarium drain that drains directly into the earth.

"From dust you have come, to dust ye shall return." I think about this whenever it's my turn to wash these vessels. I treat them and any remains of the Eucharist with the utmost care, because I know that as I wash these vessels in that place and time, I am washing Christ and you and myself, too. I eat the body of Christ, and I absorb Him as He has absorbed me; together we commingle and eventually we return to the earth. Later, something will grow out of the earth watered with this very water, and I know once again that "all creation tells of the glory of God."

Zen Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh has this to say about the Christian celebration of communion:

The body of Christ is the body of God, the body of ultimate reality, the ground of all existence. We do not have to look anywhere else for it. It resides deep in our own being. The Eucharistic rite encourages us to be fully aware so that we can touch the body of reality in us. Bread and wine are not symbols. They contain the reality, just as we do (Living Buddha, Living Christ. New York: Penguin, 1995. 31-32).

What is this reality that every person contains, whether she or he is aware of it or not?

In The Hero with a Thousand Faces, mythologist Joseph Campbell wrote:

Wherever a hero has been born, has wrought, or has passed back into the void, the place is marked and sanctified. A temple is erected there to signify and inspire the miracle of perfect centeredness; for this is the place of the break-through into abundance. Someone at this point discovered eternity. The site can serve, therefore, as a support for fruitful meditation. Such temples are designed, as a rule, to simulate the four directions of the world horizon, the shrine or altar at the center being symbolical of the Inexhaustible Point. The one who enters the temple compound and proceeds to the sanctuary is imitating the deed of the original hero. His aim is to rehearse the universal pattern as a means of evoking within himself the recollection of the life-centering, life-renewing form. (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1973, 43).

Our ancient rituals and symbols, whatever they are, and wherever we practice them reverently, have this life-renewing power. They have the potential to give us new birth, if only we will let them. They make it possible for us to discover who we are at the deepest level, if we will go there. If not, then we remain surface dwellers, able only to see one dimensionally and only as far as the horizon.

 I love to read the scriptures, whether the Talmud or the Gospels, the Epistles or the Discourses of the Buddha. Even the driest passages hold truth and have meaning, if one will only search it out. That's what the passage is there for, and if you find the bread it is anything but stale.

The ancient Israelites, too, had their ritual purifications of sacred vessels:

This is the work of the descendants of Kohath in the tent of meeting, concerning the most holy things. When the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and they shall take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it; and they shall lay a covering of porpoise skin on it, and shall spread over it a cloth of pure blue, and shall insert its poles. Over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall also spread a cloth of blue and put on it the dishes and the pans and the sacrificial bowls and the jars for the libation, and the continual bread shall be on it. And they shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet material, and cover the same with a covering of porpoise skin, and they shall insert its poles.

Then they shall take a blue cloth and cover the lamp stand for the light, along with its lamps and its snuffers, and its trays and all its oil vessels, by which they serve it; and they shall put it and all its utensils in a covering of porpoise skin, and shall put it on the carrying bars. And over the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth and cover it with a covering of porpoise skin, and shall insert its poles; and they shall take all the utensils of service, with which they serve in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth and cover them with a covering of porpoise skin, and put them on the carrying bars.

Then they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it. They shall also put on it all its utensils by which they serve in connection with it: the firepans, the forks and shovels and the basins, all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread a cover of porpoise skin over it and insert its poles. And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them, so that they may not touch the holy objects and die. These are the things in the tent of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry. And the responsibility of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest is the oil for the light and the fragrant incense and the continual grain offering and the anointing oil-- the responsibility of all the tabernacle and of all that is in it, with the sanctuary and its furnishings. (Numbers 4:4-16).

Kohath was one of the sons of Levi charged with caring for and purifying the vessels of the altar and sanctuary for the Hebrews. The grandfather of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, Kohath's name means "beginning of majesty and instruction." I smiled when I learned this. Kohath, the keeper of the vessels, the one charged with the minutiae of religious service, means "beginning of majesty and instruction."

Finding God in the minutiae seems so very Buddhist, or Jewish, or Christian to me. Buddhism teaches that the entire universe is in one flower; in Judaism one is told not to "despise the day of small things," and Christianity teaches, "he who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much." The abundant tree in which the birds take refuge and build their nests grows out of the tiny mustard seed. So it is that majestic heights and deep wisdom may be gained by washing dishes.

28/01/2006 19:01 and the date is 10 (2 + 8) and 9 (1 + 2 + 6) or 1 and 9 or added, a 1, as in the time.  But, the time alone added gives as 19 is 7 o’clock, 7  + 1 = 8 which gives us a 1 and 8, or 18

This is Lore79 and 7 + 9 = 16 and add the beginning sum total, we get 16 and 18 or 1618, and the number phi equal 1.618… 

Dear Lore

This must probably be a special letter as 7 + 9 = 16, the inverse of the number you are associated with and the number I link to Linda.

Something very strange happened this late afternoon.  We were eating and there were one incredible fly irritating me to a point of frustration.  Then I got something to hit it with and went sitting again to eat further.  Then he came and irritated me again and I wanted to hit it – my father and mother was at some stage shouting at me, as the fly was sitting apparently right in front of my eyes, but the strange thing is, I did not see it.  So I blindly hit as my parents told me the fly was right under my eye and as I started hitting, I saw the fly.  But what I could not believe, was that I could not see it.  How could I not have seen it?

This I went and wrote in my journal at 18:15 and end time18:18 or 9:9.  Then I went to lie down and the following came to mind.

Some people see things that are not there and they get called crazy – but I could not see something other people can see and I thought of what that made me.  The inverse of crazy?  Well, lets look at that as it seems it leaves us then with yzarc. I wonder what the difference between a whyzarc and a wiser is as their sound appear to be very close?    As it seems not even sound is completely free of appearances?  And I am no wizer but I am questioning – and do you think if you ask the question why, it comes down to an answer always?  What if a mere question is an answer?

But if you view the word wizard (which can be related to the word wiser), then the difference is that wizard and whyzard only differs with the “i” being replaced with “hy”.  And “i” is the 9^th letter, and “h” is the 8^th letter in the English alphabet and “y” the 25^th, or 8 and 7 which adds up to 15 or 6.  And if you look at 9 and 6 then 6 is the upside down of 9, also some form of inverse.

The highlighted sentence was written down in my journal with beginning time 18:38 or 9:11 and the end time was18:40 turning 41.  And 40 + 41 is 81 which gives 18:81, or the inverses again.

Just thought to share this whyzardness with you…But, as the wizard has got something to do with magic, my question is just this:  Can flies be manipulated?  As how did this one know exactly what to do to irritate me and then to go and sit right underneath my view for up till I decided to hit blindly as I could not see it, though my parents were getting very irritated because I could not see it.  But the fly stood its ground and stayed sitting – for me to hit him eventually. 

And this question leaves me back at square 1, which coincidentally equal One.

LOVE

Renee

28/01/2006 19:17 and we were parked today at Grand West as follows – there were 7 cars and then ours (1) which make it a 7 and 1 (7 others and 1 which was ours) or which gives a 17 in the end minutes and linked today with the 71 or the inverses again

28/01/2006 20:19 and the beginning minutes is 1 and 9 or beginning and end – and taken literally, how is the beginning the same as the beginning and end?  Are we back to the circle now?

Anyway, Dear Lore

It seems we put symbolism everywhere.  I am wondering of the above, of what I made of words, isn’t words and letters just symbols?  If we look at numbers, aren’t they just symbols?  But if you view numbers, they can for instance be 1 or one – where or how did the symbol became actually confusing by both representing One?  Isn’t symbols powerful, but confusing?  We use them all day, in everything we do, we use it:  we talk, we read, we write, we work with money (that consist of numbers), we wear watches which is the symbol for our time, etc.  But if symbols is in everything, then the most basic part of our existence, must also be a symbol, as symbols is in everything.  This is only if symbols is in everything.  And what kind of symbols did we choose to base our everything on – to such extent where we are in this day and age?  Why did we choose to give eternity a symbol for instance?  Not only in word, but also in mathematical terms.  And then we go even further and we give the number 8 (in numerology), the resemblance of eternity, as it looks like the sign of eternity in mathematical terms, just on its side.  And even more so we connect an animal, the spider, to eternity because its body resemble an 8.  Are we, like spider, weaving when we symbolize?  And with symbolize I refer to all the possible ways that we give “things” symbols.  Look what happened in the first letter of Lor79.  What am I doing in all my letters with the numbers for instance – and putting them in twisted ways with words?  Or am I putting words with numbers?  And is this important, as both are only symbols?

Even sound are symbolic.  And it seems the Bible says that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God.  Never mind that even the written words in these sentences are symbols, but in the beginning was the Word – and this comes down to a symbol.  Even in Genesis do we find that God created through words – and this comes down to symbols.

Suddenly I feel so stuck, in all the webs of symbols that seems to make up what we call reality. I can see how eternally small the symbols go. When I see how linked all are, I just see the Greatness of how we experience reality the way we do – not falling into this intricate webs.  I would never believed that I would say this, but I am glad that there are even an emotion like anger – as if I take what I am seeing now, this intricate webs, falling into them I think will be worse than experiencing a moment of anger.  While I am in these webs, I wonder to myself why the people are making an issue of sins – as they are nothing in comparison to landing in these intricate webs.   In these webs they (things that’s called sins like greed and lust and hatred, etc) loose their sting.  Its like the global dimming effect that safes us from global warming – our pollution saving us, or in other words, something that has the appearance that it is bad, but it actually saves us from something else, the intricate webs which seems like something of an illusion.  A blessing in disguise. 

I’ll speak again to you later.

LOVE

Renee

28/01/2006 20:55 and 2 + 8 = 10 and so does 5 + 5 = 10 – but what does the 28 combination have to do with the 55 combination, they only add up to the same symbol? 10?

28/01/2006 22:58 and 2 + 2 = 4 and 5 + 8 = 13 or 4 which gives 44 – and 44 is explicit direct to the name of God in Hebrew meaning: “I will be revealed at ever greater levels”

Dear Lore

We had a strange thing in our front yard this morning.  A children’s church advertised itself by putting their name on a balloon, filling it with air and putting the filled balloon on a stick and putting the stick into our flower beds.  The balloon is purple.

As we left this morning the balloon was full – but at our return it ran out of air nearly totally.  And we still made a remark about it.  But as I walked passed the balloon now and saw it again, I remembered what I wrote to you in Lor78 about our professor at university who explained that all stars are like dots on a balloon and as you fill the balloon with air, that is how you may observe how the stars are all moving away from one another.  And I am pulling my eyes big now as I am wondering about what happens if all the air, like in today’s balloon, is unleashed and the stars get closer to one another again – I do not know if that is possible, but I just wondered.  This makes me think of breathing in – filling the balloon with air and all the stars moving away from one another, and breathing out, unleashing the air and the stars getting back to normal (?) again?  Oh, what imagination cannot do…

I was just remembering also what Rebbe Nachman said, that God made space within God Self for creation – what will I get if I ad my imagination to this:

1. something linked to God and the creation that was made space for inside God apparently
2. something linked to breath and imagination.

Creation breathing in and breathing out?

LOVE

Renee

28/01/2006 23:07 or 5 + 7 = 12 or 11 + 7 = 18 or 9 and the date is 10 (2 + 8) and 9 and the time 12 and 9 which gives a 9 in both and a 10 and 12, or added the last two, gives then a 9 and a 22. And now we end on 22, the amount of symbols that make up the Hebrew alphabet but is by many numerologists regarded as a power number – this makes me wonder about the contents of this letter as the beginning and end of this letter is numbers that doesn’t pop up for nothing… though I cannot see why?

THE FOLLOWING WAS INSERTED FROM PREVIOUS LETTER – LOR78

25/01/2006 19:19

Dear Lore

Something strange happened since last week Wednesday, 18/01/2006 till today.  I went to see a psychologist on 18^th.  That date has been arranged about 2 weeks before the 18^th, and I was wondering about why would it take so long before I get to see her.  Her name is Linnea Potgieter.  Her add in the Yellow Pages is row 4 the 4^th one which gives a 44.

Then, after I made the appointment, I realized but that is the day my period is suppose to start.  Anyway, on the 18^th, after I saw her I came home and not much later, I got an sms from Ronel and I was still busy thinking about this sms when my friend called me up and told me that Annemarie Potgieter, a friend of ours whom we worked with, has died – she was killed.  This was a terrible shock. And after I spoke with my friend on the phone, I got an sms from Carol.  Then I realized that the woman I was with earlier the afternoon is also Potgieter. (And Linnea means it has something to do with classification).  What also happened, was during the morning of 18/01/2006, the cleaning services were here and I was with the dogs when I felt a very slight earth tremor.  And I ran out of the room and asked if they felt it as well and one lady also felt it.  But even more peculier, on Thursday, my mom phones me up and ask me what a hypnotherapist is as Liesl, who’s mom is a friend of Linda Tuckers’, want to go and see someone – and guess who Liesl decided on to go to?  Yes, coincidentally it is Linnea Potgieter.  So Monday was her appointment and she asked my mom if we would go and drop her there after work.

But what is more questionable, is that Annemarie died on the same day as Anton Rupert, and they got buried on the same day, today, 25/01/2006

Again, I am asking myself if all this “strange” events has any meaning?  Isn’t it just all events that have no connection at all?  You once said to me:  everything just is… 

So maybe it just appears to be connected – but isn’t everything connected anyway?

Even if I try, I cannot make any sense of anything of the above as it is as you say, everything just is…

LOVE

Renee

25/01/2006 19:33 and 1 + 9 = 1 and 3 + 3 = 6 or 16, the number I associate with you and more specifically, Linda Tucker

IT WAS INSERTED FOR THE FOLLOWING LETTER:

29/01/2006 09:29

Dear Lore

In Today’s newspaper, the Rapport (and coincidentally on page 13) there is another article on Annemarie (please see the above letter on the 25^th.  This I did not know on the 25^th, but her mom and her sister’s name is Lorraine.  And the newspaper made a spelling mistake with her moms name making it Lorriane Potgieter.  And my mother told me the day when we dropped Liesl at Linnea Potgieter, that she first thought but why is Rene Potgieter (Rene Potgieter is a relative of a very close friend of my mother who is into some form of psychology as well) in Cape Town, what is she doing here?  As my mother was confusing Linnea with Rene.  Now your name and my name is part of this confusing story – so it seems more are confused than just my mom.  I hope you are not.  But right after I spoke to Celeste on 18^th, I received a sms from my friend Carol, and with the fires that was all around Lions Head and Signal Hill, Carol’s house was in danger and I was in contact with her all the time as to hear if she was ok.  So now we have Annemarie, we have me, we have you, we have the psychologist, we have Lions Head and Signal Hill and do not forget that Carol was the one who received those two rainbows (I wrote to you about it in a previous letter).  But linked with Lions Head and Signal Hill is also Linda and Marah.

And last night – this morning – I dreamt about a woman telling me to get my pen and stuff together and then I went off to some lesson or workshop on science – it specifically had something to do with science.  And the teacher came in and I knew her and she was someone I worked with.  And we were gathering data.  And she tried to start some mechanism, but her remote did not want to work as she did not seem to know how to work it.  Then I took it and started the mechanism. But somewhere in between the science part stopped and she disappeared from the scene a bit.  But meanwhile the police figured and my other friend in the police still, Celeste, was figuring.  Then something happened and this teacher’s (who was a bit from the scene) car, a VW Beetle, went into ashes with only some parts of the engine remaining and her eyes – but I do not think she was in the vehicle.  Then I was with others underneath a huge stand that carries electricity wires, and this one huge wire that was carrying an enormous amount of power, was loose and was a threat of some kind, and I had to fix it but I thought to myself how can I fix this?  How do I connect the loose wire again?  (But this wire was sort of carrying like in power from Koeberg – when the reactors are ok)  But in my dream in my mind’s eye in my dream, I was already holding the cable of wire to fix – but the part where I was holding it, was light blue lighted in my hand of electricity/power.

This let me ask the question what does that cable/wire symbolize?  What does it symbolise that is not connected and need fixing, and is so powerful?

LOVE

Renee

29/01/2006 09:36 or 9:9

29/01/2006 17:51 and 17 hours is 5 o’clock this gives us 5 + 5 + 1 = 11 as 2 + 9 = 11. So the whole of the time resemble the day of the date, and if added, they add to 22.

Dear Lore

In my previous letters I wrote to you about Lions Head that was under fire this past week – and next to Lions Head, is Signal Hill.  Now what is another word for signal or sign, as a sign can be a symbol also? And this afternoon I had the strangest experience again – this time with the satellite TV.  I was watching programmes on Big Cats and Lions in particular and on one stage the program on Big Cats was focussing attention on a leopard that was lying in a tree, and then suddenly the signal went off.  A big cat and a signal – how odd (Lions Head and Signal Hill).  But then I had to put the decoder off to get the satellite TV going again.  And me and my mother could not understand why this happened?  But as the TV and satellite were off, my mom and I decided to go and fetch my father’s cell phone as he is sleeping and just in case his cell phone ring, so that it could be with us.  And as I picked it up the time on his cell phone was 14:41. (the inverses again…)

As I switched everything on, there was bushes on fire.  And I switched channels as I did not want to see how the animals suffered.  And I put it on channel 65 (Discovery) and there they had all about fire fighters in America.

But then something strange happened with the satellite TV again as it switched by itself back to channel 66 (National Geographic) and at that moment there were a leopard in a tree and below the tree, 4 male lions they called bachelors.  And I said to my mom I wonder what is going on with the satellite TV’s signals? And the 1 leopard and 4 male lions give us a 1 and a 4 or a 4 and a 1 again.

And just the other day I had a conversation with my friend Karina on the phone about the word signal and that Signal Hill may be symbol of symbolism (the word).

I really do not know if one can make anything of these events.  But I have so much love for these animals and those Big Cats really have something special to them.  And my dog has to be willing to receive all the kisses I want to give those beautiful beings.  I so much want to get to the Bushveld again – I miss it so much.

LOVE

Renee

29/01/2006 18:13 …mmm…the 13 again…?

29/01/2006 19:22

Dear Lore

I was watching Fokus on SABC2 and their report on the fire on Lions Head, Signal Hill and Table Mountain, and watching Carte Blanche on Mnet also about these fires and I was wondering about this strange thing we always do – we always want to find someone to blame for everything that happens.  But people use words and they blame others and defend themselves with words.  And the more it seems they do not get to a point of finding someone to blame – and that seems very confusing – they use more and more words to defend themselves and blame others.  But they do not seem to agree who is to blame.  As their words are confusing them and they do not realize they are looking for someone to blame and secondly, the symbols used to blame is also causing that they cannot agree on who is the one to blame as those same symbols are defence mechanisms as well.  The same system used to accuse also defends – I wonder how far one will get with that?  But what amaze me as that they accuse and accuse, still looking for someone to blame - what is it to this concept, the need to blame someone if something happens.  And if you look at the word someone it can never reach status of a specific person as it is something in general, someone.  Now I am wondering how it all happened so well, that we have the symbolisms/systems in place that the word someone can reach its status it is carrying at this stage, namely, someone must be responsible, but with the uplifting of our words to other levels, it only reach its fullness now as everyone has access to these words’ evolution so that even if they are looking for someone to blame, it stays someone to blame – it does not get to a specific person. So someone is reaching its full potential.   

By the way, I also see that in Rapport’s Kaap version, on the front page is the problem with Koeberg Nuclear Power Station and next to it an article on the fires

This letter has no ending

30/01/2006 16:18

Dear Lore

I just had an interesting discussion with my friend Len.  He hasn’t seen the program on global dimming and still believes the theory that global warming are been caused by our pollution.  That we are trashing the planet deliberately and not feeling bad about it at all and not caring that we are just doing that – trashing the planet.

Then I asked him but what does he think is going to happen after the “shift”?  And he said that our friend Karina gave him the answer to that, we are going back to tribal times.

My question is just, I know Karina see that humanity must evolve – does this mean to go back to tribal times we are going to evolve?  The mere wording “go back” just says something different from evolution.  So maybe Karina is not sure if humanity must evolve or either if humanity must “go back” to something and start evolving again, just in a different way.  And my friend Len recons that the people that is now trashing the planet, will be sent to another planet where there are no free will and where they cannot trash anything anymore.  Well, I guess I am driving my car, I am doing what everybody else is doing, like eating and drinking and all comes from things that are trashing the planet – so I guess I will go to that planet where there is no free will, as well as I am part of humanity that is now trashing the planet.  I don’t really know if there are anybody on this planet that can excuse themselves from not being part of the trashing process as all eat, all drink, all drive their cars.  Yes, there are those that fight endless battles to save the planet, but even they cannot excuse themselves as they do need their car and in their instances a lot of times, aeroplanes to get to go and fight pollution and trashing the planet.  So whom of us, if Len and Karina is correct, is going to stay behind to begin the human evolution, I do not know.

And this makes me wonder about what is going to happen should there be something like a polar flip.  Many spiritual people are talking about the shift, but by now I have heard so many versions – that the “shift” is more confusing to me now, than a lot of other things.  I realized today that what I am experiencing, is not the same what my friends are believing anymore.  I am getting confused about a lot of things, but their point of view, which was interesting, just does not stand its ground for me so much anymore.  Maybe I am too busy with other stuff like the symbolism thing.  Like the catch 22 situations arising that I feel is so brilliant.  But it seems I am the only one seeing these situations and now I start questioning myself.  I try to explain to my friend Katrina, but she gets stuck that things happen so that after something happened and humanity was not dealing with that situation effectively, they get the lesson from that to improve themselves.  Like with everybody wanting to find someone to blame for the fire on Table Mountain, now the fire department will improve and the council will and the mayor as well – that’s the lesson from the fire.  It is all well that they are all now going to upgrade and if the same situation arise again, they will be equipped, but that was not what I saw from that situation – and I wrote to you yesterday about that topic and what I made of it.  Maybe that is the lesson for me in speaking to her and hear what she has to say, that everything is about lessons?  Lessons and then upgrading to higher levels.  What that higher levels is I do not know – maybe that is how humanity is going to evolve – upgrading the fire department and the council and the mayor that should we have a fire in cape town ever again, all these departments will be on a higher level to deal with the same situation again, this time, perfectly with nobody complaining about a thing.  I hope they upgrade the public as well to not either critisize or on the other end of duality agree that the fire department is upgraded enough.  We are in duality and people do seem to have opinions on whether something is done well, and on the other end, not done well.  Even with this fire, there were people that thought that everything  - for the type of fire they were dealing with – went actually very well.  And I am complaining now it seems about my friends.  I think it is my ego that want them to see what I see and what I see I cannot get through to anybody.

And I am wondering about these letters to you, if they are worth anything.  I do not even know if you are reading them – why am I writing them, for what reason?

Love

Renee

30/01/2006 16:49 and 4 + 9 = 13 and day and month is 31.

Things to include:

• Use both numbers, letters, and symbols. (Example: #g%6n4x)
• Include capital and lowercase letters. (Example: QwERty)
• Substitute different symbols for letters.  (Example: Use the number '0', zero, instead of the letter 'O')
• Make a unique acronym.  (Example: "ILG" instead of "I love God.")
• Use phonetic replacements. (Example: "IOU" instead of "I owe you.")

 Things to avoid:

• Do not use an example password. 
• Do not use a password that includes personal information.  Personal information includes your name, initials, birth date, etc.  (Wrong: "Nate")
• Do not use words or acronyms that can be found in the dictionary.
• Do not use keyboard patterns. (Wrong: "qwerty")
• Do not use sequential patterns.  (Wrong: "abcd" or "1234")
• Do not make your password all numbers, all symbols, all uppercase letters, or all lowercase numbers.  You should include some of each.  (Wrong: "18536", "@*%$&", "AGJDC", or "fhbmr")
• Do not use repeating characters. (Wrong: "ffDD##55")

Tips for keeping your password secure:

• Never tell your password to anyone.  (This includes your pet parrot. :) )
• Never write your password down.
• Never send your password in an email.
• Periodically change your password.

If you follow these tips, your passwords will be reasonably safe.

Go outside. If you're already there, that's great. If you're indoors, move away from your desk, couch, or zafu and head toward the nearest exit.

Once you've extricated yourself from whatever edifice you may be in, look up. Tilt your head back and lift your eyes toward the skies. What do you see?

In our postindustrial world, we spend long hours gawking at electronically generated images. Our computer screen, flat panel television, and Blackberry have become the primary items we focus on and through. While I'm grateful for these new virtual worlds, it's important to understand that they are housed within a more ancient real world: the cosmos.

Traditional western thinking -- religious and secular -- often depicts the universe as harsh, depraved, and unruly. Popular theologies consider it to have fallen from a primordial pristine condition. Subsequently, the natural world is supposedly in conflict with the spiritual world and in desperate need of an extreme makeover. Modernism saw the planet as a machine to be harnessed in order to meet any and all human desires. The excesses of Modernism have led to the Postmodern critique portraying the world and humanity as being at war with each other -- we're trying to kill Gaia, and she is trying to protect herself by killing us.

There may be bits of truth in all of these viewpoints. The cosmos is an apparently chaotic place. It has vast resources that support human life, and we have habitually treated the planet as an infinite waste dump. Yet the prevailing narratives depicting humanity as separated from the broader universe ignore our mutual interconnection. Even Genesis has humanity arising from the dust of the earth. This suggests integration, not isolation.

In The Great Work, Thomas Berry points out the multiple layers of cosmic reality. Humanity lives on a planet situated within a solar system and "beyond the sun is our own galaxy and beyond that the universe of galactic systems." Everything is nested within a complex structure of embedded reciprocity.

Because the outside world houses our inner world, we discover profound spiritual inspiration when we contemplate our exterior domain. Berry notes that our "psychic nourishment and support come from the natural environment." We neglect our place and presence in the cosmos to our own impoverishment.

As a shepherd, David experienced a rich inner life through years of outdoor living. He recognized the changing of the seasons, the flora and fauna, and the soil. He could read the sky, the wind, and the flocks. No wonder when musing upon the glories of his surroundings, he exclaimed in wonder, "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?" (Psalm 8:3-4). The first step stimulating David to reach this place of enraptured praise was his consideration of the heavens. He looked up.

Centuries earlier, God invited Abraham to lift his gaze. "Look up at the heavens and count the stars" (Genesis 15:5). In looking upward Abraham received the promise of an immeasurable blessing that became realized in John's vision. When John looked up, he saw heaven opened. Mimicking the rip in the temple veil, the torn sky assured John of unfettered human access to God.

Without reflecting on our environment, we reduce the ways in which we can appreciate God and diminish the ways we can identify ourselves as partakes in the divine nature. So follow the example of the sweet Psalmist, Abraham, and John. Go out and look up. You will discover a deep mystical resonance in your heart as you peer into the limitless heavens.

In taking the physical step of going outside and looking up, you'll discern a new sense of presence in your place. Our universe just is -- a welcoming home for us to live, die, love, and thrive. Popular author Meredith Little reminds us, "The land is nonjudgmental enough to allow us to be our whole selves fully. Nature expresses its wholeness not through words but through its being, and that allows us to remember our own nature and step into that expression of ourselves."

Maybe it's been a while since you've gone outside to intentionally notice your world and your place in it. You may seem childlike as you stare upward in awe, but Jesus invites us to receive the kingdom of God like little children. Initially you may feel foolish when you go outside and look up, but where's the folly in appreciating the glory of the physical creation?

Go outside, stretch out your arms, and look up. What do you see? Where do heaven, earth, and sea meet? What specific hue is the sky right now? Notice the clouds. Do you observe any stars, planets, comets? When you look up with the eye of the spirit, feel your heart expanding. Allow your inner self to soar. Let looking up be a living metaphor for hope, optimism, and sanguinity. See the heavens open and look directly into the eyes of God.
~~~~~~~~~~
Originally published on July 14, 2008. (c) Presence International. Parousia is a free Transmillennial publication of Presence. To receive Parousia in your inbox each week click here.

This is, of course, because I'm a lit student. We quickly learn that everything can be a symbol...and that you get extra special brownie points if you can argue a case for symbols no one's ever seen before. So too are the symbols of Wicca. Among some Wiccans, the brownie points go to the Witch who's just uncovered the latest obscure "correspondence." Oy! Common sense, people!

So it is with noted trepidation that I approach Day 7. But you know, it's not that bad. Roderick basically begins by nodding toward the work of anthropologist Adolf Bastian, whom he says "was first to recognize that certain basic principles reoccur as symbols through the world's mythologies and religious systems." (These 'elementary ideas' as Bastian called them are along the lines of "life must feed on life" or "life does not end with death." You know, the really big ones.) Bastian went on to say that although the 'elementary ideas' are basically the same across culture, the different sayings and interpretations differ from one culture to the next. What Roderick extends this to is the thoguht that "Wicca taps into these elementary ideas through symbols and ideas common to all cultures."

You know, I understand that symbols 'speak a poetic language' and that Wicca uses them as 'the primary means for reaching and transforming the deep mind (unconscious.' I get that. And I agree with it. But I am a little confused with Roderick's explanation. The headnote is fraught with quips like "The sunrise, a circle, the change of season and fire are examples of Wiccan symbols that transcend culture, time, and place," but Roderick never says what these objects are symbols of. And the 'of' makes all the difference. Maybe it's the lit nerd in me talking...but the object isn't the important part of the equation. Worrying about how "the critical mind erroneously interprets symbolic information as fact, etc" isn't all that important. A symbol isn't a symbol until the object delivers an "Ah!" moment. At that point fact really doesn't matter anymore. The poetic nature takes over.

So I'm just a little grumpy about today's notes. But I do think that I need to start looking at the world around me and stop noticing objects for themselves. I've lost my poetic vision, and I need to get it back. And today's exercise is a great place to start.

Practice: Sunrise, Sunset, Symbols

Take time today to witness either the sunrise or the sunset. It is important that you don't substitute an "imagined" sunrise or sunset--really go outside and engage in nature. As you experience either the sunrise or sunset, take note of your feelings and your state of mind. AFter this, take time to commit your thoughts to paper regarding these questions:

• What did you experience internally as you witnessed this event?
• From this experience, what do you imagine this sunrise or sunset could symbolize?
• Now think about a symbol from a spiritual path from your past. Spend time contemplating this symbol's meaning. What could this symbol mean for you today?

It is a rare thing that I wake up before 9 am these days. I go to bed very late, and seem to require above 8 hours of sleep. But I felt compelled to aim for the sunrise instead of the sunset. For me, the sunrise is about birth and the sunset death. I see so much of the 'death' end of things these days that I really wanted an opportunity to experience the other side. And perhaps maybe the newness of starting a day so damn early would help shift my mindset for the rest of the day, too.

Internally, I experienced a whole helluva lot of tired. I woke up a little earlier than the required 6:31 am to make a cup of fortifying tea, but didn't leave much of a chance for it to take effect. But once I did settle down to watch the subtle changes of a sunrise, I did feel a calm. The sun began to reflect off the low lying clouds in a small riot of yellows, oranges, pinks, and lavenders, the mist over the grassfield across the street began to roll off. The dew began to coagulate and dissipate. The world was tossing off her nighttime blanket and taking a stretch. It was calming. It was reassuring. It was hopeful.

So yes, I think the sunrise well symbolizes birth and rebirth; new beginnings, awakenings; hope and the very beginnings of realized potential.

After such a pleasant beginning, I don't particularly want to think about the tried and trite symbols of my spiritual past. What am I going to say? The cross? The lamb? The dove? The cross is often a symbol of death and rebirth, the lamb of innocence and trust, and the dove of peace. I can't say any of these have changed for me. In Wicca, the equal-armed cross is a symbol of the elements, but that is a slightly different cross than the Christian one. It's not quite the same thing. Meh.

From smithsonianchannel.com:
The ancient world was filled with innumerable Gods, but what happened to these forgotten entities- where have the old Gods gone? The rise and fall of the ancient civilizations are highlighted: the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Celts, the Romans, the Maya and the Inca. Journey through faith and time in this enlightening series.

There are some nice sneak peek videos from the full Episodes.

Go here to see the videos.

After over 20 years of bitter public debate, and an estimated £9m spent on consultants, designs and planning inquiries, the proposed £57m visitor centre collapsed last year when the government abandoned, on cost grounds, the plan to tunnel the A303 where it passes one of the world's most famous prehistoric monuments.

Ordered by culture minister Margaret Hodge to sort the site in time for the expected Olympics tourism bonanza, English Heritage yesterday launched yet another public consultation, this time on a new quick fix solution: a "temporary" building lasting up to 20 years, costing up to £20m, and providing a café, a shop and twice as much parking.

It could be achieved either by drastically upgrading the present site - damned almost 20 years ago by a parliamentary committee as "a national disgrace" - or on one of four other sites scattered across the edge of the world heritage site: some on National Trust land, others on privately owned or Ministry of Defence land.

In most options there would be park and ride schemes leaving visitors to walk the remaining 1.25km to the stones, across a landscape spattered with other monuments completely overlooked by most visitors today. In every case the A344 branch road, which passes within yards of the stones, would be closed and turfed over.

Read the article here.

In fact, there is no us, because there is no separation.

Then, out of the void comes light. A round, self-contained shape. The monad.

Now there is above and below, inner and outer, this and not-this. But as of yet, no beginning and no end.

From this simple round shape comes all life. The egg.

So many cultures explain the creation with a World Egg. From the Finnish Kalevala:

One egg's lower half transformed

And became the earth below,

And its upper half transmuted

And became the sky above;

From the yolk the sun was made,

Light of day to shine upon us;

From the white the moon was formed,

Light of night to gleam above us;

All the colored brighter bits

Rose to be the stars of heaven

And the darker crumbs changed into

Clouds and cloudlets in the sky.

In the beginning was perfection. Enclosed and safe, with limitless potential.

The egg reminds us of its source, the womb. An enclosure, a space where creation occurs outside of our normal vision, a mystery unable to be directly apprehended.

We ponder the source of the beginning, the egg: the mother. The fertile one, our first love. The first power over us.

Paleolithic people created mother images bursting with ripeness, seemingly made of eggs herself in her rounded forms. Her fecund power was evident. And from there it is no leap to a moon mother, that other round, white egg form:

The egg, the breast: powerful images of life and nourishment. In Ephesus, these combined with bee images to suggest a veritable land of milk and honey:

Today people still worship the mother, the Goddess, in her myriad forms. From the moon and the egg we can easily connect through the waters of the womb to the waters of the sea. The Yoruban Yemaya shows us the way, with her sacred cowry shells.

And, with her waters and her shells, we find the fishes. Another source of life, containing masses of eggs bursting with life. From the one, comes two, and then more and more. Even our modern understanding of cell division is a reflection of this truth.

Is it any wonder that so many depictions of Christ have him within the vesica piscis, the womb shape that also harkens to the fish?

Not being an expert on heraldry myself, all I would really be able to comment on is the aesthetic appeal. So, instead of embarrassing myself, I figured I would send you to EWTN's very succinct article on the meaning behind the imagery and symbols used in his Holiness's coat-of-arms.

You can also check out Zenit's and/or the Vatican's articles for even more information.

Chaos T-Shirt by akamundo: Ulo

Chaos T-Shirt by akamundo: Micol

RWB T-Shirt by akamundo: Ulo