I already posted this to Nicole's thread....but it was important to me on so very many<BR> levels that I have decided to re-post it on my own thread....please keep an open mind,<BR> and if you, the reader has not read Patient Love's post "What we are up against", please<BR> read it now as this will seem bizarre and you will think me a little over the edge<BR> perhaps....lol<P> hmmmm.......deep breath.......<P> The Witches' Law, handed down through the generations, is, "Do what ye will an<BR> (meaning 'provided that')ye harm none". To this is added the Statement of Principle,<BR> "Perfect Love and Perfect Trust".<P> The Law has also been expressed in the words "Love and do harm to none". The use of<BR> personal energy does not appear to be pendant upon any particular religious belief. Magic<BR> is not peculier to witches. It has been used by pratitioners of all religions, from the most<BR> ancient to the most modern. Sometimes the magical formulae are called prayers or<BR> hymns. Sometimes they are called spells and charms. They are found in Hinduism,<BR> Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and all other major religions. In most of these the magic<BR> formulae involve the use of the names of gods or spirits. These are regarded as ways of<BR> calling up and focusing the required energy. A strong belief in anything is productive of<BR> psychic energy. What we believe has reality for us; we are what we believe we are.<P> The witch's craft is not outside nature, not supernatural.<BR> Nevertheless, it remains mysterious. We can no more explain it than we can explain why<BR> some people are "gifted" in one direction and<BR> others in another. And the 'magical' faculty, like all other human faculties, can be used<BR> for good or bad ends.<P> The difference between a 'true, natural' witch's use of these powers and the use made<BR> by some others is simply that the 'true, natural' witch works within the framework of a<BR> religion and an ethical discipline that prevents those powers being used irresponsibly or<BR> to harm.<P> Acts of magic which run counter to the credo of 'Love, and harm none' are wrong - they<BR> are indeed evil. Other acts, stemming from or for Love, are not. This was recognized<BR> before AD500 by the Christian Church. Indeed, Constantine's law against witches was<BR> simply that witches who did evil things should be punished: others should not be harmed.<P> Unfortunately, many catchpenny books about witchcraft, many books of spells,<BR> emphasize the sensational side of witchcraft and spend a great deal of time in explaining<BR> how to curse someone. Consequently, many think of witches as power-hungry and<BR> self-serving, and SOME of these people, who fancy the thought of possessing magical<BR> powers, decide they would like to be witches and even initiate themselves. They should<BR> be warned. There is a natural law that whatever magic one does returns upon the doer<BR> threefold. <P> Most 'true, natural' witches revere the story of Jesus Christ and his gospel of love and<BR> find his wisdom is awe-inspiring.<P> The organizations which have grown up around Christ's teachings and which have so<BR> often denied them, or elaborated them in a fashion quite alien to his message, are<BR> another matter. It was not Christ but the church that first stated that witches did not<BR> exist and<BR> that to believe in them was heresy, and then that witches did exist and that not to<BR> believe in them was heresy. It was not Christ but the Church that decided that "Thou<BR> shalt not Kill" meant 'thou shall not Kill anyone but heretics, murderers, theives, witches,<BR> Mohammedans, heathens, and anyone else the church decides'. It was not Christ but the<BR> Church that invented the inquisition and killed millions of Jews, gypsies and witches in<BR> Europe over a period of four centuries. <P> Witches are not opposed to anyone practising whatever religion they find meaningful to<BR> them. They do not proselytize or attempt to<BR> convert people. Most believe that people, moving through many lives, must pass through<BR> many stages of understanding and must work out their own destinies. Help or advice or<BR> teaching along the way will be given when asked for; it will not be imposed upon the<BR> unwilling.<P><BR> I guess, if forced to 'label' myself, I would have to call myself a Christian Wiccan....the<BR> Holy Trinity being my spiritual focus instead<BR> of the usual goddess figure.....<P> I, for instance believe in natural magic, and believe that I am a natural witch....for<BR> example, the time I posted, asking everyone to stop and focus all their positive, good,<BR> loving energy at Bill because Robin was going over....that is the type of 'magic' I, as a<BR> wiccan use....and he had a really nice night because so many of us reached out ...in love<BR> and support of him...it may not have affected the outcome of his evening...but then<BR> again....personal energy focus can be powerful....you never know....<P> So, this person on the plane was a self-confessed witch......a loony with an attitude<BR> problem......she could have said she was a druid, an athiest, a mormon, anything at<BR> all....and she still would have been a loony...the person said these things...not 'the<BR> witch'..... some of us feel closer to God worshiping him this way...I find it immensly<BR> personal and satisfying...I wake up and realize what a gift each day is.....but central to<BR> my core belief is that everything has a soul....all of nature...everything in God's<BR> creation....<P> some of 'us' are not really that scary, and we do not.... I repeat....DO NOT do the work<BR> of satan, lucifer, evil, whatever ......<P> I have ranted long enough.....what a stressful time to decide to come out of the<BR> closet.............<P> wishing one and all peace on earth and goodwill towards all men......that's what it's all<BR> really about...<P> Dylan.<P> p.s., I had to explain this, as I could no longer let Medic continue to freak out.....it's not<BR> white magic, Medic, it's responsible magic.....LOL<P> <BR> <BR> a few comments from my peanut gallery on this wonderful, sun-shine filled snowy<BR> sunday...<P> I have never met nor heard of a true witch who would EVER do harm......as for the<BR> 'looney' label, well, my own family uses it, it's an issue with H's ex-W, I have kept quiet<BR> for a long time not wanting it to be a custody issue regarding their 8 yr. old son,...<P> Thank you so much for your statement about receiving friendship, encouragement and<BR> support from me...that is my aim in life...not just here on this board...it is a lifetime goal<BR> to provide these things daily to every person I meet....that is my personal doctrine.......I<BR> have seen a person's mood change for the rest of their day because I have been nice to<BR> them in the midst of a bad day...now, that is magic.....and if they spread that good<BR> mood to someone else, then its spectacular magic !!<P> the most magical thing I do on this board is to hope, pray, and wish the best, and least<BR> painful process through this for one and all on this board...I would not and could not<BR> harm anyone, anywhere...I mean, HEY !!! come on, I have the OW out there as the<BR> perfect target......and all I can do is hope she gets on with her life and never harms<BR> another family as she has done...I can protect my family......I have performed a<BR> 'banishing'....and all that means is that I pray, meditate and focus my energy on barring<BR> any of hers from entering 'our space'....my good, positive energy as a buffer against her<BR> destructive, unbalanced and negative energy.......geeeez, Nicole is right...it is all about a<BR> battle....<P> As for your statement about Satan, well, I see far too much evil in the world on a daily<BR> basis that not believing is not really an option anymore....so much negative and harmful<BR> energy spreading.....<P> I believe in God, Goddess Mary and Jesus....I was baptised into the Catholic church as an<BR> infant...but I think that god is really tired of us and our repeated stupidities as a<BR> race....it has now been left up to us and our free will...and look what we are still doing to<BR> this day with our chance.....<P> by the way, in my religion, what goes on between all of us on these boards.....counts in<BR> your Karma.....big time.....the way we all share and help, and support.....nothing but<BR> good can come....even flaming,because deep down you care....this is a really good<BR> place....it feels safe...I hope everyone realizes this.....I think by helping each other, we<BR> may all be a little closer to whatever each of our personal 'heavens' is...<P> Dylan......Have a sacred sunday.....<P> <P> well, it's 1:43 a.m. here on Canada's east coast, what better time to respond to the<BR> above wonderful posts....<P> Delphi,<BR> Thank you...I believe that God does NOT come to us all in the same way..and that, to<BR> me, is fine and dandy....as long as the journey is a path to god, as long as your personal<BR> path brings you spiritual peace, a sense of right and wrong, and contentment but most<BR> importantly, your path to god should give you hope and FAITH.<P><BR> You know what? this stuff makes my head feel funny and gives me the hugest<BR> goosebumps too....thats why I knew i was on to something for me on a personal level...<P> <P> Ahh, new beginning....<P> Brave??? I don't know....<P> one of my emotional needs is openess and honesty..i have to start being honest about all<BR> aspects of me...with myself, with my life...with all of you here. If I am to expect honestly<BR> from my H, i too, then must 'walk the talk' as they say.<BR> I also have the need for admiration - but for who and what I am...who and what I TRULY<BR> am, not for pre-conceived notions or husbandly fantasies of who or what I MAY<BR> be....how can my H possibly admire anything about me if I am not being who and what I<BR> truly am?<P> As you can see, I keep coming back to christianity as well....I grew up believing in Jesus<BR> and all he stood for....but, now, its the ritual aspect, the 'naturalness' of worship within<BR> the wiccan framework that whispers to me...<P> i can praise God, I pray...I worship.....<P> i just do it differently....<P> I have an altar...ritual inscense, candles, I chant....<P> oh my gosh...it sounds exactly like a catholic mass !!!!!!!!!!!!<P> that of course, being becasue they 'borrowed' elements for the mass from the pagans...it<BR> was the only way to lure them to the churches....the churches priests had to<BR> incorporate pagan rituals so the pagans would come and feel comfortable with familiar<BR> rituals...even if the names had been changed, the comfort of familiarity kept them<BR> coming back...<P> <BR> Dylan - she of the long-windedness.<P> --------------<BR> You may say that I'm a dreamer...well, I'm not the only one....I hope someday you'll join<BR> us, and the world will live as one...John Lennon<P> <P> <P> <P> <P> I agree, all of us are special, and all of us have the opportunity to contribute something<BR> to this world and to each other....<P> <p>[This message has been edited by soulloss (edited May 17, 2000).]
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<P>dylan<P>------------------<BR>"The journey into darkness has been long and cruel, and you have gone deep into it."<BR>~ A Course in Miracles