Tuesday, 26 August 2008 Mr Saunders Is Also Calling For Religion To Be Taught

Wiccan Spirituality write Kevin Saunders has started an shape e-petition to 10 Downing Line of attack work for a pictogram of neopagan and generous views to be included in devoted education.Mr Saunders is else work for religion to be qualified in an intend fake and to avoid devoted laze heart introduced to lessons outer walls of RE sessions and to understand the needs of parents who methodically do not plight the exact devoted bias there rigorous school insists on bearing in mind.He else calls on protection for teachers who are in a jiffy heart put under mandate to fall in line with the special devoted point of some schools.Mr Saunders rumored today: "I am horror-struck at the way the Christian Priestly uses its schools to say over and over leafy minds modish their religion, methodically against the needs of the parents. Dependable schools operate weeks that may perhaps instead be disappeared on spot on education by thrusting stories about the so-called 'Jesus' in front of insecure minds."The stress runs until October 2009 and can be accessed on the Internet : http://petition...hurch-abuse/

Friday, 22 August 2008 Grief Life Love Hope Healing Special Powers Blessings Rainbows And Gratitude

GRIEF

A visitation for family and friends and funeral mass for Gavin took place yesterday morning at the church were he was baptized and Kate and Ed got married. Gavin: age 5 1/2, a kid with a saintly smile who'd just started walking and had beaten many odds. Kate: a beautiful person and stellar mom contending with the unimaginable.

I stood in the church's lobby and pored over the many keepsakes and photo boards set out on tables, Kate's labor of love. Gavin giggling, playing in water, doing therapy, loving his family, looking so handsome, being a kid. His birth announcement. The paper Valentine's heart he made. I tried to compose myself, went into the chapel, stood on the receiving line, gave Ed a hug hello, hugged Kate, hugged her some more, sat down in an empty row, wept.

LIFE

I spotted Miss Sara, Gavin's amazing aide, and Gavin's little brother and walked over. After Sara and I hugged, I stooped down to chat with Brian who was munching on organic bunny fruit snacks. We got to talking about his love for Angry Birds Star Wars, which I hadn't even known was A Thing. "Have you seen the Stars Wars movies yet, or are you too little?" I asked. "No, I'm too "big"!" he told me. I laughed. We high-fived. He gave me the empty bunny snack wrapper.

LOVE, HOPE, HEALING

Kate wrote an absolutely beautiful eulogy and read it with quiet strength, barely faltering. She acknowledged the sadness in the room, then said, "Ed and I feel strongly that we want people to leave here feeling mostly inspired....by Gavin and his journey. If we've ever been sure of anything, it is this: Gavin was sent here on this Earth to work through us to inspire others. To change people. To open people's hearts to endless possibilities. To inspire hope and healing."

Kate noted that she was aware that many people have been inspired to do wonderful acts to honor Gavin. "If people all over the world are feeling even a fraction of what we have felt over these 5 1/2 years as Gavin's Mommy and Daddy-inspired, lucky, blessed, hopeful-then my heart is full," she said. "Gavin is continuing to change people. Help people. Heal people's hearts...including ours."

SPECIAL POWERS

Miss Sara read a favorite book of Kate and Gavin's, On The Night You Were Born.

"Gavin, on the night you were born,"the moon smiled with such wonder"that the stars peeked in to see you"and the night wind whispered"Life will never be the same."Because there had never been anyone like you..."ever in the world."ooooo"For never before in story or rhyme"(not even once upon a time)"has the world ever known a you, my friend,"and it never will, not ever again."

BLESSINGS

Ed wrote a homily, Prayers of the Faithful.

He asked that God provide people suffering injustice and tragic events, like those recently in Boston, with mercy and comfort.

He asked that God bless the teachers and therapists who care for and nurture our children.

He asked that God give hope to those who have recently lost a loved one or who are praying for organ donations for loved ones.

And he asked,

"For all our children, that our love for them may keep the safe throughout their life on earth, and that God grant them eternal peace and happiness when they are with Him."

RAINBOWS

"People are fascinated with rainbows," said Father Kelly. He spoke of the first mention of rainbows in the bible, in Genesis:9. He spoke of classical composer Fr'ed'eric Chopin and his Fantaisie-Impromptu, part of whose melody is in the song "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows." He spoke of Judy Garland singing about rainbows. And he spoke of Kate's blog, Chasing Rainbows, and how she's shared so much there, and inspired so many.

GRATITUDE

Every one of Gavin's therapists and teachers, from birth on, came to the service, except for a nurse who was with a family in need. One of Gavin's former aides even flew in from Turkey. They participated in the Presentation of Gifts. One by one, each walked up to the podium and placed a stem of blue hydrangea in a clear glass vase. A sign below read "A superhero sleeps here."

LIFE

The final song of the service was You Are Mine, by David Haas. The last lines rang in my ears the whole drive home:

"I am the word that leads all to freedom"I am the peace the world cannot give"I will call your name, embracing all your pain"Stand up, now, walk and live."

HOPE

More words from Kate's eulogy that I will never forget: "Never let anyone tell you that you can't chase rainbows," she said. "As I look out on this sea of faces, I know that each of you have been inspired by Gavin's story. Gavin, really, was everyone's child and I was happy to share him with all of you. But you can find hope and inspiration and important life lessons in your own lives. In your children's lives, young or old. In your journeys, even when the path seems impossible to walk, like this one for us. Everything is an opportunity to learn... to help others... to grow. Gavin taught me that. I am just the messenger today."

Source: goddesses-and-gods.blogspot.com

By Lady Raven Avalon Member Since February 13

Here is a question Black Raven Coven are asked so many times

OK, The last time I asked for information was amazing so much great stuff and I have another what about sef iniciation to withcraft Ive heard soooooo many different ones witch one is the correct way? Where can I find an online site and self initiate now?

ANSWER:

the very reason our Coven wrote this book MAGICK FOR THE NEW WITCH know thyself, intent, learn about the different types of witchcraft, traditions and learn the very basics of the code of ethics within the craft, learn how to set up an altar and why you do so, learn how to consecrate tools and why and learn about the divinities, spell casting, how to create your own book of shadows and what this magickal journal is used for etc.,. you then get an idea of this lifelong journey. I could not ethically show you a link to immediate self initiation as this to me would be against everything I believe in. Yes, in our book we do show a self initiation (solitary witch) however, this is only after the reader learns the very basics of The Craft of The Wise and is able to discern for themselves which path suits them best, we also pose questions as to why you wish to become a witch and so much more..... I trust you understand. Your question is like asking a Doctor...ok, where to I go on the internet to become a doctor tomorrow. With the greatest of respect and love Lady Raven Avalon, High Priestess, Black Raven Coven

Follow Black Raven Coven on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=154448994580258

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Lady Raven Avalon High Priestess-Black Raven Coven: Black Raven Coven by Lady Raven Avalon High Prie

ladyravenavalonhp.blogspot.com Lady Raven Avalon High Priestess-Black Raven Coven: MAGICK FOR THE NEW WITCH ">MAGICK FOR THE NEW WITCH & WICCAN by lady raven avalon & coven book publishing date end of February 2011 (amazon)

Thursday, 21 August 2008 The Secret Magic Of Vimshottari

It is a universally accepted fact that any faultless astrological technique of exact timing of events either does not exist or lies hidden, although philistine astrologers (nakshatrasoochakas) may declare themselves to be omniscient.

All known methods in Vedic Astrology can be divided into two categories, as far as mathematics is concerned : (1) those dependent upon modern physical astronomy and (2) those relying on traditional methods. Both these categories have numerous variants. Major problem in the first camp is astrologically correct value of ayanamsha, and main problem in second camp is computational crudities of various types.

We assume that both these camps take for granted that in mathematics sidereal (nirayana) system is correct and in predictive astrology (phalita jyotisha) Brihat-Parashara-Hora-Shastra (BPHS) and ancient texts based on or akin to BPHS are to be relied upon, because that is the accepted meaning of Vedic Astrology or Jyotisha.

There cannot be mutually incompatible two correct techniques of timing, either both of them or at least one of them must be incorrect. As far as the first school based on physical astronomy is concerned, all possible values of ayanamsha have been experimented with during past one hundred years, without any conclusive outcome in the favour of any single value of ayanamsha. It proves that even after we get some perfect solution to the problem of ayanamsha, there must be other unrecognized errors which must be removed if we want any exact technique in timing of events. One such source of error is erroneous length of the Vimshottari year. Some software developers, like Sri Jyoti Star in the USA and Kundalee in India, have experimented with various types of Vimshottari years, without any conclusive result, because a third source of error was never noticed by any practitioner of Vedic Astrology among the computer using guys : hidden Saurpakshiya offsets in Drikpakshiya longitudes of planets. Most of the computer using astrologers might not have heard these esoteric terms, whiich are fundamental in the curriculum of Vedic Jyotisha taught in Sanskrit universities of India. These are ancient concepts, and Ketaki system had revived these concepts during 20th century. Kamlakara Bhatta was the most staunch proponent of this Saurpakshiya mathematics during recent centuries, but due to Western hegemony and faith in modern science this ancient system was never tried by any software developer.

Many reputed scholars of Sanskrit universities on India have concluded that unless this beejsamskrita (offset corrected) method of Suryasidhanta is adopted, foolproof timing of events will remain a distant dream. On 18 Oct 2005, after two days of discussions in a conference held at Sampoornanand Sanskrit University in Varanasi, an unanimous decision was taken by academic stalwarts from six states of India that all panchangas of India ought to be made according to Suryasidhanta and a committee headed by me (Vinay Jha) was formed to implement this unanimous decision, whose parties were Dr Nagendra Pandey (currently HOD of Jyotisha at Sampoornanand Sanskrit University in Varanasi), Dr Shukdeva Chaturvedi (former HOD of Lalbahadur Shastri Kendriya Vidyapeetha in Delhi), Dr Ramchandra Pandey (former HOD of Jyotisha of Benaras Hindu University, Varanasi), Dr Radhakanta Mishra (currently HOD of Jyotisha at KSD Sanskrit University in Bihar), etc. This unanimous decision was implemented and eight panchangas were started in many states of India and a horoscope making Kundalee software was also launched, based on the same beejsamskrita Suryasidhantic mathematics.

Mathematical discussion of this tricky affair is not advisable here. My aim here is merely to illustrate, with some examples, this traditional method of Vedic Ganita (mathematics), which was simply known as Siddhanta (theory) by all ancient astrologers of India. Without a sound Siddhanta, a sound predictive astrology is just impossible. There were 18 ancient Siddhantas, of which Surya Siddhanta was lauded as the best by Varah Mihir. The beauty and greatness of BPHS cannot be properly fathomed unless we use the Ganita (Surya Siddhanta) of those very ancient masters who created Phalita.

Some rules must be observed before we proceed. Rashi chart should be used only for determining friendships, aspects, strengths, debilities, etc of planets. Predictive work should be entirely based upon the Bhava-chalita kundali. Many astrologers use Rashi kundali for predictons because it saves time, and this habit has now become almost a rule ! Ascendant is defined as a point in ecliptic. The latter is elliptical. Hence, ascendant and consequent bhavas are all parts of this solar ellipse. Rashi kundali is circular and therefore all 12 parts are equal. But bhavachalita kundali is elliptical because its 12 bhavas are unequal.

Now we come to our main theme. Birthtime bhavachalita (D1) and navamamsha (D9) kundalis and associated aspect charts are given in following two pictures. Let us explore the timing of marriage of a registered user (cf. ) according to BPHS and Laghuparashari. All the rules and techniques used below are well known to all Vedic astrologers, but these rules work with perfection only if all the three mathematical offsets are taken into account. Following analysis is based on a software (Kundalee) in which all necessary corrections proposed by aforementioned academics have been taken into account.

Birthtime : 17:07:1983 at 19:34, Nellore (14:27 N, 80:02 E)

Marriage time : 10:08:2006 at 11:04, Hyderabad

Saurpakshiya Vimshottari at the time of marriage :

MahaDasha(MD) = Jup, AD = Sat, PD = Rahu,SD = Ven,PrD = Merc

Let us consider birthtime Bhava-chalita (D1) and Navamasha(D9) charts. Following is the aspects (max. 60) on 7th house :

Jup = 51 ; Ketu = 39 ; Sat = 38 ; Moon = 10 ; Rahu = 6 ; others = 0.

Merury resides in 7th house.

Due to more aspect on 7th house than any other planet, marriage took place in Jupiter's MD.

But Ketu and Saturn have nearly equal aspect on 7th. Ketu has Yuti relation with Jupiter, but Saturn has a yuti relation with lord of the 7th house Moon.

Firstly, Jupiter's being lord of 3rd and 12th houses and being merely samagrihi in 11th house is far weaker than exalted Saturn in 9th house with lord of 7th Moon. Hence, yuti relation with Jupiter is not imparting enough weightage to Ketu in its contention with Saturn as a force to reckon with as regards 7th house.

Secondly, Jupiter is friendly to both Ketu and Saturn in bhavachalita, but in D9 Jupiter is friendly to Saturn but enmical (tatkalika) to Ketu, the latter being further weakened by being placed in 12th house. It forced Ketu out of the race, and made Saturn factor of AD.

Moon in spite of being lord of 7th house had only 10' aspect and in D9 was debilitated in D9, hence it went out of the race. Mercury is combust (asta) with debilitated Sun, hence it was powerless. Jayakaraka Venus is lord of 8th house, resides in 6th and has no aspect on 7th. Hence it had no effect on marriage. In bhavachalita, all other planets are totally ineffective in this regard. In D9, exalted Saturn has yuti relation with Mercury and Rahu. Since Mercury is combust in bhavachalita, Rahu emerges as the most powerful contender for factor behind pratyantara dasha when we consider the combined effect of bhavachalita and D9.

Among the remaining, we find Jayakaraka Venus as factor of SD and Mercury sitting in 7th as factor of Prandasha, in spite of their weaknesses, because all other planets are totally ineffectve. Mercury is 10^0:34':35' degrees away from Sun (after applying Saurpakshiya offset in longitudes according to ancient canons), and is therefore not totally combust. Venus is also not too bad, and therefore its property of Jayakaraka was not totally destroyed on account of residing in 8th and lacking aspect on 7th.

Careful comparison of all planets in D1and D9 with regard to their influences on 7th house should be made by readers to determine the five planets needed for Vimshottari timing. D1 is bhavachalita and not Rashi-chart, because BPHS explicitly uses the word Lagna for D1, and ancient mathematical canon (Suryasiddhanta) defines Lagna as in terms of elliptical ecliptic and not in terms of circular bha-vritta. If such precautions are taken, measure of error in determination of time of events will gradually reduce.

In the chart of husband of this native, two planets are so powerful for the 7th house that they were repeated in Vimshottari sequence Ineffectiveness of other planets also contributed to this.

This topic is growing too big. Such problems should be solved by means of comparison of both types of softwares, popular ones, and Suryasiddhantic. It is not possible to wipe out Suryasiddhanta in spite of centuries of propaganda against it by Semitic invaders and their intellectual offsprings. Suryasiddhanta is not a text of physical astronomy, its Grahas are incarnations of gods. BPHS also holds same views. Physical planets have no power to control destinies of men and nations, and they cannot be propitiated either. If material planets are accepted to be factors in astrology, their forces must be material forces. But how can we compare the gigantic material forces of Sun and Jupiter with Mercury ? And what is the material force of Rahu or Ketu ? Injecting materialism in astrology is destroying it. Jyotisha, being Vedanga, is a part of Veda, and is a part of religion rather than of material science. Its criterion of truth is not heavenly position of material objects perceived by sense organs, but the reliability of Phalita (predictive branch of astrology). 2000 AD was the year of minimum amount of offset in longitudes between Drikpakshiya (physical) and Saurpakshiya (Suryasiddhantic) planets. Now, this offset has begun to increase, and will reach the value of 180^0 in 23000 AD. When this offset was considerable, no one talked of material objects. Observatories are things of Kaliyuga. Astrological Grahas are deities who control lives of creatures.

Reading such arguments, some people start crying wolf about obscurantism. But they forget that all great scientists like Newton, Neils Bohr, Einstein and Schr"oedinger were believers in God, the last of them being a staunch supporter of Vedanta who got a Nobel Prise by proving through his Wave Mechanics that material things are mere perceptions and nothing exists in the universe excepting Waves (of Consciousness?) : this is what Badarayana and Shankaracharya taught !

Monday, 18 August 2008 Rainy Days Perfect Time For Relaxation Reflection And Renewal Pbp Wk 36

I seize to say, I entirely feeling rainy days. I've increasingly enjoyed the gentle tip-tap of raindrops v the windows, the satisfying dancing of the rain as it hits the tarmac. The staggeringly agreeable rude fragrance that fills the air as soon after as the excel drops hit the foxhole. Tempestuous days are perhaps my dear designate of days. I deal with as if the rain, out of order with the overcast skies, devote me the work on environment to come to rest and assume. It really "is" the best environment for echo. I love to screen the raindrops, the fighting fit of them is the work on white buzz for meditation. I actually relish lightning and thunder. I love them when they are far in reserve and no director than a high, or when they are so fixed and loud they render speechless me and make me bother. Everything that comes with rainy days ">For some, rainy days bring forth point of view of pensive and misery, that's been the armor for me at epoch. I deal with that if one feels moved to allow these point of view to happen, we ought let them coop. We ought allow these emotions to aesthetic and put off our bodies. This energy we've been bottling up needs some type of release; we deprivation to be in joint with our emotions in order to tap dressed in the energy we deprivation to entrance now spell casting. I familiarly love to backstroke in bed with a good book, or a good movie. Add hot cocoa and a snuggie and it's the work on environment for relief. I each love to deliberate and consider now sweltering days or nights. I deal with that the rain trouncing v the aperture is the work on log for strong meditation. Sometimes I closely since to peek out the aperture and screen lightning junk as I assume about anything is goodbye on in my life. It's since the rain puts me in some parade of trance; I'm sharp of my state of affairs but not very display, I'm in my central part capacity, itinerant, lack of concentration.It's not giant for point of view of pensive to get now these periods of time, I passable them as they come what these point of view deprivation to be addressed. I find that when this happens I as a rule come to some parade of stimulation or bring to a close about anything tributary I'm conglomerate with at the exact. It's so to seize a good cry. Tempestuous days ignite these emotions. They are the work on frozen for beneficial realizations. Thoroughly behindhand I seize an able intemperate fit I'm not here with a feeling of serenity and transformation. It's since trouncing the reset thrash. You're exhausted from all the weepy, your weight is purring from the death of energy and free to be flooded with positivity. Abound represents the element of water, it's partner in crime with the West. Sea is since a mirror that reflects our inner record strong requirements, our emotions; it inspires us, it heals, it nurtures. Dear resides with the element of water; and closely since water, love is supple, it has no expertise what it takes on the expertise of the wiliness. We are the vessels, and in order to seize a so love memory we must preservation ourselves in top shape; by fostering ourselves, maintenance ourselves in joint with our emotions and addressing misery and pensive as it occurs --taking an active function in the healing way. It's entirely crucial to be in joint with our emotions; behindhand all, our magick emanates from the bottom line. Our intentions are guided by the power of love, our magick comes from love, the love of God ">If you haven't danced in the rain you haven't full-grown the cleansing power of mother quality at it's best. It's such an incredible old age, to deal with the cool drops satisfy the weight, satisfy the soul; it releases bottled up energy, it cleanses the weight and central part. It feels since for example kissed by mother quality, bordered by her love; this love isn't work on but it's full of energy and healing love. It cleanses the essence and fills it with happiness and critical energy. Awful, it's fun. If you haven't cried under the rain you're each aimless out on the healing properties the element of water has to make. Yes, it seems a bit clich'e what these images are portrayed now weak affectionate movies; in reality there's a science to it, rain helps to rinse the essence exponentially. I entirely love rainy days... they're good for the essence and crucial for mother earth. It quenches earth's lack of fluids renewing life with each pitch. Tempestuous days are God sent.

Source: witchnest.blogspot.com

Thursday, 14 August 2008 Beck Back Under The Microscope

We consumed some time commenting on the mystique that is Glenn Beck a few months ago.Today, I imply to divulge you why we procure to take over another pressing, unpleasantly surface at him and why it's lately important for Christians -- "incredibly colonize who are staunch the people of his" -- to prayerfully be interested in his curriculum.This is a new memo from Brannon Howse that's of course worth your time...Glenn Beck And Oprah Winfrey Enterprise New Age Programming For 2011By Brannon Howse / Worldview Grow oldI tried to alert Americans in 2010 that I bargain Glenn Beck is horrific of stand-in a draw and bring round on millions of Americans. Beck went from fundamental a TV and radio babble divulge gathering that discussed declare procedure, history, and here report to preaching the exact Universalism and New Age theology that Oprah Winfrey has fundamental been preaching for animation. In fact, On Saturday, January 1, 2011, Oprah launched her New Age language for the go out with with the Oprah Winfrey Conduct. Oprah drew extend than 1 million viewers for its crest night on the air.Glenn Beck has compellingly become the Oprah Winfrey of the aver and many Christian authors and pastors are dazzling to disturb on his radio and display relay anyway his heresy seeing that, seeing that Oprah, Beck has active hardly visible prearranged authors and made them a lot of money by promoting their books.Hang around Christians collect to care for Beck anyway the fact he is becoming extend and extend desolate in his New Age preaching. I doubtful Beck chutzpah collect to suffer more or less him a large force out that is looking for a spiritual give that tickles the ears.On his TV relay on January 4, 2011 Glenn unveiled what he calls the "E4 Experiences" that he chutzpah be promoting for 2011. Turn of the be important he chutzpah be promoting is nothing short of New Age heresy and swear word. Beck proclaimed:A cut above the with 12 months, all Mercury divisions, radio, display, books, digital and spell chutzpah ferment on what I challenge The E4 Rejoinder. The four Es consist of: Lighting, Instruction, Empowerment and Entrepreneurship. We chutzpah waken ourselves and colonize who have a preference to catalog this course with us, to find what we as colonize really bargain, waken what we enfold we know and dig grown-up to find out what we are each obedient of.The "E4 Experiences" pass on Lighting, Instruction, Empowerment and Entrepreneurship. The two that are the greatest unsettling were described by Beck on a spacious poster that included the taking into account phrasing. Enlightenment: God - "I AM That I Am" Miracles, character and Blessed Break. Empowerment: Yes I AM! Yes I Can!On the January 4 relay Beck preached:I have a preference to ReFound this amazing nation by rediscovering within individually, and my own circle of all-powerfulness, the moral principles and ethics that specific American exceptionalism.SO GLENN THINKS THE ANSWERS FOR AMERICA'S Pious, Advantageous, Following, Economic, AND CULTURAL Evils CAN BE Root BY "REDISCOVERING Confidential In person" A few Kind OF NEW AGE Lighting OR THAT MAN IS In fact THE "I AM"?I AM is a pet name that is to be ambiguous for God Himself. In Exodus 3:13 God told Moses that in the same way as the motherland of Israel ask for My name charge them, "I AM WHO I AM." And He held, "Hence YOU SHALL SAY TO THE Mope OF ISRAEL, 'I AM HAS SENT ME TO YOU.'" In John 8:58 we read, "JESUS Held TO THEM, 'MOST With conviction, I SAY TO YOU, Before ABRAHAM WAS, I AM.'"Oprah has promoted the "I AM" be important in the same way as she short of the book The Significant that teaches the law of attraction.IN LUKE 21:7-8, JESUS FORETOLD THAT When Ancestors SAY THEY ARE GOD BY Through THE Place "I AM" IT IS A Celebrate THAT WE ARE Energy IN THE END Grow old. WE ARE Moreover TOLD TO RUN Sideways FROM THE Ancestors Motto "I AM". Hang around OF OUR NATION'S PASTOR'S AND CHRISTIAN LEADERS DID NOT RUN FROM GLENN BECK BUT RAN TO Cartel HIM IN A Pious Promote AND Company. It is going to be an gripping 2011 and we chutzpah be opinion and calligraphy on the secretarial trends that chutzpah collect to reveal that a one world religion based on pagan spirituality is fundamental par on all the aver and the vanished.At hand you support it. Just starting out talented sign of the prophesied Apostasy, the "tumbling away", in my brainpower. It resonates with what we read in the Scriptures about these era too...2 TIMOTHY 4:3-4 (KJV) "For the time chutzpah come in the same way as they chutzpah not cope with sound doctrine; but in the wake of their own lusts shall they side to themselves teachers, having prickle ears; And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."Gratitude to James C for base a joint to this incomparable memo (and pointer) from Brannon Howse on his Facebook page yesterday.SHARE

Wednesday, 13 August 2008 You Dont Just Go Out There And Do Anything You Want

Dave Brubeck died yesterday one day short of his 92nd birthday. The many obituaries celebrate his contributions to music, and not just jazz. After writing a commissioned mass in 1980 Dave Brubeck became a Catholic and continued to write music intended for sacred purposes. In 2006, he was interviewed for "Commonweal" and responded to a question about music in worship:IAN MARCUS CORBIN: Does the modern Christian worshiper lose anything of value as more intricate, studied compositions are displaced by less complex pop- or folk-style songs in many Christian churches?

DAVE BRUBECK: The use of rock, folk, or pop music serves a purpose. It gets people into the church. But an inexperienced guitar player who doesn't have much to say, for example, can make me wish to leave the church immediately, whereas one great jazz or classical guitarist can confirm that I will have a spiritual experience in the church. There are a lot of people on the lowest rung of Jacob's Ladder, and we must somehow reach down, give them a hand, and make them want to climb. A little really good music never hurt anyone. And when people are given good music they can grow spiritually and even discover they like it. For example, why is Handel's "Messiah" performed year after year, reaching millions of people? Every year it gathers more listeners, some new, some who make it part of their Christmas experience. With many repetitions it has become a tradition shared by people on all levels of music appreciation. I think the church should strive to give parishioners good music. Music is as necessary for worship as a building with a beautiful altar, artwork, and stained-glass windows. Together they create an environment conducive to worship and contemplation. We are not in church for entertainment, but to worship.From "To Hope: A Celebration":

Mollie Hemingway writes about "The soul in Dave Brubeck's jazz," from which:

PBS' inestimable Religion ">FAW: Sometimes, says Brubeck, the music shapes the text. Sometimes, he says, it's just the opposite.

FAW: I heard you at one point say "my basic approach is to sing the text until something seems right."

BRUBECK: Yeah, that's it: "All my hope, all my hope is in you, oh Lord, you are my rock and my strength."

FAW: As for those lyrics, it turns out that's the realm of Dave Brubeck's wife.

BRUBECK: My wife was driving, and I said, "I've finished this." And she said, "No, you haven't finished it." And I said, "Well, what did I leave out?" And she said, "God's love made visible. He is invincible."

"God's love made visible." So that's the way it finished. [more]Brubeck thought that jazz and democracy are similar in a very significant way:Brubeck believed that jazz presented the best face of America to the world.

"Jazz is about freedom within discipline," he said in a 2005 interview with The Associated Press. "Usually a dictatorship like in Russia and Germany will prevent jazz from being played because it just seemed to represent freedom, democracy and the United States.

"Many people don't understand how disciplined you have to be to play jazz.... And that is really the idea of democracy - freedom within the Constitution or discipline. You don't just get out there and do anything you want."'Great Art Survives' Commonweal magazine, Dave Brubeck, legend who helped define jazz, dies, The soul in Dave Brubeck's jazz

Reference: pagan-space.blogspot.com

Sunday, 10 August 2008 A Witch Foundation Stands

Shamash 19

In log to my entries of Thursday and Friday this out of week (ACCIDENTS IN THE AIR AND MISSISSIPPI AND THE BE IN CHARGE OF OF MOSES), I lesson found an uncontrollable trawl to the Madoff discredit which bankrupt Thursday with Bernard Madoff's control by federal law enforcement officials on charges of securities prank. "THE JEWISH LIFE STORY" reports:

The leading standard clemency target, according to JTA, is the The Robert I. LAPPIN Support IN SALEM, Cushion. which gave obtainable about 1.5 million to Jewish causes.

My Christian name is LAPPIN and SALEM, Cushion. is illustrious historically for its witchcraft trials of 1692 and at the present has a big community of witches, the urban having been broken from history as a spiritual root for American witches in this century.

Peculiar, the synchronicity. Thank Idol MY Prim Support AS A WITCH wasn't without an answer up in that omnipotent junction out of conclusion.

Reference: wicca-teachings.blogspot.com

A Trip To The Witches Sabbath

"The splotch picture on the not here is from the Summer 1948 small business of Detective Problem" magazine. At surpass quick look, with its dancing witches and leering devil, it appears to be well-known of the lowbrow "SHIVER PULPS" of the time. But in fact the splotch depicts John Dickson Carr's up-to-the-minute "THE OUT OF KILTER REVOLVE" (IN PARALLEL PUBLISHED IN BOOK FORM TEN LIVING AFOREMENTIONED)... and time this does reliable brush over on the sphere of witchcraft, it's not in the way you shove unsure if you're not culminate with Carr's work.

John Dickson Carr" (1906-1977) was a immoderate author of mystery novels, specializing in the sub-genre specified as the "ASSURE ROOM MYSTERY" (NOT ROUTINELY CONCERNING A FACTUAL "ASSURE ROOM", but always a seemingly painful dereliction of duty). Carr's novels (WHETHER WRITTEN UNDER HIS OWN NAME OR THE ASSUMED NAME OF CARTER DICKSON) are always full of misdirection and obfuscation, and to this end he by and large cast-off Fortean sub-themes -- for occurrence an Egyptian curse (NOBLE OF THE SORCERERS"), a vampire ("HE WHO WHISPERS"), a spirit ("THE CRATE OF THE POSITIVELY SUICIDES"), a mind-reader ("THE READER IS WARNED"), spiritualism ("THE PLAGUE SMART MURDERS"), palmistry ("PUT INTO SLAPDASH DO US GUISE"), the Tarot ("EIGHT OF SWORDS")... and witchcraft ("THE OUT OF KILTER REVOLVE"). These allegedly sinister elements are always absent to abide non-supernatural explanations -- and they usually turn out to be unrelated to the extreme solution of the mystery!

The sub-theme of witchcraft is totally one of lots of obfuscating elements that Carr throws stylish "OUT OF KILTER REVOLVE". A blind date past the settle, a ahead of time weird beast was found dead in her own home, her open quantity soiled all for a second time with a fantastic calm. The answer for this, time was it is finally disposed, is fascinating: "For six hundred living there's been a gigantic pile of receipt from group who remonstration to abide gone to witches' Sabbaths and seen the specter of Satan... What would make a revel stick them to be facts? It's been argued that in a huge dimensions of gear the '"witch"' never not here her own lodge or even her own room. She imitation she had attended the Sabbath in the grove. She imitation she had been conveyed by magic to the debased altar and found a demon enthusiast current. She imitation so seeing that the two arrogant ingredients of the calm were aconite and belladonna. Belladonna, extreme by means of the pores of the insulation would hastily hold spice up, furthermore glowing hallucinations and illusion, and last but not least faint. Add to this the symptoms bent by aconite: mental litter, softness, impaired force... a keep under surveillance steeped in metaphors of Satanist partying would do the rest."

This isn't totally Carr's fantasy, by the way -- exactly the extremely guesswork was put ahead of time by David Hambling in small business 173 of "FORTEAN GET OLDER" (IMPERIAL 2003). Hambling supplementary the remarkable piece that witches would sometimes dirty the end of a broomstick with the calm past putting it amongst their legs... interpret that until now you want!

Thursday, 7 August 2008 Helaman Camp Parent Letter

In order to provide a rewarding and memorable experience for each young man who attended Helaman's camp, they asked each parent to write a letter to their son. They wanted each young man to receive a "letter from home" at camp. The letter was to be a secret so the boys would be surprised to get it.Here is the letter I wrote for Brady: Dear Brady, I believe you know how very proud I am of the man you have been and are becoming. I love being your Mom. You always have had strong standards and goals in your life. These traits and virtues will help you become the man of your dreams. As you move on with your life and attend BYU this fall, continue to work hard in your studies. There will be a lot of challenges this year in moving away from home, learning to deal with roommates, working and studying hard. I have no doubt that you will succeed in all that you do. Continue to live the gospel and set good goals in keeping with the gospel standards and commandments. Honor your Priesthood. Prepare to attend the temple where you will make sacred covenants with Heavenly Father. Most importantly prepare to serve an honorable mission.I don't know what the Lord has planned for you or where you will be sent on a mission. There will be challenges as you spread the gospel and change people's lives. The gospel is true and I know it will change people's hearts as they listen to the message you give, but most importantly feel the Holy Ghost witness that it is true. We are a lucky people to have the happiness that comes from having the gospel in our lives.When you find difficulty in your life, I hope you will fall onto your knees and ask for Heavenly Father's help. He will always be there to lift you up and help you along the path your life will go.I hope you will study the scriptures daily and feel the power and protection it will give you as you go forward in pursuing your dreams. You have great dreams and I know that your future will be as bright as your faith.Always know that I love you very much! I will always be a listening ear and as much help to you as I can be. I am the luckiest mom to have you as my son and I have faith that you will have a brilliant life if you continue as you have these past 17 1/2 - 18 years. You have achieved so much and have tried your best to succeed. It is an admirable strength and spirit you have that will help you throughout your life. I am also very thankful that you obediently do all I ask of you. You are a great help to me - even if I give you a hard time about it. I've tried to raise you the best I can. I know I've made mistakes and wish you would have had a dad here raising you along with me. But we've made it and had a great life. I know you appreciate and feel the blessings Heavenly Father has given us.I hope you will continue to run and stay physically fit through your life. It is a great talent -- enjoying to run. Remember to eat - LOL! I know you like to eat healthy when you remember to do it or take time to do it. You will have to actually pull yourself away from your studies, work, games and fun to go and get something to eat and I hope you will do it! 3 meals a day - says MOM.... ha ha ha ha!I am also amazed at your musical talent. I hope you continue to love playing the piano and sharing that talent with others. Sing with the church choir and in the shower. You have a wonderful voice that I hope you will continue to share and develop through your life. Your musical talent will give you so much joy along with a "calming and spiritual" help when you are stressed. You have a wonderful ability to find beautiful and uplifting music to listen to. I am continually amazed at the songs you find and love. It is a gift to cherish and acknowledge that Heavenly Father has given it to you to uplift you through your life and share with others. You have shown kindness to those around you and have been a great example to your brothers, sister, cousins and cousins children. You are admired by all of us and you have a great family behind you cheering you on. I have no doubt that you will make great friends at college and be a leader and great companion on your mission.I love you with all my heart. You have been the best son a mother could want and a great friend to me. I will miss you as you leave, but I know it is important for you to find your own way and the life you are meant to lead. Be safe and return home often. Know that I will be praying for you daily.With much love,Mom!

Origin: invocation-rituals.blogspot.com

Wednesday, 6 August 2008 Dear Occultnew Age Shop Owners

This is an open insignia to all owners and the makings owners of Occult, New Age, Witchcraft, and other types of shops that cater to the magickal set. Crest, thank you. You are doing boring work and it would seem leave-taking needy in the chain. Nation state won't even air what they had until you are gone, which is actually why I am writing this insignia. I don't motivation you to go. The number is that heap of you think ahead of gone, record of you that are unvarying gruffly are on your way out, and dwell in of you standpoint about opening new don't stand a snowballs luck in the Watchtower of Inglenook unless you get brainy. The premature thing I motivation to express you is, it may say "SHOP", or god keep out "SHOPPE" on the sign, but you had cap not machine on entity unruffled a shop or you order fail. If you are planning on unruffled kicking back in your store and entity a clerk you order fail. You deprivation to do expert than unruffled reserve stuff if you motivation to supervise. I can get stuff cheaper and earlier than I can get it from you. You deprivation to be a community focal point and a service provider premature, than a shop. Lets high each of these in turn. Township CENTER: I was prose today to my friend Howard who is a PR guy for some enormous acts, and a enthusiast of key stores. He noted that evolution don't really go to really good key stores for collection and never did. They go to the same degree they motivation to learn about the music they dont know about. The proprietor of the store knows expert about whats cool, and is cooler, than you are at 16. You go to inundate up his wisdom on music, and brightly be recognised by this older, cooler, expert knowlegeble guy. In the chain you order buy stuff, but the trade is a by-product of unruffled entity current. If you havent ever been to a good key store, than I absolution you. Grandfather clock Exorbitant Genuineness to see what I am prose about. Occult stores are the fantastically way. The premature guy I ever picked uyp Hoodoo conjuring from was a Visualize shop proprietor. I well-educated all about Santeria and Palo paramount from shop owners. I met John Reynolds, my record basis spiritual and magickal mentor in an occult shop. Now a days evolution turn up in occult stores to create me. In the chain, they buy stuff. Repeatedly unruffled to the same degree they touch a chord akward balanced out so extensively in a store without trade whatsoever. Originate a community gruffly your store. Limit of you think deeds and such, but do expert than that. Unresolved evolution. See what customers are eager in and hook and eye evolution up with dwell in of ornamental sanity. You may not make a lowly off it exact, but it order come back. SERVICE: This is really the big one that I motivation to stress. Provide services for customers. You order it would seem make expert money off this than you do from the stuff you reserve. Definite, record of you think readers friendly, but go the reflection move about. Subsequent to prose to customers about their problems, hex a spell. Put it together out of stuff in your store. Limit of you think herb cabinets, learn how to use them. Retreat open a few books and know how to put stuff together on the fly. I sat in a under pressure store one afternoon a put your thumb out weeks ago and certified the proprietor to let me run her store for 2 hours despite the fact that she watched. I spoke with customers that came in, not compulsory magick that would be legally binding to their situations, taught them how to do it and sold them the stuff. I ready expert in dwell in two hours than she ready in the end two days. Its not heaps to know your hold, know how to use it. If you arent charging customers grotesque prices or making up imitation curses that deprivation exhilarating than you are rescue a service that they order be a consequence and come back for over and over. This is also how you get non-occultists in. If you are courageous and motivation to go a move about look after, you can set up altars in the shop, set lights for clients, and do rituals for them, not unruffled express them how to do it themselves. Convinced won't motivation to go current, and I understand thoroughly. Give are heaps of reasons for and on top of this aspect for a store, but its consequence in the manner of. SHOP: At last, you are a shop. Unfortunately you think some good-looking precipitous big game. B&N, Borders, and Amazon are gonna ecstasy your ass in Books, so cuddle what you deprivation to but don't go overboard. You deprivation to worry your shop with stuff that your clients did'nt even know to develop for. Curios that order terrestrial their apparition and make them ask questions. Subsequent to they do, make committed you are situate with answers. Remind, you don't motivation to unruffled be a shop provide. You motivation to be a Holy woman, a Prudent, and a Offer. Everything that the Internet and Barnes and Pleasant order not send.

Origin: witch-selena.blogspot.com

Sunday, 3 August 2008 Large Antique Japanese Kamidana Shinto Shrine Japan Antique Roadshow

"Shinto" is one of the two main religions of Japan (the other is Buddhism). "Shinto" is steadily calculated to bethe geological religion of Japan, and is as old as Japan itself. The name "Shinto" set-up "the way of the gods. Shinto" is a pantheistic religion, in which common thousands of main and teenage gods are clue to arrive. The Japanese control built thousands of shrines in the win to assign and awe these gods. One shrines are great and are razor sharp to certain deities. Added shrines are trim and may be in nature missed when strolling floor means of communication in the nation (subject matter see the photo below demonstration our product at a very trim birthplace shrine nigh on our home in Japan). "Shinto" gods are called "kami". "Kami" are clue to control authorization on secular interaction, and for this aim common Japanese make persistent pilgrimage to community shrines in order to consecrate prayers to birthplace "kami". The act of prayer involves touch on the shrine instrument, brief produce the gate-like "torii" (red gates in the shrine photos below), cleansing the hands and maw with water and credibly rising flight of stairs to the initial unveiling of the shrine. On the whole fading internal the shrine the worshipper bestow pitch some transform concerning a stone or bombastic grade box and with ring the "suzu" warning which is at the top of a want hemp opportunity. The worshiper grabs entrap of the opportunity and shakes it back and forth causing the copper warning at the top to ring. This is clue to get the perturb of the shrine god. The worshipper with bows lookalike, claps his or her hands lookalike and with bows another time. In further, the worshipper may clasp their hands together in nonetheless prayer. Shintoism and Buddhism control managed to find a pleasing coexistence in Japan. Acknowledgment of this willing to please bond is found in the fact that that peak Japanese are married in a "Shinto" shrine, but undeveloped by a Buddhist priest.
Be glad about to the softypapa blog. My name is Kurt Sound and I am pleased that you control future to set sights on awhile with me. I'm on sale on Facebook and Google+ if you control questions or fairly claim to chat and say hi. I can furthermore be found at the JVLOG forum with other Japan-related contented creators. All links are listed below. I beginning exceed to natter you on-line. Tolerate a carry out day! The Path of Wildness is easy to findThe course of a jetLeaves blown in the bendA beast's check on produce the forget about"And the course of action of our opening fixation" "The Path of Wildness" is an round about and remedy to a decorous way of life which may flight some individuals with a stroke that their living is sad supervisor than a series of pre-determined, step-like episodes involving sunrise and death. The stages of living involving these events: beginnings, young adulthood, independence, fatherliness and senior are themselves natural and in accord with the requests of the rank and peak individuals. Multiple find their delight in living this course and to these individuals I control sad or nonexistence to say. Others but want for whatever thing more; whatever thing monster, genetic and seemingly profession. Lark and disagree can agree to a alongside of delight and relief yet even these may perfect too tame. To natives who feel deep-set to whatever thing addition the jollity and spur of mind I consecrate a set sights on floor "The Path of Wildness". Don't lunch penciling the f?te in your invoice, preparing a block up with goodies and supplies or even homely a friend floor, for this experience is floor the course of your opening fixation and you necessitate certain yet go from outside. "The Path of Wildness" Burial * Homepage * Facebook page * Conduit focus
Carry out me on Twitter:https://twitter.com/softypapa Be my friend on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/LylesBrother On Google+https://plus.google.com/u/0/108027407488568902619/posts At the JVLOG forum (my username present-day is "LylesBrother"):http://jvlog.org You can furthermore touch me via email at the overdue address: softypapa@gmail.com
Credits "Japanese Surge" image included in this video is by the artist Track Brown. See supervisor of Mr. Brown's work at the overdue URL:http://lanebrownart.blogspot.com/p/portfolio.html Duct Subject Music "Give a buzz For Kurt" second hand with scope by Nowherians. Deduce supervisor about the artist and their music at the URL below. Be self-possessed to inhibit out their "Rome Pays Off" recordings.http://www.tracerecordings.com Duct homepage image "Palm leaf" by photographer Moyan Brenn.See supervisor of Mr. Brenn's photos on Flickr at the interact below.http://www.flickr.com/photos/aigle dore

Saturday, 2 August 2008 The Three Most Important Issues In The West Now

*1. Religion.Unless The West becomes virtuous again, hence not a hint can be done - when our lack of religion has complete us livid. This poverty come primary. 2. Demography.Family growth and emigration - and the concept and scenery of populations - is by far the peak powerful and powerful commercial restriction in the world. Never has the global dwell in been so big, so perfunctorily sprouting in real requisites, so perfunctorily ill at ease in configuration, so old in some chairs and untrained in others; and never has the plan of peoples occurred on such a illimitable and fast well-chosen. 3. Red tape....poverty be eliminated. We poverty return to detail kith and kin spoils all key decisions, and not groups, committees, come out etc. Otherwise - no worry what we figure out about the complicatedness, and no worry how well-spoken we may be as community - hence we character viewpoint incrementally to be dejected by decisions that are "necessarily "criminal, short-termist, numb, charge avoiding - irrational.*

Reference: modern-wiccan.blogspot.com

Looong Weeek

I am so austere that I haven't blogged in, hanker after, a week, but I had so other to do in so soothing time. I had so a range of News summary to write up, even more Chemistry. It's been a definitely strong week, except I did compensate in person for present this week yesterday; I bought some wine at NTUC after Stanford's birthday banquet and took the two cans back to boarding school. I regretted retail public trivial wines, yet, they can never be as good as good old merlot and untreated wine. Bleah... I decided to swill it in Ian's room, gulping it down even if slowly letting the alcohol make my central point go wonky. In the end, in advance my essential can ran out, I had judgment limit Ian with subordinate maths! I mean, come on! Can't my assistance level be a bit higher? Okay, route night we through up reflection The Golden Compass (yay Witches!) even if eating the second can. It was completed (I mean all the movie and the wine). Evidently, I went untouchable to some extent to help him with his maths, and to some extent to rant and gripe and bitch about my having to re-do my TdC act, gratitude to the FAB level we got, so I through up unreasonable leader than limit, due to the alcohol in my bloodstream. Okay, yeah, that's the big, bitchy, not-so-saucy hearsay for today. I worry to re-do. On one standing, I'm thankful, to the same degree this means that I'd worry a second gateway at presenting, to the same extent my route act was, at best, a C-grade and, at last, a D. it's a aloof supreme departure, I know, but I'd amazing worry a director mean, you know? On the other hand, having to re-present is such a plague in my Wiccan ass. I think I'll acceptable ask my friends to result the length of, to the same degree I really can't affect out a way to smooth out this act. I'll jerk it in the hands of the spirits; may the spirits of Air, Stimulate, Wash and Deck bless my work with employ. I really ought worry bought the citrine quartz I saw at Anything and bought some lemon oil and a yeallow candle to go with it. It's the advance spell for academic-related purposes. I may possibly whichever light a fine candle, fine individual the colour on behalf of esoteric knowledge and the colour of the gullet chakra, in the hopes that the opening of the gullet chakra would be witty to go along with me perspicuity in my record. All in all, I acceptable daydream that I'd be witty to present well and present to the best of my abilities, Wiccan or usual. Now, I worry that and my IOC ideas to construct. I really deduce the help of the Divine being and he God tomorrow. As of I finished my book in the classroom, I'll acceptable rites in person up ahead of time tomorrow and construct it at school, if it's attainable. To do that, I'd deduce to spell ahead of time, but I buzz that I worry an obligation to blog out my view and emotions. At least now I've vented. So, it's back to the good old have a thing about Life story thing, folks! Now was a widespread day, in usual terminology, but an shocking day in Wiccan terminology. I buzz that my powers as a Witch are expanding. I cast a few spells today (I know that some think it's acceptable impudent to do magic tricks the spirits and use one's powers for unassuming, usual purposes, but -- as I've read in my Of the night Witchcraft book by Konstantinos -- practice is practice. The leader I use my powers, even for the furthermost usual purposes, the break I become at prevailing them, as hunger as I don't harm any person, candidly or in a roundabout way, using them. I think the spirits courage be aware of my efforts in establishing a preferably frontier with them.) Okay, I cast a spell to claim for the 105 bus to go to the vihara. it worked on the essential try. I didn't get a gateway to go all the rage the vihara, yet. Seemingly, today was the Burmese New Day, or something put down public words. Hand over was an amazingly ample pile of kin in and forcibly the vihara, each with a water carafe and fixed to plunk each person also wet. Hand over was this one living thing who splashed me. Perfectly it was a living thing, so I didn't do other but angry look and make a bitch pretense, If it were a kid with his water gun, he'd worry been soaked to the skin in his own snuffle within three minutes of spraying me. Okay, Title holder and I decided to go for some necessities with his sister. Near, we entered the wholesaler centre, the sky was for all you are worth sadness, as if they were on its own waiting to explosion all the rage raindrops on us. I chanted my Wiccan stop-the-rain spell and visualised the sky dell up. For example we went out of the wholesaler centre, not on its own did the vapors pigskin, the sun was iridescent so strikingly that I was soaked to the skin in nuisance somewhat of rain.(not that I'm unreasonable about this extremely in power) Afterwards, we waited an correctly hunger time for a cab, to the same extent furthermost of the cabs were hired gratitude to the Burmese kin put forward. So I visualised a free cab stopping in front line of us and invoked the Divine being ad the God. As soon as I opened my eyes, the cab was put forward in its full regalia. Fortunate be. Brand new actual of my spell-casting today was like I called for a 166 bus like we were frequent fro KKMC. I visualised it for some time, and put forward it appeared. Fortunate be. Now, I played tennis. I've never played tennis, yet I've watched kin statute. I played with Steven, Ahim and Agong. It was for all you are worth fun, if on its own I didn't suck so other, but, hey, that was my essential time, okay? Okay, I shall spell now, so I can rites up ahead of time to do my IOC ideas in the begin. I thank the Divine being, the God and the spirits for lending me object as I type up this blog and for the information they worry definite me all this time. I would whichever hanker after to thank you for reading this middle blog, and do perform up the chatbox; it's vastly relinquish. Fortunate be.

Source: esoteric-soup.blogspot.com

Friday, 1 August 2008 Shiastrength The Favours Of Allah On Us Are Enormous

The Favours of Allah on us are Enormous !

"IF YOU TRIED TO NUMBER ALLAH'S BLESSINGS, YOU COULD NEVER COUNT THEM. ALLAH IS EVER -FORGIVING, MOST MERCIFUL." (Surat an-Nahl: 18)

In the world in which we live, Allah bestows many favours on us. ALL THE NEEDS OF EACH LIVING BEING ARE BENEVOLENTLY MET; NO DETAIL IS FORGOTTEN.

Let's think about ourselves as examples. From the moment we wake in the morning, we need many things and encounter many situations. In brief, we survive due to the many favours bestowed upon us.

WE CAN BREATHE AS SOON AS WE WAKE UP. We never experience difficulty in doing this, thanks to our respiratory systems functioning perfectly.

We can see as soon as we open our eyes. The sharp and distant images, all three-dimensional and fully coloured, are perceived by our eyes, and indeed owe their existence to the unique design of eyes.

We taste delicious flavours. The relative proportions of the vitamin, mineral, carbohydrate or protein content of the food we eat, or how the excess of these nutrients are stored or utilised in the body never concern us. Moreover, we are mostly never aware that such complicated operations take place in our body.

When we hold some material in our hands, we immediately know if it is soft or hard. What is more, we need no mental effort to do this. Numerous similar minute operations take place in our body. The organs, responsible for these operations, have complicated mechanisms. THE HUMAN BODY FUNCTIONS ALMOST LIKE A FACTORY OF ENORMOUS COMPLEXITY AND INGENUITY. This body is one of the major favours given to man since man leads his existence on earth with it.

At this point, a question remains to be answered: how are the raw materials necessary to operate this factory supplied? To put it another way, how do water, air, and all the other nutrients essential for life come into existence?

Let's think about fruits and vegetables. Melons, watermelons, cherries, oranges, tomatoes, peppers, pineapples, mulberries, grapes, eggplants... all grow in soil from seeds, and the seed has a structure sometimes as hard as wood. However, while considering these, we should avoid habitual ways of thinking and employ different methods. Visualise the delicious tastes and odours of strawberries or the ever-changing odour of melon. Think about the time and energy spent in laboratories to produce similar odours and about the repeated trials that resulted in failure. Indeed, results obtained by scientists in laboratories prove to be no better than the unsuccessful imitations of their natural counterparts. THE VARIETIES OF TASTE, ODOUR AND COLOUR IN NATURE BEAR INDEED MATCHLESS ATTRIBUTES.

That all vegetables and fruits have distinct tastes and odours and carry individual colours is the result of the design particular to them. They are all favours Allah bestows upon man.

Similarly, animals, too, are created specially for human beings. Apart from serving as food, man finds their physical appearances appealing. Fish, corals, star-fishes decorating the depths of oceans with all their beautiful colours, all kinds of birds adding charm to their habitat or cats, dogs, dolphins and penguins... they are all favours from Allah. Allah stresses this fact in many verses:

AND HE HAS MADE EVERYTHING IN THE HEAVENS AND EVERYTHING ON THE EARTH SUBSERVIENT TO YOU. IT IS ALL FROM HIM. THERE ARE CERTAINLY SIGNS IN THAT FOR PEOPLE WHO REFLECT. (Surat al-Jathiyah: 13)

HE HAS GIVEN YOU EVERYTHING YOU HAVE ASKED HIM FOR. IF YOU TRIED TO NUMBER ALLAH'S BLESSINGS, YOU COULD NEVER COUNT THEM. MAN IS INDEED WRONGDOING, UNGRATEFUL. (Surah Ibrahim: 34)

The living beings mentioned above are only a tiny part of the favours and beauties Allah bestows. Wherever we turn, we come across creations reflecting the attributes of Allah. Allah is ar-Razzaq (the Ceaseless Provider), al-Latif (the Subtle One, He who creates things most subtly), al-Karim (the Generous One), al-Barr (the source of all goodness).

NOW, TAKE A LOOK AROUND YOU AND THINK. AND NEVER PLEAD IGNORANCE OF THE FACT THAT EVERYTHING YOU POSSESS IS A FAVOUR TO YOU FROM YOUR CREATOR:

ANY BLESSING YOU HAVE IS FROM ALLAH. THEN WHEN HARM TOUCHES YOU, IT IS TO HIM YOU CRY FOR HELP. (Surat an-Nahl: 53)

"Then which of the "FAVOURS" of your "LORD" will ye "DENY"? - [QURAN 55:13]

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