Nostradamus - A Review & Discussion - Guantanamo Bay

I was sent the book Nostradamus - The Complete Prophecies for the Future by Mario Reading to review. I thought why not make a project out of it. So what I plan to do is take a quatrain from the book hopefully in order (be patient with me, I have a lot going on) and share them here. We can talk about them, discuss them or you can just give me your opinion of the prediction.

 You can find out more about the author here and pick up the book on Amazon here.

Subject - Guantanamo Bay

Quatrain 1/59
The exiles are deported to the islands
When the new leader proves even crueller
These are murders; two at a time they will be questioned
until they cannot stop speaking


The author here tells us that the exiles are deported is a direct description of a transfer of prisoners to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.  He alludes that "to some" Bush was crueler than Saddam resulting in countless murders.  Though not specifically stated as torture, it would seem that the final line is taken to mean that.

Simple, straightforward and no pomp or circumstance.  Now, did Nostradamus predict this?  I think that looking at this quatrain it could really be applied to any warring times.  I don't see how this is directly connected to Guantanamo Bay.  What do you think?

Nostradamus - A Review & Discussion - 9/11

I was sent the book Nostradamus - The Complete Prophecies for the Future by Mario Reading to review. I thought why not make a project out of it. So what I plan to do is take a quatrain from the book hopefully in order (be patient with me, I have a lot going on) and share them here. We can talk about them, discuss them or you can just give me your opinion of the prediction.

First let me say the book is printed really well. The cover is like a soft suede and the pages thick. Just the way I like a good book. The introduction and and preamble give a nice background on the the author, which was nice because I was not familiar with his works. You can find out more about the author here and pick up the book on Amazon here.


The book is divided by subjects, so we'll try to follow along the same path.  This first is the Twin Towers Disaster of 9/11

Translation from Quatrain 1/87

Earthshaking, a fire from the center of the earth
Will shake the towers of the New City.
As a result, two great rocks will fight a long war,
Until Arethusa springs bloody the river afresh.


Translation from Quatrain 10/49

The worlds garden near the New City,
In the roadway, hollow mountains,
They will be seized and plunged into the sewers,
People will be forced to drink the sulpher-poisoned waters.


As many other theorists suggest, Mr. Reading points this to be the prediction of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York.    The author goes on to tell us that the reference to the "fire from the center of the earth" is related to the jet fuel with was the primary accelerant and the "New City" is "New York City".  He also sees a connection with the myth of Arethusa and the springs of Ellis, which equate to Ellis Island in NY.  The last reference in the book is that "Two great rocks will war for a long time" and this the author says is related to Christianity and Islam.

In the second quatrain 10/49, the author states that the hollow mountains in the roadway are the Twin Towers, and the reference to them being plunged into the sewers equates with the leveling of them after the planes struck the building.  The poisoned waters both literal and figurative for life in NY and in the US as a whole after the attack.

First, I don't recall a time when Christianity and Islam were not at odds. So I really don't think the 9/11 attack changed that. I've only just started the book so I've not decided on how I really feel about the authors translations and applications to modern day.  I'll save that for the final review of the book


  So what do you think, did Nostradamus predict 9/11?

Etsy Shop Reopens!

I've decided to re-open my Etsy shop.  Be sure to head over and check it out.  Add me to your favorites.  With the charges associated with eBay and PayPal, Etsy is the lesser of two evils.

GoFundMe-WTF

This morning I woke to the images of my friend Julie Baker who posted a note posted on her door about her yard decorations. A neighbor said she was relentlessly gay triggering the viral twitter hashtag #relentlesslygay.

First let me say that, I totally support Julie.  I think that the note was posted is complete bullshit and shouldn't be allowed. That being said, I want to address the GoFundMe Culture.  Tonight as I post this.

Julie stands at over 9k in her efforts to raise money to color her house in rainbows.

Screenshot - gofundme.com

Just after I saw Julie's gofundme, I saw this one.  Ironically enough shared by another Julie on my friends list.

Looking at the two campaigns I can totally see that both are very worthy.  I would like to say however that a funeral vs a rainbow painted roof might be a bit more pertinent.  But who am I to say. Everyone is entitled to donate at they see fit. As a lesbian, people may think that I would be more in the camp of painting a roof.

Faith's Gofundme stands here:

55.00 after 3 days.

While I agree with confronting bigotry and weeding out hatred.  I don't think that a rainbow roof is the way to do it.  I really hope that at some point the 9K at this point will go for a few pieces of lawn decore and then a serious donation to the LGBT Youth group or maybe even something to benefit LGBT marriage groups.

I get being out loud.  I get telling bigots to F off.  But please...  please use this as a catalyst to real change.

*Note:  I am not saying that a hetro funeral equates to gay yards.  I'm just saying, let's make sure we're doing things that make a real difference.

Re-Post - Mulengro - Envy

I've been participating in a book club reading the book Witchcraft Theory and Practice by Ly de Angeles.  Thus far there has been a great deal of introspection.  Understanding my own motives and my own responsibility for what I bring into the world.

I thought it might be interesting to do a few blog posts around the seven faces of mulengro and see how they play out not only in the magical world but also the mundane.    I'm starting in no particular order.


Mulengro is the name of an entity that is like an alien barb; one that has become an out-of-control arrow that pierces generation upon generation with its poison. It feeds on its own likeness and people are its hosts.  - Ly de Angeles - Witchcraft Theory and Practice pg 29

Envy
synonyms: jealousy, covetousness; resentment, bitterness, discontent; the green-eyed monster

So what does it really mean?  Envy can be a motivator.  You can use this power to have something that someone else has (Keeping up with the Jones') as a way to get yourself out of bed everyday and work to obtain that goal.  It can also be a monster, being so caught up in the moment that you purposefully seek out to destroy someone is just that monster.

We are each responsible for our own actions.  It is upon us to act responsibly.  People will see your intentions or motives from the actions that you present.  The only one who will actually know however, is you.  You are the owner of those actions.  

When I get up in the morning, I do my morning ritual.  I make coffee, I feed the cat and I light my candle.  I burn the sage to cleanse my space and then go out and feed my colony outside.  I feel the air on my skin and sometimes am able to snap a picture of the perfect sunrise.  I create my ads for the day on my business account and then start work at the mundane job.  Sometimes I have meetings, sometimes I test.  I do this job to keep my hobbies up and pay the bills.  I throw clay and make jewelry.  I spend my weekends trapping cats.  I have a fantastic hubby and wonderful family.  I appreciate each and every one of them.  I can honestly say that the only thing I am envious of, I think is a whirlpool bathtub.  I'd really like one of those.  Other than that, my life is complete.  I have everything I need.  

Being able to be happy where you are, in my opinion is the key to keeping envy at bay.  I am content that I am not participating in mulengro with respect to envy.   Now I just need to learn how to address the actions of others, when they are perpetuating it on me.

Original Post - http://confessionsofamodernwitch.blogspot.com/2014/10/mulengro-envy.html

RePost - Mulengro - Greed

I've been participating in a book club reading the book Witchcraft Theory and Practice by Ly de Angeles.  Thus far there has been a great deal of introspection.  Understanding my own motives and my own responsibility for what I bring into the world.

I thought it might be interesting to do a few blog posts around the seven faces of mulengro and see how they play out not only in the magical world but also the mundane.


Mulengro is the name of an entity that is like an alien barb; one that has become an out-of-control arrow that pierces generation upon generation with its poison. It feeds on its own likeness and people are its hosts.  - Ly de Angeles - Witchcraft Theory and Practice pg 29

Screenshot - Google

synonyms:avarice, cupidity, acquisitiveness, covetousness, rapacity; materialism, mercenariness; rarepleonexia; informalmoney-grubbing.

So what does that mean?  When I think of greed, I think of people taking more than they are entitled to.  Or people who take more from a pot where there is little to go around without thinking of the rest of those in need.  The bigger picture if you will.  If we break down the definition however, it really doesn't mean taking more than one's share.  It means an intense and selfish desire for something.

So how does that relate to magic?  I think this may be related to those who do all they can to take, take, take from the energy and give nothing in return.  Those who never toss anything back into the pot.  I noticed in the reading that one of the antonyms is temperance.  Temperance is one of the five virtues of Hecate.  When I first started reading about the virtues, being from the United States, I only associated temperance with abstaining from alcohol thanks to the Temperance Movement, which led to prohibition.

Seeing this now in this context helps me move a bit further into my understanding that temperance, the opposite of greed, is more associated with generosity and not to keeping away or abstaining from something.  As part of my role as Torchbearer with the Covenant of Hekate, my goal is to do what I can to embody the five virtues.  In understanding how that role works towards my complete understand of Witchcraft, I know that because I am doing what I can to display temperance, greed is no where in my path.  As part of my gift back I have a few community service projects that I work on.  I do both local work with animals and of course my online work with several groups as well.

So what do you think about greed as it relates to witchcraft.  I can see how in the mundane, greed can be the downfall of a civilization.  What about in the magical world?


Original Post - http://confessionsofamodernwitch.blogspot.com/2014/10/mulengro-greed.html

Re-Post - Mulengro - Deceit

I've been participating in a book club reading the book Witchcraft Theory and Practice by Ly de Angeles.  Thus far there has been a great deal of introspection.  Understanding my own motives and my own responsibility for what I bring into the world.

I thought it might be interesting to do a few blog posts around the seven faces of mulengro and see how they play out not only in the magical world but also the mundane.


Mulengro is the name of an entity that is like an alien barb; one that has become an out-of-control arrow that pierces generation upon generation with its poison. It feeds on its own likeness and people are its hosts.  - Ly de Angeles - Witchcraft Theory and Practice pg 29

Photo Credit - Google Search

synonyms: deception, deceitfulness, duplicity, double-dealing, fraud, cheating, trickery, chicanery, deviousness, slyness, wiliness, guile, bluff, lying, pretense, treachery; informalcrookedness, monkey business, monkeyshines

antonyms: honesty


Deceit has to be the one face of mulengro that I can say honestly makes me crazy.  I never fully get why people have the need to lie.  Deceit is pretty much lying.  I am one of those people who believe that if nothing else you can always tell the truth.  The truth is not always pleasant.  It isn't always what you want to hear.  Sometimes the truth hurts.  However it doesn't change the fact that it is the truth.

A few years ago I got into a discussion about "truth tellers" with someone on Facebook who said to me (well typed to me) "You use the truth as a weapon to hurt others."  Now let's look at that for a second.  Granted there are times when I have said things a bit harsh.  I tend to be a bit over zealous. I'm not hateful about it though.  I'm not going to walk up and tell you that that dress makes your ass look big.  But if you ask me, I may say that, I don't think the dress is flattering to your figure.

But if you create a training platform and want professional feedback, or want an honest opinion about something and not someone to blow smoke up your behind, then I'm your gal.


So back to my "truth teller" discussion.  She said to me, "You use the truth as a weapon."  For the longest time I walked around thinking, I don't use it as a weapon. I don't attack people with it.  I don't hunt people down with it.  I use the truth as a way to combat deceit.  Then it hit me!

The reason my "truth teller friend" saw my truth as a weapon was because her lies were a shield.  She was creating a defense based on a lie and in this instance yes, my weapon of choice was indeed the truth and it would destroy the lie every time.    I still smile a bit when I think about how poetic this whole thing turned out to be.

Honesty is the antonym of deceit.  I do everything in my power to always approach life with honesty. Honesty in my relationship with others and in my relationship with myself.  I don't offer what I cannot afford to lose.  I do not give when I cannot do without.  Understanding that others can and will deceive you is tough for those of us who spend our days working in an honest state.  Learning that it can happen and refusing to participate in that is a tough lesson to learn.

Recently I had a situation where another acted unjust to me.   In a neutral setting, what should have been something strictly professional, the other person brought in their mulengro and removed things that belonged to me.  I felt angry and hurt that they did not have the ability to act professionals and set aside differences for a mutual cause.  I was reminded that not everyone sees the world the way I do.  I was reminded that even though I see an obvious divide between business and professional. Public and private.  Right and wrong.  Others may not see that same line or they may choose to ignore that line.  I cannot expect (expectations again) others to act or react the way I would.

It is still a learning process.  I don't think I will ever get to a point to where I cannot learn something new.  I always want to be in the learning/growing state, honestly.


Original Post - http://confessionsofamodernwitch.blogspot.com/2014/11/mulengro-deceit.html

Re-Post - Mulengro - Guilt

I've been participating in a book club reading the book Witchcraft Theory and Practice by Ly de Angeles.  Thus far there has been a great deal of introspection.  Understanding my own motives and my own responsibility for what I bring into the world.

I thought it might be interesting to do a few blog posts around the seven faces of mulengro and see how they play out not only in the magical world but also the mundane.

Mulengro is the name of an entity that is like an alien barb; one that has become an out-of-control arrow that pierces generation upon generation with its poison. It feeds on its own likeness and people are its hosts.  - Ly de Angeles - Witchcraft Theory and Practice pg 29

Photo Credit - Google

synonyms:  culpability, guiltiness, blameworthiness; wrongdoing, wrong, criminality, misconduct, sin
antonyms: innocence

Guilt has a special place in my heart and mind.  As a student of the law and a devotee of the Goddess Hecate, I can say in regards to justice, guilt has reared its head many times.  I struggled a bit with looking at guilt from the perspective of mulengro.  I couldn't wrap my head around the guilt as a noun being what I should avoid or guilt as a verb.  I grabbed a water and had a chat with my sister to figure this out.

When we think about guilt we have to look at it as being a burden.  It is something that weighs  you down.  My sister helped me understand that this is what the base emotion is around it.  Before when I thought of guilt I thought of what happens when we go to court, or when my mother wanted me to do something for her because, "I was the oldest."  I then looked back at Witchcraft Theory and Practice page 29 - "These faces (behind each of them are the other six) are all vices of disrespect."

When I think about guilt and how it relates to my relationship with my mother I can immediately see the others there.  I see assumption there, I see greed and envy.  They are there, just out of site, hiding behind guilt.  There, through the sides I see deceit and denial waiting for their opportunity to burst in and join the clan.  I get it!

So as we look at this guilt, this weight that is placed on us by others to carry around, or the weight that we assign others, we have to understand that the feeling, that nagging feeling of obligation is something that we choose to carry. Let me expand on that.

Today if my mother came to me and said, "You must do this for me because you are my oldest child and it is expected of you"; I would flatly deny her.  After years and years of her guilt and her weighing me down with that burden, I can today stand up and say, "No, I will not do that."

Why?  Why not just do what she asks and move on?  I think it falls back to the burden.  If we keep adding more and more on our plates eventually we fill up.  Even with expectations from others. (HA! There it is again)

Today, I don't participate in double meanings or mixed messages to trick others.  I speak my mind and say exactly how I feel.  I ask for help directly and accept what those are willing to freely give.  I don't expect anyone to always be there for me instead I appreciate when they are.  I think that is a start on learning how to recognize any guilt I may be sending out.

Original Post - http://confessionsofamodernwitch.blogspot.com/2014/11/mulengro-guilt.html

Re-Post - Mulengro - Expectation

I've been participating in a book club reading the book Witchcraft Theory and Practice by Ly de Angeles.  Thus far there has been a great deal of introspection.  Understanding my own motives and my own responsibility for what I bring into the world.

I thought it might be interesting to do a few blog posts around the seven faces of mulengro and see how they play out not only in the magical world but also the mundane.    I'm starting in no particular order.


Mulengro is the name of an entity that is like an alien barb; one that has become an out-of-control arrow that pierces generation upon generation with its poison. It feeds on its own likeness and people are its hosts.  - Ly de Angeles - Witchcraft Theory and Practice pg 29

Image Source - Google Search Result

synonyms: supposition, assumption, presumption, conjecture, surmise, calculation, prediction, hope

antonyms: astonishment, consummation, despair, doubt, doubt, dread, enjoyment, fear, realization

I think of all the faces of mulengro I have studied to this point, expectation has to be the most difficult for me.  I am guilty of placing expectations on others.  Generally I am a pretty positive and motivated person.  I try to get things done in a timely matter.  I give everything I do 100% and do what I can to make sure that everything I put out there is strong, positive and complete.  I also do not expect anyone to do anything more than what I would do.  There in lies the problem.  When I expect people to work on my schedule I run into issues.  Not everyone is online as much as I am.  Not everyone likes to get things completed as early as I do and not everyone sets such high expectations for themselves.

This has led me into issues dealing with other witches in the community.  There are some in the community that I have issue with.  Generally those that lie or those that try to pit people against one another.  I like to call them shit stirrers.  These types and I mesh like oil and water.  I deal with them directly and expect them to deal with me in a similar manner, but alas they do not.  These are the passive aggressive, vague status message posters or the ones that like to run you down with you blocked so you can't see it, but they can appear to be ballsy to their friends.  My aversion to and desire to call bullshit on their antics has put me in the "mean girl" status many time.

I also expect people to behave professionally and in an adult like manner.  You can see where that is an obvious fail.  :P

I've learned that I cannot hold others up to what I would "expect" myself to do in situations.  I have to learn that others do not have the same guidelines, goals or expectations of themselves and my desire to have them behave in a certain way is inappropriate.

However, I often wonder if the fact that I have no expectation of them but to behave how they would behave is an expectation in itself.  Meaning, X has lied to me in the past.  I expect X to lie to me.  X tells me a lie.  I am not surprised.  By not being surprised by X's lie, isn't that an expectation that X will lie?  

And is there a point does expectation actually protect us?  

X has stolen from me in the past.  X wants to come to my house.  I know X will steal.  I don't allow X in my house.  My items are safe.   

Simply because someone has done something in the past does this mean they will do it always?  I think there is a point of gray within expectation.  We have to be able to protect ourselves while not placing an unrealistic result from our human interactions.

http://confessionsofamodernwitch.blogspot.com/2014/11/mulengro-expectation.html

Re-Post Mulengro - Denial

I've been participating in a book club reading the book Witchcraft Theory and Practice by Ly de Angeles.  Thus far there has been a great deal of introspection.  Understanding my own motives and my own responsibility for what I bring into the world.

I thought it might be interesting to do a few blog posts around the seven faces of mulengro and see how they play out not only in the magical world but also the mundane.    I'm starting in no particular order.


Mulengro is the name of an entity that is like an alien barb; one that has become an out-of-control arrow that pierces generation upon generation with its poison. It feeds on its own likeness and people are its hosts.  - Ly de Angeles - Witchcraft Theory and Practice pg 29

Image Source - Google Search Results

synonyms: contradiction, refutation, rebuttal, repudiation, disclaimer; negation, dissent
antonyms allowance, approval, grant, OK

Wrapping my head around this one has been a challenge.  To me, to refute something or to offer a dissent is an opinion.  So what does Ly mean here?  What does it mean from the perspective of mulengro?

As I'm reading this I can see where the other forms pop their heads in as well.  The denial of a lie for example or the denial of greed could fall here.  How does denial come into play in your life?  What do you do to stop it?  Remember the only way to move forward and defeat the powers of mulengro is to not participate in it. What do you do to stop it?

http://confessionsofamodernwitch.blogspot.com/2014/11/mulengro-denial.html

RePost - Mulengro - Assumption

I've been participating in a book club reading the book Witchcraft Theory and Practice by Ly de Angeles.  Thus far there has been a great deal of introspection.  Understanding my own motives and my own responsibility for what I bring into the world.

I thought it might be interesting to do a few blog posts around the seven faces of mulengro and see how they play out not only in the magical world but also the mundane.    I'm starting in no particular order.


Mulengro is the name of an entity that is like an alien barb; one that has become an out-of-control arrow that pierces generation upon generation with its poison. It feeds on its own likeness and people are its hosts.  - Ly de Angeles - Witchcraft Theory and Practice pg 29

Image Source - Google Search Results

synonyms: (1) supposition, presumption, belief, expectation, conjecture, speculation, surmise, guess,                            premise, hypothesis; conclusion, deduction, inference; rareillation, notion, impression
                  (2) synonyms: seizure, arrogation, appropriation, expropriation, commandeering,                                       confiscation, hijacking, wresting

antonyms humility, modesty, unassumingness, unpretentiousness



Looking at the word assumption it has two meanings.  One is to take control of or assume power of and the other is more like speculating.  Taking goes back to greed and speculating is more like expecting.  So what does Ly mean here.  If this is to be the poison barb which is is?  Or is it both?

Appropriation, commandeering, hijacking are all seen as negative. We are taking someone or something out of the power position and replacing them.  They are being taken down. That isn't to say that sometimes these things are needed if a power in control has become corrupt.  Going back to expectation which to me lies hand in hand with assumption we can see that when you assume an answer to a question for example, you don't know the answer.  To get the answer you need to ask the question.  Now this is something that I can relate to.

Many times people whisper around the water cooler and gossip about things without going directly to the source.  If you have a question ask.  That is the only way to get the answer.  It may not be the answer you're looking for but it will, none the less, be the answer.  Assuming that you have the answer, or guessing what that answer is leaves you with the possibly of being incorrect.

I see a lot of this since the Facebook craze has hit.  Generally as a society we had a direct contact with people.  Now we have words on a screen and we can infer what we "think" the speaker is saying. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.  At some point we have to let some of these things go.

So what do we do, people are making passive aggressive statements.  You are not named but you know they are talking about you.  What do you do?  How do you approach it without assuming?  My answer, ask them directly.  This takes the assumption out of it.  Will they tell you the truth?  Probably not.  You have to remember that a person who is making statements like this and not coming directly to you with their issues is probably devoid of any real desire to have a relationship and you're better off just packing up and going home.

So what do you do to stop assumption?  Do you find it is indeed a poison barb?





Original Post
http://confessionsofamodernwitch.blogspot.com/2014/12/mulengro-assumption.html