Now that Neo Paganism has been in place for about 60 years, one can look back and see the twists and turns which has led the Neo Pagan community to its current state of apathy. For those that have not been inundated by the plethora of 101 books generated by members of the Neo pagan movement; Neo paganism took root with the advent of the illustrious Gerald Gardner. It has been clearly established that this gentleman took elements of Catholicism, Masonry and the practices of the High Magicians of the Golden Dawn and created an embellished amalgamation of what he claimed as witchcraft. The truth is that nothing could be further from the tenets of reality, than his definition of such a time honored path known as the Craft. Before I go any further, this is not an attempt to bash Gardner, for he is not alone in perpetuating such a myth. When Gardner’s coven dissolved in the late 1950’s, several of his former followers stepped in and continued the myth that Gardner perpetuated. I can hear the jaws hitting the floor over this statement. But let’s take a pragmatic look at what Neo Paganism has brought to the concept of paganism. The first of course are the mind numbing trove of 101 books that has stymied any true progress in the mystical arts. How many times can such basic knowledge be regurgitated and presented as the next must have book? Apparently, such reincarnations have no end in sight, for once you have read one such book, you have basically read all of them. What purpose does it serve a fledgling pagan community to be kept in a constant state of ignorance? What happened to the intense curiosity and desire to evolve mystically and spiritually that pagans of yore subscribed to? The Craft offers so many mystical and spiritual rewards to those who seek them. And yet with the current Neo Pagan mindset, many folks are sadly unaware of such gifts. This is not to say that the old school pagans of the world have given up such a mindset in favor of the current lack of experience and knowledge which serves as pillars of Neo paganism.
This brings us to the next failing of Neo paganism.
Though Gardner traveled the world and was keenly aware of the fact that there have always been pagan folks around the world, when he created his self serving concept of paganism he created a mindset that ignored the world in favor of those of European descent. His claims of reviving a culture that had fallen to the wayside are pure bunk. And such blinders have closed the door to those teachers who may have infused a true sense of understanding the delicate balance of nature and the creative magic associated with such knowledge. Anyone who is not a member of Gardner’s vision is viewed with skepticism and is ignored as a fraud, though the true fraud is those who engage in this very mindset.
As we continue to take an honest appraisal of the Neo pagan movement, it is this very same mindset which has attempted to create an elitist class of so called pagans. There are those who claim to be better than everyone else because they claim lineage to a man who at best was simply an embellisher. And whose movement fell apart only to be revived a couple of years later. This same group now postures itself as the learning curve for paganism, though such a claim is hardly if at all recognized by old school pagans. You know; those pagans from around the world who were ignored in favor of the fledgling upstarts that we now know as Neo pagans. Probably the greatest accomplishment of neo Paganism has been the years of time and energy that has been spent forcing a symbol that belongs to neither those of the Abraham religions nor Neo pagans onto tombstones in what are primarily Christian graveyards. That symbol of course is the pentagram. This may come as a surprise to some, but the pentagram is not a Wiccan symbol, it has been in use by various belief systems for over 5,000 years. It can even be found within Christian churches and graveyards all over Europe. And for most of its existence was seen as a positive symbol of health and good will, among other positive aspects. In fact it was a former Catholic turned pagan; Eliphas Lévi, who first gave the pentagram a negative connotation. This was time and energy that may have been better utilized in actually building a viable Neo Pagan community. For the most part, this particular group has become a profit oriented organization which like its Christian counterparts even has missionaries who for a price will travel to and fro heralding the tenets of this recently formed religion.
This brings us to yet another erroneous assumption that Neo paganism has created. Paganism is not all about being a religion. Some aspects of true paganism such as witchcraft, shamanism and many other forms of paganism are about spirituality in which its members seek out the mysteries of life as individuals. Such folks do not need nor want the mind and soul numbing control that a religion requires in order to exist. Such an erroneous mindset seems to have been lost on such folks who see paganism as solely a religion.
And so you may ask, if this article is not about bashing a particular mindset, than what is its purpose?
The answer is that as on who has spent his entire life as a Traditional witch, my personal love for the Craft in particular and the pagan/Neo Pagan community in general, knows no bounds. And when one sees an ongoing problem, it is irresponsible to sit by and say nothing. If you had a child that needed help with a learning situation, would you not speak out yourself? And if one is too short sighted to acknowledge such a problem exists, and then there is no chance of ever finding a solution or perhaps a more comprehensive approach that benefits the many and not just the few. Don’t get me wrong, I firmly believe that the only right religion/spiritual path is the one that works for the individual.
But by the same token we should be wary of the tendency to create a one size fits all as preached by certain groups within the Neo Pagan community.
As an analogy, if you seek to learn a foreign language, which in essence, paganism is to many folks who were formerly of one of the Abraham religions, would you want to learn just a few simple phrases or actually learn to speak fluently? With the current state of Neo Paganism, the community is stuck on just a few phrases, repeated over and over again, if you will. As a community, we need to break free of the baby steps and seek out a more diverse and in depth knowledge of paganism that is sorely lacking at this point in time under the current mindset.
Every group/individual brings something to the table, but no one group/individual has all of the necessary answers for the continued growth of our community. When one group/individual takes the lead, we become stagnant in our magical abilities and spiritual growth. Perhaps it’s time to realize that there are in fact pagan communities that have been around for eons prior to the mid 1950’s and to seek out the wisdom that such enlightened folks could provide us, given the chance. But to entice such wise teachers to respond, the Neo Pagan community must first learn to put aside its inherent arrogance and ideas of self grandeur.
The Neo Pagan community must be willing to admit that the current state of stagnant growth in the mystical arts is un-acceptable. And that its members crave so much more. Wasn’t this one of the reasons so many folks left the Abraham religions to walk the path of paganism?
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Friday, December 11, 2009
The Yule Oddessy
Don’t read this if you are easily offended. I am about to offer a very pragmatic observation in regards to Neo paganism and the celebration of Yule. I’ve been walking the path of witchcraft for nearly 50 years. And about this time every year I begin to reflect on the hypocrisies of the Neo pagan movement when it comes to Yule. I don’t say this as a judgmental comment, but rather as a realistic observation. It is quite clear that Neo paganism is inundated with folks whose mindset is that of one of the Abrahamic religions in general and Christianity in particular. And that such folks through no fault of their own have been indoctrinated from birth with such views. This is not a bad thing if such folks were to continue to follow the beliefs that they were inundated with throughout their lives. The problem arises when such folks leave their former belief systems and decide to become pagans. Why would this create a problem you may ask? The problem as I see it is that such folks tend to try and align their new found pagan beliefs with that of their former belief system. And Yule is a glaring example of this paradox. This alignment is attempted even though paganism and the Abrahamic religions are diametrically opposed in beliefs. Far too much energy is expended by so many Neo pagans in an effort to validate themselves in the views of their friends and family members who often retain their beliefs in one of the Abrahamic belief systems. And when it comes to Yule this massive expenditure of energy comes to the forefront, laying bare the hypocrisies that so many, though not all, Neo Pagans engage in. Historical evidence makes it clear that the Christian Jesus was born (if at all) during the springtime. And that circa 313, it was decided to celebrate his birthday on Dec 25th in a blatant attempt to obliterate the birthday of the Babylonian God, Tammuz. In other areas and cultures he was known as Horus or Mithra. Each of these pagan deities was worshipped as a Sun God. And yet Neo pagans in many instances are content to ignore the outrageousness of superimposing an alleged God from their former Abrahamic upbringing over that of a god that has undisputed pagan connections. Earlier I mentioned that it is primarily former Christians who engage in this hypocrisy. The reason for that comment is that of the three primary religions that make up the Abrahamic religions, the Hebrew folks don’t believe that the Jesus has been born as yet and the Muslims do not celebrate Christmas. That leaves the Christians who by their own words have declared themselves as the only true religion in the world. So why in this world would someone who calls themselves a pagan want to celebrate a holiday that was created solely for the purpose of obliterating established pagan beliefs? Of course such folks will give such excuses as “it’s for the kids”. But is this really a valid reason? If one is actually going to be a pagan would you not want to teach your children the values and beliefs of paganism? And was it not the Yule celebration that originally established the concept of gift giving that the Christian holiday of Christmas has now claimed as its own? Others would say that it is to develop an acceptance of their pagan beliefs by their Christian family members and friends. And yet how realistic is this concept? Paganism was established thousands of years prior to the advent of Christianity and so why do those of pagan beliefs have to pander to such a new found belief system? And as already mentioned the Christians recognize no other belief systems as being equal to their own. So why expend so much energy on such a fruitless effort by celebrating Christmas in lieu of Yule? Yes, there will be many such folks who will claim that they celebrate both Yule and Christmas. But then again does celebrating two diametrically opposed holidays realistic? And let’s be honest with ourselves folks. As far as Yule goes, many of these same folks will gather with others who lay claim to being pagan for an hour or two, will recite a few words off of a piece of paper and then turn their real thoughts and energy to Christmas and all that it involves. Such as buying a tree, decorating, buying gifts, visiting folks and so forth. Little of this massive amount of energy directed towards Christmas is given in the same manner to the celebration of Yule. Is this hypocrisy really the way to validate the pagan community? Or does it simply continue to feed the insecurities and hypocrisy that such actions create and which are the trademark of Neo paganism as we know it today? No one is making the suggestion that one should be openly or even quietly hostile to the Christmas celebration. What I am saying is that if we are to ever validate paganism as an established belief system then we must stop seeking such validation from those who do not follow the pagan path. If such folks want to celebrate Christmas then so be it, it is their right to do so. By the same token, Neo pagans should assert their right to celebrate Yule as it was done for thousands of years before our celebration was hijacked. I realize that it is very difficult to separate ones mindset from a former immersion in a particular belief system and then to change from that mindset to one that is the completely opposite in views and understandings as they apply to the world around us. But then no one is forced to become a pagan. That is an individual choice made by the person who now proclaims them to be just that. If paganism is ever going to be seen as a valid belief system as it was prior to the advent of Christianity, then those folks who adhere to such an identity must first be true to themselves before they can be true to others. And Yule, with its established celebration of the joyous arrival of the Sun God might be a good place to start. There is a massive amount of energy expended each year by Neo pagans in connection with Christmas, perhaps we may want to re-direct such energy to a celebration that actually is connected to paganism and not so much to one that is opposed to pagan ideals. Let’s be honest, how many Neo pagans do you know that celebrates Yule within a void of silence and yet have no issue with going all out in favor of Christmas? And so one has to wonder, is such folks really desiring to follow a pagan belief and lifestyle or is it just a façade that is cool to claim to be involved with? As a lifelong witch I fully embrace my heritage and hope that others who walk under the banner of paganism do so as well. And to those folks I wish each of them a very spiritual Yule…
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Abraxas, God or Demon
When one mentions the word “Abrasax” there are oftentimes, conflicting views which arise. To some he was seen as a God, to others as a demon, and yet to others as an amalgamation of both. And so I have endeavored to present the more commonly accepted views of Abrasax. You may know of still more interpretations not noted within this article. But at any rate as a pagan, I personally believe that we should always be students of life. And as such we should always be prepared to open the next door awaiting before us.
Throughout the various beliefs associated with Abraxas, he was often described as having the head of a lion or in some cases a cock, which at times bore a royal crown, along with a dragon's tail, and serpents in lieu of legs. There are many interpretations attached to the word “Abrasax”. According to the “Basilidians”, he was the Supreme God, for the Greek letters that forms his name adds up to the number of 365 which according to their beliefs in turn corresponds to the number of days in a year. Each day of the year according to the Gnostics, represents a “circle of creation” which in turn has its own individual spirit assigned to it. Basilides was a Gnostic Christian teacher from the second century CE who taught in Alexandria Egypt. It is thought that when Carl Jung wrote his “Septem Sermones ad Mortuos (The Seven Sermons to the Dead), he was in effect, paraphrasing Basilides. His treatise is in effect a three stage development of God as understood through the eyes of humans. Very basically these three stages begin with god as a single entity who then transforms into a separation of god and devil, which then becomes a unified entity of both god and devil. The Basilidians also believe that it was Abrasax who sent Jesus Christ to do his bidding here on earth. The word Abraxas was the name used by the Gnostics to denote the unspeakable name of the Supreme Being. This is a practice found in other belief systems such as the Judaic practice of using the term “Yahweh” as a term for the unspeakable name for their god. It is established knowledge that the word Abraxas (Abrasax or Abracax) was often found engraved on certain gem stones, which were called Abraxas stones. These in turn were used as amulets or charms. Such stones contained the name “Abraxas” and/or other mystic figures and/or groups of letters. The initial spelling of the word as seen on the stones was "Abrasax" According to Gnostic cosmology, the seven letters spelling its name represent each of the seven planets, which within the Gnostic belief system are the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The word Abraxas is thought by some to be the origin of the word “abracadabra”, though this word also has other sources cited as being its origin. The name is also found in the Gnostic text, “Coptic Gospel of the Egyptians” which in turn contains the “Holy Book of the Great Invisible Spirit”. Throughout the centuries, Abraxas has been variously described as being be an Egyptian god, a demon, and/or to represent God and Satan in one entity and thus the dual nature of its essence.
The name Abraxas also is also found in the Greek Magical Papyri, which consists of the following sections.
Acquiring a Supernatural Assistant
Papyri graecae magicae I.54
Papyri graecae magicae III.1-59
Papyri graecae magicae IV.1-25
Papyri graecae magicae IV.1227-64
Papyri graecae magicae IV.1716-1870 ("The Sword of Dardanos")
Papyri graecae magicae VII.429-58
Ecloga Ex Papyris Magicis: Liber I
Ecloga Ex Papyris Magicis: Liber II
Ecloga Ex Papyris Magicis: Liber III
The Greek Magickal Papyri has to do in part with the summoning of demons and thus may be the root of the belief that Abraxas was a king of demons. Whether Abraxas was a god or a demon, I don’t know. But then I personally see demons as demigods whose comprehension and goals may not be on the same level of reality as perceived by humans. When the actions of such other worldly beings become at odds with that of humans, then humans tend to view such entities as evil or demons if you will. But then who commands validation in such situations? Humans who are but naïve babes in the grand scheme of things or those entities who came before us? Such a question can only be answered by each individual as pertains to their understanding or lack of such matters, beyond their immediate sense of awareness. It should be noted as part of this treatise on Abraxas, that in 1913 CE, Aleister Crowley wrote the “Gnostic Mass of the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica” in which the name of Abraxas is invoked as part of this ritual. One of the interesting aspects of this OTO ritual is that it must be performed by both a HP and HPS of whom the latter is required to officiate while skyclad. You as the reader may draw your own inferences from this requirement. At any rate Abraxas is one of those entities who is shrouded in mystery as to origin and/or purpose. And as with such mysterious entities, there are certain attributes that may or may not be applicable. A lesson that may be drawn from this is that there truly is no right or wrong way, only that which works for the individual. Oftentimes, we as pagans are quick to cite such tenets, but then often as not, we are quick to make assumptions about what is right or wrong for others based upon one’s own comfort zone. If pagans are to ever create a community where those who follow a mystical path are able to coincide with others of parallel beliefs then perhaps such a lesson should be brought to the forefront of our awareness. For a problem can only be resolved if it is recognized and accepted as such, for denial only leads to more of the same.
Throughout the various beliefs associated with Abraxas, he was often described as having the head of a lion or in some cases a cock, which at times bore a royal crown, along with a dragon's tail, and serpents in lieu of legs. There are many interpretations attached to the word “Abrasax”. According to the “Basilidians”, he was the Supreme God, for the Greek letters that forms his name adds up to the number of 365 which according to their beliefs in turn corresponds to the number of days in a year. Each day of the year according to the Gnostics, represents a “circle of creation” which in turn has its own individual spirit assigned to it. Basilides was a Gnostic Christian teacher from the second century CE who taught in Alexandria Egypt. It is thought that when Carl Jung wrote his “Septem Sermones ad Mortuos (The Seven Sermons to the Dead), he was in effect, paraphrasing Basilides. His treatise is in effect a three stage development of God as understood through the eyes of humans. Very basically these three stages begin with god as a single entity who then transforms into a separation of god and devil, which then becomes a unified entity of both god and devil. The Basilidians also believe that it was Abrasax who sent Jesus Christ to do his bidding here on earth. The word Abraxas was the name used by the Gnostics to denote the unspeakable name of the Supreme Being. This is a practice found in other belief systems such as the Judaic practice of using the term “Yahweh” as a term for the unspeakable name for their god. It is established knowledge that the word Abraxas (Abrasax or Abracax) was often found engraved on certain gem stones, which were called Abraxas stones. These in turn were used as amulets or charms. Such stones contained the name “Abraxas” and/or other mystic figures and/or groups of letters. The initial spelling of the word as seen on the stones was "Abrasax" According to Gnostic cosmology, the seven letters spelling its name represent each of the seven planets, which within the Gnostic belief system are the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The word Abraxas is thought by some to be the origin of the word “abracadabra”, though this word also has other sources cited as being its origin. The name is also found in the Gnostic text, “Coptic Gospel of the Egyptians” which in turn contains the “Holy Book of the Great Invisible Spirit”. Throughout the centuries, Abraxas has been variously described as being be an Egyptian god, a demon, and/or to represent God and Satan in one entity and thus the dual nature of its essence.
The name Abraxas also is also found in the Greek Magical Papyri, which consists of the following sections.
Acquiring a Supernatural Assistant
Papyri graecae magicae I.54
Papyri graecae magicae III.1-59
Papyri graecae magicae IV.1-25
Papyri graecae magicae IV.1227-64
Papyri graecae magicae IV.1716-1870 ("The Sword of Dardanos")
Papyri graecae magicae VII.429-58
Ecloga Ex Papyris Magicis: Liber I
Ecloga Ex Papyris Magicis: Liber II
Ecloga Ex Papyris Magicis: Liber III
The Greek Magickal Papyri has to do in part with the summoning of demons and thus may be the root of the belief that Abraxas was a king of demons. Whether Abraxas was a god or a demon, I don’t know. But then I personally see demons as demigods whose comprehension and goals may not be on the same level of reality as perceived by humans. When the actions of such other worldly beings become at odds with that of humans, then humans tend to view such entities as evil or demons if you will. But then who commands validation in such situations? Humans who are but naïve babes in the grand scheme of things or those entities who came before us? Such a question can only be answered by each individual as pertains to their understanding or lack of such matters, beyond their immediate sense of awareness. It should be noted as part of this treatise on Abraxas, that in 1913 CE, Aleister Crowley wrote the “Gnostic Mass of the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica” in which the name of Abraxas is invoked as part of this ritual. One of the interesting aspects of this OTO ritual is that it must be performed by both a HP and HPS of whom the latter is required to officiate while skyclad. You as the reader may draw your own inferences from this requirement. At any rate Abraxas is one of those entities who is shrouded in mystery as to origin and/or purpose. And as with such mysterious entities, there are certain attributes that may or may not be applicable. A lesson that may be drawn from this is that there truly is no right or wrong way, only that which works for the individual. Oftentimes, we as pagans are quick to cite such tenets, but then often as not, we are quick to make assumptions about what is right or wrong for others based upon one’s own comfort zone. If pagans are to ever create a community where those who follow a mystical path are able to coincide with others of parallel beliefs then perhaps such a lesson should be brought to the forefront of our awareness. For a problem can only be resolved if it is recognized and accepted as such, for denial only leads to more of the same.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Kuan Yin
Quan Yin is considered to be one of the most universally beloved of deities not only from the Buddhist tradition, but many other traditions as well.
She is also known as Kuan Yin, Quan'Am (Vietnam), Kannon (Japan), and Kanin (Bali), She is seen as the embodiment of compassionate and loving kindness in its purest form.
One of the aspects that I personally find interesting about Quan Yin, is that she represents the Goddess and Divine Mother aspect of Buddhism. Buddhism is not considered a religion but rather a spiritual path to enlightment. Kuan Yin epitomizes the ideal of "Mahayana Buddhism" in her role as "bodhisattva" (sanskrit). Bodhisattva literally means "a being of Bodhi, or enlightenment," who is destined to become a Buddha but who has foregone the bliss of Nirvana with a vow to save all of the children of God.
And thus this description exemplifies the aspects associated with Quan Yin.
I don't agree with all of the parameters of Buddhism, but as with all beliefs religious and/or spiritual, there are certaun aspects which one can find personally appealing.
When one looks at Tibetan Buddhism it is found that Quan Yin is seen as Avalokitesvara, which is her male form of embodiment. It is thought that the current Dali Lama is an incarnation of Avalokitesvara. Buddhist mythology tells of Avalokitesvara being born from a ray of light that sprang from Amitabha Buddha's right eye. He immediately spoke the words, "Om Mane Padme Hum". This is one of the mantras by which one invokes within the Buddhist tradition. According to my research there are 357 such incantations that are attributed to Avalokitesvara. This is confirmed by the Saddharma Pundarika Sutra (Sutra of the Lotus Blossom of the Fine Dharma).
Amitabha is the principal buddha in the Pure Land sect, a branch of Buddhism found in East Asia.
It is thought that the female form of Avalokitesvara, or Quan Yin, originated in the twelfth or thirteenth century CE in both, China and Japan. It is believed that the Buddhist monk and translator Kumarajiva was the first to refer to the female form of Kuan Yin in his Chinese translation of the Lotus Sutra in 406 CE. Because there were thirty-three appearances of the bodhisattva referred to in his translation, of which seven are female, the number thirty-three has come to be associated with Kuan Yin.)
An interesting parallel here is that the male aspect of Kuan Yin in the Christian religion; Jesus Christ, chose to briefly serve as a matyr before moving on to the concept of pure enlightment, whereas Kuan Yin is committed to her responsibilities until the very last human has reached enlightment before her.
Thus the christian aspect has the male form putting himself first while the Buddhist female aspect waiting to serve alll others prior to herself. An interesting parallel in self sacrifice and endurance to service.
One of her most noted positions in the celestial sphere is as a member of the board of karma.
As the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Kuan Yin is compared to or identifies with many compassionate female figures found within many divergent belief systems, including the Virgin Mary from the Christian belief system.
She is often depicted as carrying the pearls of illumination and is sometimes shown pouring a stream of healing water, the "Water of Life," from a small vase. It is said that with this water, devotees and all living things are blessed with physical and spiritual peace. She is also depicted as holding a sheaf of ripe rice or a bowl of rice seed as a metaphor for fertility and sustenance. The dragon, an ancient symbol for high spirituality, wisdom, strength, and divine powers of transformation, is a common motif found in combination with this Goddess .
Other associations or depictions include her image as a many armed figure (a depiction often found in Buddhism), with each hand either containing a different cosmic symbol or expressing a specific ritual position, or "mudra". This is intended to characterize Kuan Yin as the source and sustenance of all things. Her cupped hands often form the "Yoni Mudra", which symbolizes the womb as the door for entry to this world through the universal female principle. Many miracles have been ascribed to Kuan Yin over the ages. As a virgin Goddess she naturally protects women and will offer them a servitude in the form of religious life as opposed to marriage. She is also a patron of childbirth.
And again, unlike her male counterpart in the Christian belief system, she is the ultimate Goddess of Mercy. She demands nothing in return for such mercy other then a spoken request. She does not seek servitude as a prerequisite for such acts of mercy, but gives it freely without any constraints.
Her love for humankind is unwavering and without strings. A lesson that humankind would do well to understand and indeed to institute as a tenet of our characterization as a species.
And in fact if there are any prerequisites to following this particular deity, it is the desire to devote oneself to becoming more loving and compassionate with both the self and towards others.
Coincidentally, another name for Kuan Yin is "Kuan Shih Yin", which means literally "the one who regards, looks on, or hears the sounds of the world", for a ccording to legend, Kuan Yin was about to enter heaven but paused on the threshold as the cries of the world reached her ears.
During the twelfth-century there was a legend of the Buddhist saint "Miao Shan". She was a Chinese princess who lived circa 700 CE. and is widely believed to have been Kuan Yin, which reinforces the image of the bodhisattva as a female. During the twelfth century Buddhist monks settled on P'u-t'o Shan, the sacred island-mountain in the Chusan Archipelago off the coast of Chekiang where Miao Shan is believed to have lived for nine years, during which she performed healings and saved sailors from shipwrecks. And as a result, devotion to Kuan Yin spread throughout northern China.
In modern times Kuan Yin is embraced not only by Mahayana Buddhists, but by the Taoists as well.
I personally have nothing but the deepest respect for Kuan Yin. While I personally follow the Celtic pantheon, I cannot offer s single Goddess from that pantheon that personifies the ideals of love and merciful compassion that Kuan Yin represents. I say this because she has no other aspects associated with her that may offset such attributes. In my personal opinion she is the purest form of forgiveness, slefless compassion for others, and love in its purest un-egotistical form...
She is also known as Kuan Yin, Quan'Am (Vietnam), Kannon (Japan), and Kanin (Bali), She is seen as the embodiment of compassionate and loving kindness in its purest form.
One of the aspects that I personally find interesting about Quan Yin, is that she represents the Goddess and Divine Mother aspect of Buddhism. Buddhism is not considered a religion but rather a spiritual path to enlightment. Kuan Yin epitomizes the ideal of "Mahayana Buddhism" in her role as "bodhisattva" (sanskrit). Bodhisattva literally means "a being of Bodhi, or enlightenment," who is destined to become a Buddha but who has foregone the bliss of Nirvana with a vow to save all of the children of God.
And thus this description exemplifies the aspects associated with Quan Yin.
I don't agree with all of the parameters of Buddhism, but as with all beliefs religious and/or spiritual, there are certaun aspects which one can find personally appealing.
When one looks at Tibetan Buddhism it is found that Quan Yin is seen as Avalokitesvara, which is her male form of embodiment. It is thought that the current Dali Lama is an incarnation of Avalokitesvara. Buddhist mythology tells of Avalokitesvara being born from a ray of light that sprang from Amitabha Buddha's right eye. He immediately spoke the words, "Om Mane Padme Hum". This is one of the mantras by which one invokes within the Buddhist tradition. According to my research there are 357 such incantations that are attributed to Avalokitesvara. This is confirmed by the Saddharma Pundarika Sutra (Sutra of the Lotus Blossom of the Fine Dharma).
Amitabha is the principal buddha in the Pure Land sect, a branch of Buddhism found in East Asia.
It is thought that the female form of Avalokitesvara, or Quan Yin, originated in the twelfth or thirteenth century CE in both, China and Japan. It is believed that the Buddhist monk and translator Kumarajiva was the first to refer to the female form of Kuan Yin in his Chinese translation of the Lotus Sutra in 406 CE. Because there were thirty-three appearances of the bodhisattva referred to in his translation, of which seven are female, the number thirty-three has come to be associated with Kuan Yin.)
An interesting parallel here is that the male aspect of Kuan Yin in the Christian religion; Jesus Christ, chose to briefly serve as a matyr before moving on to the concept of pure enlightment, whereas Kuan Yin is committed to her responsibilities until the very last human has reached enlightment before her.
Thus the christian aspect has the male form putting himself first while the Buddhist female aspect waiting to serve alll others prior to herself. An interesting parallel in self sacrifice and endurance to service.
One of her most noted positions in the celestial sphere is as a member of the board of karma.
As the Bodhisattva of Compassion, Kuan Yin is compared to or identifies with many compassionate female figures found within many divergent belief systems, including the Virgin Mary from the Christian belief system.
She is often depicted as carrying the pearls of illumination and is sometimes shown pouring a stream of healing water, the "Water of Life," from a small vase. It is said that with this water, devotees and all living things are blessed with physical and spiritual peace. She is also depicted as holding a sheaf of ripe rice or a bowl of rice seed as a metaphor for fertility and sustenance. The dragon, an ancient symbol for high spirituality, wisdom, strength, and divine powers of transformation, is a common motif found in combination with this Goddess .
Other associations or depictions include her image as a many armed figure (a depiction often found in Buddhism), with each hand either containing a different cosmic symbol or expressing a specific ritual position, or "mudra". This is intended to characterize Kuan Yin as the source and sustenance of all things. Her cupped hands often form the "Yoni Mudra", which symbolizes the womb as the door for entry to this world through the universal female principle. Many miracles have been ascribed to Kuan Yin over the ages. As a virgin Goddess she naturally protects women and will offer them a servitude in the form of religious life as opposed to marriage. She is also a patron of childbirth.
And again, unlike her male counterpart in the Christian belief system, she is the ultimate Goddess of Mercy. She demands nothing in return for such mercy other then a spoken request. She does not seek servitude as a prerequisite for such acts of mercy, but gives it freely without any constraints.
Her love for humankind is unwavering and without strings. A lesson that humankind would do well to understand and indeed to institute as a tenet of our characterization as a species.
And in fact if there are any prerequisites to following this particular deity, it is the desire to devote oneself to becoming more loving and compassionate with both the self and towards others.
Coincidentally, another name for Kuan Yin is "Kuan Shih Yin", which means literally "the one who regards, looks on, or hears the sounds of the world", for a ccording to legend, Kuan Yin was about to enter heaven but paused on the threshold as the cries of the world reached her ears.
During the twelfth-century there was a legend of the Buddhist saint "Miao Shan". She was a Chinese princess who lived circa 700 CE. and is widely believed to have been Kuan Yin, which reinforces the image of the bodhisattva as a female. During the twelfth century Buddhist monks settled on P'u-t'o Shan, the sacred island-mountain in the Chusan Archipelago off the coast of Chekiang where Miao Shan is believed to have lived for nine years, during which she performed healings and saved sailors from shipwrecks. And as a result, devotion to Kuan Yin spread throughout northern China.
In modern times Kuan Yin is embraced not only by Mahayana Buddhists, but by the Taoists as well.
I personally have nothing but the deepest respect for Kuan Yin. While I personally follow the Celtic pantheon, I cannot offer s single Goddess from that pantheon that personifies the ideals of love and merciful compassion that Kuan Yin represents. I say this because she has no other aspects associated with her that may offset such attributes. In my personal opinion she is the purest form of forgiveness, slefless compassion for others, and love in its purest un-egotistical form...
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Thoughts on Pagan Religion and Electicism
Thoughts on Pagan Religion and Electicism
As Neo Paganism continues to attempt to define itself, there are a number of trends that have surfaced that appear to be detrimental to the development of any true understanding of paganism and the magical arts. This article will look at two of the most obvious of these trends. I have stated numerous times that I personally believe that religion is a man-made device intended to control the hearts and minds of others. By the same token I also believe that it is the right of each person to choose the manner in which they are most comfortable when it comes to their personal beliefs. Having said this, as one who has been a pagan in general and a witch in particular, for the majority of my life, I find it to be a bit of a oxymoron to frame the magical arts within the parameters of a religion. Now before anyone starts lighting up the torches, allow me to explain my personal opinion. Religions, whether they be Abrahamic, Pagan or what have you are based upon specific tenets called dogma, which specifies how its members are to approach their beliefs within that particular religion. Such narrow parameters do not allow for freedom of exploration in regards to ones spirituality. A specific forum is set out and all members of that religion are expected to follow in step. The problem with such an approach is that the dogma that is put into place is generally the concepts of one man or small group of men (and on rare occasion’s women) that then inflict their way of thought upon the masses. However, the Craft cannot be defined in such a narrow manner. For the Craft which in large part is about discovering the Greater Mystery’s, and no one man or group of men has the answers to such discoveries. And so to take the Craft and try to define it within the parameters of religion is self-defeating. Such a narrow approach shuts the doors to self discovery and thus spiritual growth. For by its own nature, religion is very inhibiting in that it discourages the very same need to discover that is so necessary to the mystical arts. One cannot allow themselves to be defined by the constrictive thoughts of the few and still claim to follow the tenets of a spiritual path known as mysticism. Such folks are in essence deluding themselves. They want the individual freedom to follow the path of mysticism but then by defining their beliefs as a pagan religion, they are exhibiting a lack of will to do so. Thus they are in all reality engaging in an oxymoron.As far as those who call themselves eclectic, that is just a means to put up a façade. Mysticism involves spiritual discipline. And often is made up of long years of study and experimentation by those who have gone before. To be an eclectic one is simply dabbling due to a spiritual laziness and a lack of desire to put in the long years of study and understanding of the issues before them. To simply take a piece of this belief and a piece of that belief and a piece of yet another belief system and creating an amalgamation of belief systems that took years upon years to develop is in short a display of a lackadaisical mind. Such folks claim that this approach works for them. But the question remains; how do they know since they have no real understanding of the bits and pieces they have assembled and presented as their beliefs? Such a shortcut may seem very convenient, but in all reality when dealing with the mystical arts, such a lazy attitude could lead to disastrous results. Such folks seem to fail to comprehend that they are engaging in a practice that often involved energies and other-world beings which do not always conform to the human way of thought and expectation. The mystical arts are not a discipline/path to be trifled with. And to take such a lackadaisical approach such as eclecticism leaves one without the knowledge and thus the tools to effectively deal with the perils of the mystic arts. Again this is not a religion where one just mouths the words; mysticism is a hand on approach to spiritualism which engages with real energies and beings. To go at such a individual pursuit without any real knowledge of what it is one is engaging in is simply foolish. And eclecticism with its piecemeal approach is hardly the vehicle of knowledge and wisdom necessary for such a venture. One would do better to remain a member of one of the organized religions…
As Neo Paganism continues to attempt to define itself, there are a number of trends that have surfaced that appear to be detrimental to the development of any true understanding of paganism and the magical arts. This article will look at two of the most obvious of these trends. I have stated numerous times that I personally believe that religion is a man-made device intended to control the hearts and minds of others. By the same token I also believe that it is the right of each person to choose the manner in which they are most comfortable when it comes to their personal beliefs. Having said this, as one who has been a pagan in general and a witch in particular, for the majority of my life, I find it to be a bit of a oxymoron to frame the magical arts within the parameters of a religion. Now before anyone starts lighting up the torches, allow me to explain my personal opinion. Religions, whether they be Abrahamic, Pagan or what have you are based upon specific tenets called dogma, which specifies how its members are to approach their beliefs within that particular religion. Such narrow parameters do not allow for freedom of exploration in regards to ones spirituality. A specific forum is set out and all members of that religion are expected to follow in step. The problem with such an approach is that the dogma that is put into place is generally the concepts of one man or small group of men (and on rare occasion’s women) that then inflict their way of thought upon the masses. However, the Craft cannot be defined in such a narrow manner. For the Craft which in large part is about discovering the Greater Mystery’s, and no one man or group of men has the answers to such discoveries. And so to take the Craft and try to define it within the parameters of religion is self-defeating. Such a narrow approach shuts the doors to self discovery and thus spiritual growth. For by its own nature, religion is very inhibiting in that it discourages the very same need to discover that is so necessary to the mystical arts. One cannot allow themselves to be defined by the constrictive thoughts of the few and still claim to follow the tenets of a spiritual path known as mysticism. Such folks are in essence deluding themselves. They want the individual freedom to follow the path of mysticism but then by defining their beliefs as a pagan religion, they are exhibiting a lack of will to do so. Thus they are in all reality engaging in an oxymoron.As far as those who call themselves eclectic, that is just a means to put up a façade. Mysticism involves spiritual discipline. And often is made up of long years of study and experimentation by those who have gone before. To be an eclectic one is simply dabbling due to a spiritual laziness and a lack of desire to put in the long years of study and understanding of the issues before them. To simply take a piece of this belief and a piece of that belief and a piece of yet another belief system and creating an amalgamation of belief systems that took years upon years to develop is in short a display of a lackadaisical mind. Such folks claim that this approach works for them. But the question remains; how do they know since they have no real understanding of the bits and pieces they have assembled and presented as their beliefs? Such a shortcut may seem very convenient, but in all reality when dealing with the mystical arts, such a lazy attitude could lead to disastrous results. Such folks seem to fail to comprehend that they are engaging in a practice that often involved energies and other-world beings which do not always conform to the human way of thought and expectation. The mystical arts are not a discipline/path to be trifled with. And to take such a lackadaisical approach such as eclecticism leaves one without the knowledge and thus the tools to effectively deal with the perils of the mystic arts. Again this is not a religion where one just mouths the words; mysticism is a hand on approach to spiritualism which engages with real energies and beings. To go at such a individual pursuit without any real knowledge of what it is one is engaging in is simply foolish. And eclecticism with its piecemeal approach is hardly the vehicle of knowledge and wisdom necessary for such a venture. One would do better to remain a member of one of the organized religions…
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Children of the Christian Satan
Once again the Catholic Church and its followers are in a very shameful limelight. The following report was filed by reporters from the esteemed AP news bureau:
Catholic Church shamed by Irish abuse reportAP – John Kelly, of the Survivors of Child Abuse (SOCA) group, right, and Kevin Flannagan brother of Mickey … Ireland releases report on child abuse.By SHAWN POGATCHNIK, Associated Press Writer Shawn Pogatchnik, DUBLIN – After a nine-year investigation, a commission published a damning report Wednesday on decades of rapes, humiliation and beatings at Catholic Church-run reform schools for Ireland's castaway children.The 2,600-page report painted the most detailed and damning portrait yet of church-administered abuse in a country grown weary of revelations about child molestation by priests.The investigation of the tax-supported schools uncovered previously secret Vatican records that demonstrated church knowledge of pedophiles in their ranks all the way back to the 1930s.Wednesday's five-volume report on the probe — which was resisted by Catholic religious orders — concluded that church officials shielded their orders' pedophiles from arrest amid a culture of self-serving secrecy."A climate of fear, created by pervasive, excessive and arbitrary punishment, permeated most of the institutions and all those run for boys. Children lived with the daily terror of not knowing where the next beating was coming from," Ireland's Commission to Inquire Into Child Abuse concluded.Victims of the abuse, who are now in their 50s to 80s, lobbied long and hard for an official investigation. They say that for all its incredible detail, the report doesn't nail down what really matters — the names of their abusers."I do genuinely believe that it would have been a further step towards our healing if our abusers had been named and shamed," said Christine Buckley, 62, who spent the first 18 years of her life in a Dublin orphanage where children were forced to manufacture rosaries — and were humiliated, beaten and raped whether they achieved their quota or not.The Catholic religious orders that ran more than 50 workhouse-style reform schools from the late 19th century until the mid-1990s offered public words of apology, shame and regret Wednesday. But when questioned, their leaders indicated they would continue to protect the identities of clergy accused of abuse — men and women who were never reported to police, and were instead permitted to change jobs and keep harming children.The Christian Brothers, which ran several boys' institutions deemed to have harbored serial child molesters and sadists on their staff, insisted it had cooperated fully with the probe. The order successfully sued the commission in 2004 to keep the identities of all of its members, dead or alive, unnamed in the report. No real names, whether of victims or perpetrators, appear in the final document.The Christian Brothers' leader in Ireland, Brother Kevin Mullan, said the organization had been right to keep names secret because "perhaps we had doubts about some of the allegations.""But on the other hand, I'd have to say that at this stage, we have no interest in protecting people who were perpetrators of abuse," Mullan said, vowing to "cooperate fully with any investigation or any civil authority seeking to explore those matters."Buckley, who said she was abused at an orphanage run by the Sisters of Mercy, which ran several refuges for girls where the report documented chronic brutality, said the religious orders for years branded the victims as money-seeking liars — and were incapable of admitting their guilt today.She criticized Mullan for suggesting that "today, having read the report, he doesn't mind if the abusers are named and shamed. Isn't that a little bit late for us?"The report found that molestation and rape were "endemic" in boys' facilities, chiefly run by the Christian Brothers order, and supervisors pursued policies that increased the danger. Girls supervised by orders of nuns, chiefly the Sisters of Mercy, suffered much less sexual abuse but frequent assaults and humiliation designed to make them feel worthless."In some schools a high level of ritualized beating was routine. ... Girls were struck with implements designed to maximize pain and were struck on all parts of the body," the report said. "Personal and family denigration was widespread."Ireland's myriad religious orders, much like their mother church, have been devastated by 15 years of scandals involving past cover-ups of abusers in their ranks.The Christian Brothers have withdrawn from running several schools that still bear their name and the order has had few recruits in Ireland in the past two decades. Other orders are down to a handful of members, and their bases are closer to nursing homes than active missions."Most of these orders will literally die out in Ireland within the next generation or so," said Michael Kelly, editor of the Irish Catholic newspaper in Dublin. "Many of them are already in wind-up mode. They lack the confidence even to seek new vocations (recruits), due to the stigma associated with their members' shocking, scandalous behavior." The Irish government, which in 1999 apologized for its role in permitting decades of abuse and established the commission to nail down the full truth of the matter, has tried to use money to bring closure to the victims. A government-appointed panel has paid 12,000 survivors of the schools, orphanages and other church-run residences an average of $90,000 each — on condition they surrender their right to sue either the church or state. About 2,000 more claims are pending. Irish Catholic leaders cut a controversial deal with the government in 2001 that capped the church's contribution at $175 million — a fraction of the final cost. Some victims emphasized, even as they began thumbing through the report, that nothing — not even criminal convictions of their long-ago tormentors — will ever put right their psychological wounds and make their nightmares go away. Tom Sweeney, who spent five years in two Christian Brothers-run institutions where he was placed for truancy, says he suffered sexual abuse and beatings. He also has bitter memories about more everyday humiliations — such as being forced to wrap his urine-stained sheets around his neck and parade in front of other children when he'd wet his bed. "It's something you'll never forget, the way you lived in these industrial schools," he said.
The extremely sad truth is that this disgusting behavior went on un-checked for decades in the USA before being exposed by law enforcement. With the tentacles of the Catholic Church wrapped around the entire world, one has to wonder how many more children in how many more countries are having their souls assassinated by the these self declared followers of their God?
Or are the Catholics in reality simply followers of their Satan?
Each time one sees a Catholic fingering a rosary, one should send some positive energy to the child that was most likely beaten and raped after producing that very same symbol of their faith. A symbol created at the expense of a childs soul and their physical torment...
Catholic Church shamed by Irish abuse reportAP – John Kelly, of the Survivors of Child Abuse (SOCA) group, right, and Kevin Flannagan brother of Mickey … Ireland releases report on child abuse.By SHAWN POGATCHNIK, Associated Press Writer Shawn Pogatchnik, DUBLIN – After a nine-year investigation, a commission published a damning report Wednesday on decades of rapes, humiliation and beatings at Catholic Church-run reform schools for Ireland's castaway children.The 2,600-page report painted the most detailed and damning portrait yet of church-administered abuse in a country grown weary of revelations about child molestation by priests.The investigation of the tax-supported schools uncovered previously secret Vatican records that demonstrated church knowledge of pedophiles in their ranks all the way back to the 1930s.Wednesday's five-volume report on the probe — which was resisted by Catholic religious orders — concluded that church officials shielded their orders' pedophiles from arrest amid a culture of self-serving secrecy."A climate of fear, created by pervasive, excessive and arbitrary punishment, permeated most of the institutions and all those run for boys. Children lived with the daily terror of not knowing where the next beating was coming from," Ireland's Commission to Inquire Into Child Abuse concluded.Victims of the abuse, who are now in their 50s to 80s, lobbied long and hard for an official investigation. They say that for all its incredible detail, the report doesn't nail down what really matters — the names of their abusers."I do genuinely believe that it would have been a further step towards our healing if our abusers had been named and shamed," said Christine Buckley, 62, who spent the first 18 years of her life in a Dublin orphanage where children were forced to manufacture rosaries — and were humiliated, beaten and raped whether they achieved their quota or not.The Catholic religious orders that ran more than 50 workhouse-style reform schools from the late 19th century until the mid-1990s offered public words of apology, shame and regret Wednesday. But when questioned, their leaders indicated they would continue to protect the identities of clergy accused of abuse — men and women who were never reported to police, and were instead permitted to change jobs and keep harming children.The Christian Brothers, which ran several boys' institutions deemed to have harbored serial child molesters and sadists on their staff, insisted it had cooperated fully with the probe. The order successfully sued the commission in 2004 to keep the identities of all of its members, dead or alive, unnamed in the report. No real names, whether of victims or perpetrators, appear in the final document.The Christian Brothers' leader in Ireland, Brother Kevin Mullan, said the organization had been right to keep names secret because "perhaps we had doubts about some of the allegations.""But on the other hand, I'd have to say that at this stage, we have no interest in protecting people who were perpetrators of abuse," Mullan said, vowing to "cooperate fully with any investigation or any civil authority seeking to explore those matters."Buckley, who said she was abused at an orphanage run by the Sisters of Mercy, which ran several refuges for girls where the report documented chronic brutality, said the religious orders for years branded the victims as money-seeking liars — and were incapable of admitting their guilt today.She criticized Mullan for suggesting that "today, having read the report, he doesn't mind if the abusers are named and shamed. Isn't that a little bit late for us?"The report found that molestation and rape were "endemic" in boys' facilities, chiefly run by the Christian Brothers order, and supervisors pursued policies that increased the danger. Girls supervised by orders of nuns, chiefly the Sisters of Mercy, suffered much less sexual abuse but frequent assaults and humiliation designed to make them feel worthless."In some schools a high level of ritualized beating was routine. ... Girls were struck with implements designed to maximize pain and were struck on all parts of the body," the report said. "Personal and family denigration was widespread."Ireland's myriad religious orders, much like their mother church, have been devastated by 15 years of scandals involving past cover-ups of abusers in their ranks.The Christian Brothers have withdrawn from running several schools that still bear their name and the order has had few recruits in Ireland in the past two decades. Other orders are down to a handful of members, and their bases are closer to nursing homes than active missions."Most of these orders will literally die out in Ireland within the next generation or so," said Michael Kelly, editor of the Irish Catholic newspaper in Dublin. "Many of them are already in wind-up mode. They lack the confidence even to seek new vocations (recruits), due to the stigma associated with their members' shocking, scandalous behavior." The Irish government, which in 1999 apologized for its role in permitting decades of abuse and established the commission to nail down the full truth of the matter, has tried to use money to bring closure to the victims. A government-appointed panel has paid 12,000 survivors of the schools, orphanages and other church-run residences an average of $90,000 each — on condition they surrender their right to sue either the church or state. About 2,000 more claims are pending. Irish Catholic leaders cut a controversial deal with the government in 2001 that capped the church's contribution at $175 million — a fraction of the final cost. Some victims emphasized, even as they began thumbing through the report, that nothing — not even criminal convictions of their long-ago tormentors — will ever put right their psychological wounds and make their nightmares go away. Tom Sweeney, who spent five years in two Christian Brothers-run institutions where he was placed for truancy, says he suffered sexual abuse and beatings. He also has bitter memories about more everyday humiliations — such as being forced to wrap his urine-stained sheets around his neck and parade in front of other children when he'd wet his bed. "It's something you'll never forget, the way you lived in these industrial schools," he said.
The extremely sad truth is that this disgusting behavior went on un-checked for decades in the USA before being exposed by law enforcement. With the tentacles of the Catholic Church wrapped around the entire world, one has to wonder how many more children in how many more countries are having their souls assassinated by the these self declared followers of their God?
Or are the Catholics in reality simply followers of their Satan?
Each time one sees a Catholic fingering a rosary, one should send some positive energy to the child that was most likely beaten and raped after producing that very same symbol of their faith. A symbol created at the expense of a childs soul and their physical torment...
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