So you want to know if you are psychic, clairvoyant or have ESP (extra sensory perception)? Well almost certainly the answer is yes as we all have psychic or intuitive skills, its just a question of tapping in to them and being able to understand the messages that come from your subconscious. In this article I will describe various methods of using and testing your powers such as Zener cards, psychic circles and other forms of divination such as tarot cards, crystal balls, and explain the differences between them.
Zener Cards
Zener cards were invented by scientists as a way of testing people's ability to predict what is going to happen (rather than being able to say what has already happened, although with a bit of imagination you can use them for this too!) Zener cards consist of 5 different symbols, a star, a box, wavy lines, a triangle and a circle (They used them in ghost busters!). There are 25 cards and each one symbol on it (5 of each).
You shuffle the deck and before you choose a card make a guess at what symbol you will pick, doing this until the deck is finished before you check the answers. If you can successfully predict more than 5 correct answers in a deck this is significantly above the odds and therefore shows that you have some kind of psychic ability, the higher the number, the better and more powerful your ability is. If you do use Zener cards and don't guess more than 5 correctly out of the pack, don't despair - this does not mean you do not have psychic ability, just that this method does not work for you!
All in all: Zener cards are fun and easy to use but only test a limited amount of intuitive powers and don't work for everyone!
Tarot Cards
Tarot cards are my favourite type of divination tools and anyone can use them. You can use them to predict the future, for advice on what to do in a particular situation and to help understand what someone is thinking, or more about a person. If you predict something with tarot cards, this does not mean that the future is fixed, only that what you have predicted willl be the outcome if you continue acting in the way you have been. If you want to change the story you can, by changing what you do in your life, that is why the tarot is great for advice.
If you like stories or have a good imagination you will do well with the tarot cards as a good reading is created by using your intuition, imagination and putting together a story from the cards to give more in depth readings. Tarot cards are also good for those with a visual nature as you have the pictures to inspire you.
If you have a particular affinity with something for instance dragons, mermaids, the forest, ancient egypt, fairies, you can find a deck with beautiful and relevant imagery that will inspire you to give really good insightful psychic reading and will be very enjoyable for you!
All in all: A powerful divination tool most people will find easy to get started with and be successful - ideal for those with creative, visual and tactile nature. As well as telling your fortune it can give you or others advice and guidance.
Crystal Balls, Scrying Pools and mirrors
Crystal balls are ideal for those with a visual nature and/or a lot of patience. Crystal Balls and scrying pools and mirrors are believed to be one of the oldest commonly known types of divination (though people around the world have been using all manner of things such as bones, tea leaves or whatever is around - the point is the psychic ability is within you!)
The way to use a crystal ball is to sit in a darkened room, meditate on the subject you wish to find out more about, whilst staring at the ball. With a bit of practice, you will sink into a trance and a colour should appear in the ball or mirror, sometimes appearing as a smoky film. Different colours signify different things and this points you in the right direction. With (a lot) of practice you will find that an image appears (usually in your head although some mediums say they see it in the ball). Eventually you will quickly be able to conjure up images into your head. Some people don't remember what they say when in psychic trance and so recording your voice can be very useful.
All in all: difficult to master method of divination but worth the effort especially for those with a visual nature!
Pendulums
Pendulums can be used for many things, and this is called dowsing. By seeing the direction or movement of the pendulum you can find out if it is saying yes or no and get directions to whatever you seek.
People originally began dowsing or divining for underground water sources, but pendulums can be used for so much more and are great for finding all kinds of lost or hidden things. Through dowsing you can trace ley lines (magnetic lines of energy in the earth that are often marked by the building of sacred sites and churches. - Where two or more ley lines cross the energy becomes intensified, for instance in Stone Henge or Glastonbury Tor in England). Sacred sites can be an excellent place to practice divination, magick or perform spells as the natural energy will enhance the effectiveness.
Pendulums can also be used for practical things such as answering questions, with yes and no answers, and with practice you will be able to ask for advice eg Should I take that new job or am I following the correct path in life?
Using your psychic abilities with pendulums is easy to learn with the right book, and within a week you can be getting accurate answers, and within a month you can learn to use pendulums for all kinds of unexpected applicatinons
All in all: A very versatile and easy to use method of divination!
Oujia Boards or Magick Message Boards
Oujia Boards are a a controversial method of divination due to the fact that you are contacting unknown spirits and forces. Ouija and magic message boards are strictly not toys and should be taken seriously, however if used properly can be an interesting way of finding out answers to questions that would otherwise be hidden. For those a little nervous of oujia boards, a message board can be the best choice, many have details of protection rituals to ensure you keep yourself safe. Even if using a Ouija board consider doing a prayer or protection ritual, what ever feels right to you but make sure to say that you will not accept any negative energies.
These boards work by two to four people holding a type of token called a planchette together, and then the spirits (hopefully not your mischievous friend!) guide you to the letters or symbols and spell out the answer to your questions. Don't ask questions you don't want to know the answer to like when am I going to die, whether you get a true or fake answer it will freak you out!
The ouija board or magick message board can be very interesting but if you're new to divination you should think about trying one of the other methods first.
All in all: Not for everyone and must be taken seriously but can be a powerful tool for answering questions
So ultimately there are many ways to test and use your intuitive or psychic ability, and the more you practice the better you will become at understanding and recognising them, whether you use a pendulum, tarot cards, ouija boards, a crystal balls or zener cards. There are many ways to hone your psychic abilities especially by meditating and lighting a scented candle before you use any of these tools. Have patience and have fun and in no time you'll be on your way to interesting and exciting journey! Blessed Be.
Article Copyright held by Louisa Lopez
Louisa Lopez sells Wiccan Supplies, Pagan gifts and Psychic stuff from a little tree house in the Enchanted Wood. Pay her a visit and find tarot cards, pendulums, crystal balls, psychic circles and other New age and divination tools there. There's also free magick articles, free magick online games, free tarot card readings and a free online meditation.
Psychic and Wiccan Supplies, with beginners kits in Tarot Cards, Zener Cards, Pendulums, Psychic Circle Boards and more.
Psychic Circle Message Board.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louisa_Lopez
Monday, January 18, 2010
The Rare Blue Moon - How to Take Advantage of This Special Event
The expression 'Once in a Blue Moon' is used to express a rare and often special event. This is because a Blue Moon occurs just once in every two and half years or so. This special Moon occurs when a second full Moon falls in any one calendar month. Usually months have only one full Moon, but occasionally there can be a second one - named a Blue Moon.
Full Moons occur every 29 days, but most months are 30 or 31 days long; so it is possible to fit two full Moons in a single month. This happens rarely. The last Blue Moon was December 31 2009, and the next is August 31 2012. After that you'll have to wait until July 31 2015 for the next one.
The Moon phases are seen as important for many established and traditional religions, often marking special significant dates in the religious calendar.
Both the Islamic calendar and Jewish calendar are lunar. Christianity sets its most important event of celebrating Easter on the first Sunday following the first full Moon after the Spring Equinox. Buddhism, Sikhism, Hinduism and Jainism also follow the Moon cycles to mark significant festivals.
The practice of the 'Craft', known as Witchcraft, Paganism and Wicca, all place greater significance than other religions on the Moon and its phases. Of particular importance are the full Moons which are celebrated and honoured and known as 'Esbats'.
The full Moon, or Esbat, is seen as a potent and special time to celebrate, practice rituals, and to Cast Magic Spells for any positive purpose - love, money, health and happiness for example. And this rare Moon event is considered an exceptionally potent time to Spell cast.
So do not miss out on this 'Once in a Blue Moon' opportunity to mark the special event of a special Moon occurrence and do something monumental. To make your special wishes come true use the positive Blue Moon energy to Spell cast for yourself, or get an experienced professional Witch or Spellcaster to cast on your behalf.
Use the time to cast a Love Spell or Money Spell - or both. Benefit from this special Moon's Energy by cleansing your Aura. Perform a special Ritual to bring you good luck.
Here are a few simple rituals you can perform to take advantages of the specialness of the Blue Moon and hopefully bring to you all that you desire.
Magically Charge a Lucky Talisman
On the evening of the Blue Moon take any piece of silver jewellery or a silver coin, make a special wish and say it aloud 3 times. Place the jewellery or coin under the full Moon overnight. Silver is associated with the Moon and the Goddess and is the best material for use in a Blue Moon ritual.
Don't worry if you cannot physically see the Moon, as its special energy is still present. Once the jewellery or coin has been charged by the special energy of this particular Moon, it will act as a lucky talisman to allow your wishes to come true.
Wishing Well
On the evening of this special Moon take a silver coin, concentrate on the wish you want fulfilled, repeat aloud your wish and toss the coin into any body of water. This could be a wishing well, a river, the ocean or a lake.
The element of water is associated with the Moon and is utilised in positive Magic particularly associated with love.
Moon Bathe
On the Blue Moon evening, undress and stand naked under the full Moon. 'Bathe' by visualising the moonbeams cleansing you from head to foot. Once you feel thoroughly cleansed, say aloud 3 times your special wish.
Click the link for details of a unique Blue Moon Energy Talisman
There are countless other ways to utilise the Blue Moon Energy to your advantage. Find out the most powerful and potent at Alizon's Psychic Secrets
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alison_Yates
Full Moons occur every 29 days, but most months are 30 or 31 days long; so it is possible to fit two full Moons in a single month. This happens rarely. The last Blue Moon was December 31 2009, and the next is August 31 2012. After that you'll have to wait until July 31 2015 for the next one.
The Moon phases are seen as important for many established and traditional religions, often marking special significant dates in the religious calendar.
Both the Islamic calendar and Jewish calendar are lunar. Christianity sets its most important event of celebrating Easter on the first Sunday following the first full Moon after the Spring Equinox. Buddhism, Sikhism, Hinduism and Jainism also follow the Moon cycles to mark significant festivals.
The practice of the 'Craft', known as Witchcraft, Paganism and Wicca, all place greater significance than other religions on the Moon and its phases. Of particular importance are the full Moons which are celebrated and honoured and known as 'Esbats'.
The full Moon, or Esbat, is seen as a potent and special time to celebrate, practice rituals, and to Cast Magic Spells for any positive purpose - love, money, health and happiness for example. And this rare Moon event is considered an exceptionally potent time to Spell cast.
So do not miss out on this 'Once in a Blue Moon' opportunity to mark the special event of a special Moon occurrence and do something monumental. To make your special wishes come true use the positive Blue Moon energy to Spell cast for yourself, or get an experienced professional Witch or Spellcaster to cast on your behalf.
Use the time to cast a Love Spell or Money Spell - or both. Benefit from this special Moon's Energy by cleansing your Aura. Perform a special Ritual to bring you good luck.
Here are a few simple rituals you can perform to take advantages of the specialness of the Blue Moon and hopefully bring to you all that you desire.
Magically Charge a Lucky Talisman
On the evening of the Blue Moon take any piece of silver jewellery or a silver coin, make a special wish and say it aloud 3 times. Place the jewellery or coin under the full Moon overnight. Silver is associated with the Moon and the Goddess and is the best material for use in a Blue Moon ritual.
Don't worry if you cannot physically see the Moon, as its special energy is still present. Once the jewellery or coin has been charged by the special energy of this particular Moon, it will act as a lucky talisman to allow your wishes to come true.
Wishing Well
On the evening of this special Moon take a silver coin, concentrate on the wish you want fulfilled, repeat aloud your wish and toss the coin into any body of water. This could be a wishing well, a river, the ocean or a lake.
The element of water is associated with the Moon and is utilised in positive Magic particularly associated with love.
Moon Bathe
On the Blue Moon evening, undress and stand naked under the full Moon. 'Bathe' by visualising the moonbeams cleansing you from head to foot. Once you feel thoroughly cleansed, say aloud 3 times your special wish.
Click the link for details of a unique Blue Moon Energy Talisman
There are countless other ways to utilise the Blue Moon Energy to your advantage. Find out the most powerful and potent at Alizon's Psychic Secrets
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alison_Yates
Psychic Blessing Or Burden? The Sixth Sense
Do you remember the movie entitled The Sixth Sense where Bruce Willis played the role of a dead guy without knowing he was even dead? How about the ever popular line imitated and even spoofed by many that goes "I see dead people"? Imagine yourself playing the role of that psychic child who can see and talk with the spirits of those who passed away. If you can remember, in the movie, he was shivering every time it happened, and he was very afraid. But then, they say any psychic ability is a gift. But how about the sixth sense? Now, you could probably ask yourself, is the sixth sense really a psychic gift or a curse?
We all know that every normal person has five senses. These five sense are the sense of sight, the sense of hearing, the sense of smell, the sense of touch and lastly, the sense of taste. But then, there are a very few people who posses a sixth sense. What is this sixth sense?
The sixth sense is a very rare psychic ability. Referred to as ESP or extra sensory perception, it is the psychic talent or skill to transmit and receive information outside the five human senses. The sixth sense often uses what is known as the "third eye". The Third Eye is located between your eyebrows, in the center of your forehead.
The sixth sense is a bit complicated compared to any other psychic gift. This is because the sixth sense is composed of not just one, but five other psychic abilities namely telepathy, psychometry, clairvoyance, retrocognition, and precognition.
At a closer look on these five abilities, Telepathy is the ability to communicate mind to mind, a person can communicate with anyone through his mind with no verbal or written communication needed. While psychometry refers to a unique ability wherein you can learn the history of any person, object, or place, just by touching it. On the other hand, Clairvoyance allows a person to see things regardless of location. The last two gifts are retrocognition, which is the ability to know the past through visions and feelings; while precognition is to knowing the future in the same way.
As you can see, the sixth sense is a psychic ability which is more than just seeing spirits and other paranormal entities. Overall, it is a unique psychic power that allows you to see, communicate, touch, and hear, what other people cannot.
Though we cannot deny that the thought of seeing, talking, and interacting with spirits of those who have passed on does sound scary; if properly used, this psychic gift can foster greater good. Being able to sense what others cannot gives you the extraordinary power to make a difference in this world.
Just like any psychic gift, the sixth sense can be further developed. There are three key steps to unlock the full potential of your special gift. These are: acceptance (accepting your ability as a psychic gift), meditation (to meditate means to free your mind and allow it to delve into higher level of thinking), and positivity (seeing the positive side of your unique psychic gift and using it to foster positive results).
Tana Hoy is renowned for possessing a rare psychic gift - the ability to communicate with the other side! He has been working with over a hundred of spirit guides and guardian angels to give light to others. Visit his website, http://www.TanaHoy.com to know more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tana_Hoy
We all know that every normal person has five senses. These five sense are the sense of sight, the sense of hearing, the sense of smell, the sense of touch and lastly, the sense of taste. But then, there are a very few people who posses a sixth sense. What is this sixth sense?
The sixth sense is a very rare psychic ability. Referred to as ESP or extra sensory perception, it is the psychic talent or skill to transmit and receive information outside the five human senses. The sixth sense often uses what is known as the "third eye". The Third Eye is located between your eyebrows, in the center of your forehead.
The sixth sense is a bit complicated compared to any other psychic gift. This is because the sixth sense is composed of not just one, but five other psychic abilities namely telepathy, psychometry, clairvoyance, retrocognition, and precognition.
At a closer look on these five abilities, Telepathy is the ability to communicate mind to mind, a person can communicate with anyone through his mind with no verbal or written communication needed. While psychometry refers to a unique ability wherein you can learn the history of any person, object, or place, just by touching it. On the other hand, Clairvoyance allows a person to see things regardless of location. The last two gifts are retrocognition, which is the ability to know the past through visions and feelings; while precognition is to knowing the future in the same way.
As you can see, the sixth sense is a psychic ability which is more than just seeing spirits and other paranormal entities. Overall, it is a unique psychic power that allows you to see, communicate, touch, and hear, what other people cannot.
Though we cannot deny that the thought of seeing, talking, and interacting with spirits of those who have passed on does sound scary; if properly used, this psychic gift can foster greater good. Being able to sense what others cannot gives you the extraordinary power to make a difference in this world.
Just like any psychic gift, the sixth sense can be further developed. There are three key steps to unlock the full potential of your special gift. These are: acceptance (accepting your ability as a psychic gift), meditation (to meditate means to free your mind and allow it to delve into higher level of thinking), and positivity (seeing the positive side of your unique psychic gift and using it to foster positive results).
Tana Hoy is renowned for possessing a rare psychic gift - the ability to communicate with the other side! He has been working with over a hundred of spirit guides and guardian angels to give light to others. Visit his website, http://www.TanaHoy.com to know more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tana_Hoy
Advertising and Black Magic - Manipulative Methods For Influencing the Unconscious
Article: "The Morphological Approach for Unconscious Consumer Motivation Research, by Dirk Ziems, Journal of Advertising Research, June 2004
Abstract: Advertisers are encouraged to use the knowledge of Gestalt Theory of Psychology in order to research more effective ways of advertising their products and services. By using advertising campaigns that cater to unconscious processes of the psyche, consumers will be highly motivated to purchase certain products.
On the surface, to suggest that advertisers and marketing researchers are actually practicing "black magic" would appear to be the height of histrionics and puritanical paranoia. Yet, when one examines modern advertising practices of exploiting the unconscious drives, and compares that to ancient and modern forms of Black Magic, then such a conclusion becomes inescapable. First, however, let us examine the modern technique of "Morphological Market Research," as explained in Dirk Ziems' article in the Journal of Advertising Research, June 2004.
Ziems' article explains how the Morphological approach to market research takes into account later developments of Gestalt Theory of psychoanalysis. Advertising that takes into account the unconscious drives identified by Freud --- the Self-Preservation Instinct, the Instinct, the Herd Instinct --- will be far more effective. While consumers may consciously make decisions based upon practical considerations, often more deeper, unconscious, motivations lie beneath these. As Ziems writes: 'Products and brands do not just serve the functional purpose for which they appear to be made. They regulate and negotiate --- usually unconsciously --- a more fundamental and more fundamentally motivating context.... As the mentioned examples, cars, furs, and paper towels demonstrate, products always combine utility values with symbolic values. The utility values are often used for a rationalization of purchase and use, while the symbolic values express deeper, psychological motives. Successful products and brands manage to address both sides and offer ways of mediating between them."
A man buying a fur for his wife, for example, may be motivated unconsciously to demonstrate his male potency as a hunter-gatherer-provider-figure for his wife. A man or woman buying a car might be motivated by unconscious escapist fantasies surrounding the concept of freedom. Symbolically, the absorbing quality of Paper towels transforms them into a magical symbol of being able to reverse everyday troubles and nuisances. Victoria's Secret successfully negotiated the Victorian repression of the West by the very pun of its name, Victoria's Secret --- in other words, a hidden or repressed that can be worn underneath outer clothing.
True to the Gestalt Theory of Psychoanalysis, Ziems argues that more successful marketing campaigns should focus on one particular "gestalt" (overall aesthetic impression): "Undoubtedly, marketing strategies should limit themselves to one key message (the concept of single-minded proposition). Consequently, they should convey one 'core feeling,' I.e., 'emotional value' ..."
At any rate, Ziems concludes that a detailed knowledge of the unconscious processes is the key to successful marketing: "Knowledge about psychological images and psychological fundamental structures broadens the horizon of motivational market research immensely and enables marketers to create better and more appropriately targeted advertisements."
The largest system of Ceremonial Magic in the West was made public early in the 20th Century by the publishing of the secret rituals of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. In the introduction to the system it is stated: "The Golden Dawn is a 'system' of discovering, dialoguing, and even negotiating with the collective unconscious and is not a religion, philosophy, or even a cult."[1] This form of "dialoguing" with the initiate would also awaken the complexes of the "personal unconscious" as well as to link the initiate with the archetypes of the "collective unconscious." As W.E. Butler, of the Society of Inner Light, well understood: "Magic, with its roots in the immemorial past, does just this, it speaks to the subconscious mind of man through the archaic images of its symbols and rituals, and thereby produces those 'changes in consciousness' which the magician seeks."[2]
The magician used these rites, symbolism and ceremonies to awaken the contents of the subconscious mind in order that the darker regions of the psyche could be reintegrated, and thereby transform the initiate and enable him to transcend the ego. This laudable endeavor prefigures and parallels psychoanalysis. Modern advertising, however, attempts to exploit the workings of the unconscious mind for egoistic and selfish purposes --- to make a profit by exploiting man's hidden psyche in a way he little understands or suspects. One can only conclude, therefore, that advertising and merchandising are a vile form of Black Magic which has been targeting Americans for over a century now.
By Corey Wicks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] Israel Regardie. The Golden Dawn: A Complete Course in Practical Ceremonial Magic. (St. Paul: MN: Llewellyn, 1994, pps. Xviii).
[2] W.E. Butler. Magic and the Magician. (London: Aquarian Press, 1991, pps. 21-22).
Corey Wicks is an award-winning journalist and author. He can be reached through email at rosencruez@yahoo.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Corey_Wicks
Abstract: Advertisers are encouraged to use the knowledge of Gestalt Theory of Psychology in order to research more effective ways of advertising their products and services. By using advertising campaigns that cater to unconscious processes of the psyche, consumers will be highly motivated to purchase certain products.
On the surface, to suggest that advertisers and marketing researchers are actually practicing "black magic" would appear to be the height of histrionics and puritanical paranoia. Yet, when one examines modern advertising practices of exploiting the unconscious drives, and compares that to ancient and modern forms of Black Magic, then such a conclusion becomes inescapable. First, however, let us examine the modern technique of "Morphological Market Research," as explained in Dirk Ziems' article in the Journal of Advertising Research, June 2004.
Ziems' article explains how the Morphological approach to market research takes into account later developments of Gestalt Theory of psychoanalysis. Advertising that takes into account the unconscious drives identified by Freud --- the Self-Preservation Instinct, the Instinct, the Herd Instinct --- will be far more effective. While consumers may consciously make decisions based upon practical considerations, often more deeper, unconscious, motivations lie beneath these. As Ziems writes: 'Products and brands do not just serve the functional purpose for which they appear to be made. They regulate and negotiate --- usually unconsciously --- a more fundamental and more fundamentally motivating context.... As the mentioned examples, cars, furs, and paper towels demonstrate, products always combine utility values with symbolic values. The utility values are often used for a rationalization of purchase and use, while the symbolic values express deeper, psychological motives. Successful products and brands manage to address both sides and offer ways of mediating between them."
A man buying a fur for his wife, for example, may be motivated unconsciously to demonstrate his male potency as a hunter-gatherer-provider-figure for his wife. A man or woman buying a car might be motivated by unconscious escapist fantasies surrounding the concept of freedom. Symbolically, the absorbing quality of Paper towels transforms them into a magical symbol of being able to reverse everyday troubles and nuisances. Victoria's Secret successfully negotiated the Victorian repression of the West by the very pun of its name, Victoria's Secret --- in other words, a hidden or repressed that can be worn underneath outer clothing.
True to the Gestalt Theory of Psychoanalysis, Ziems argues that more successful marketing campaigns should focus on one particular "gestalt" (overall aesthetic impression): "Undoubtedly, marketing strategies should limit themselves to one key message (the concept of single-minded proposition). Consequently, they should convey one 'core feeling,' I.e., 'emotional value' ..."
At any rate, Ziems concludes that a detailed knowledge of the unconscious processes is the key to successful marketing: "Knowledge about psychological images and psychological fundamental structures broadens the horizon of motivational market research immensely and enables marketers to create better and more appropriately targeted advertisements."
The largest system of Ceremonial Magic in the West was made public early in the 20th Century by the publishing of the secret rituals of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. In the introduction to the system it is stated: "The Golden Dawn is a 'system' of discovering, dialoguing, and even negotiating with the collective unconscious and is not a religion, philosophy, or even a cult."[1] This form of "dialoguing" with the initiate would also awaken the complexes of the "personal unconscious" as well as to link the initiate with the archetypes of the "collective unconscious." As W.E. Butler, of the Society of Inner Light, well understood: "Magic, with its roots in the immemorial past, does just this, it speaks to the subconscious mind of man through the archaic images of its symbols and rituals, and thereby produces those 'changes in consciousness' which the magician seeks."[2]
The magician used these rites, symbolism and ceremonies to awaken the contents of the subconscious mind in order that the darker regions of the psyche could be reintegrated, and thereby transform the initiate and enable him to transcend the ego. This laudable endeavor prefigures and parallels psychoanalysis. Modern advertising, however, attempts to exploit the workings of the unconscious mind for egoistic and selfish purposes --- to make a profit by exploiting man's hidden psyche in a way he little understands or suspects. One can only conclude, therefore, that advertising and merchandising are a vile form of Black Magic which has been targeting Americans for over a century now.
By Corey Wicks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] Israel Regardie. The Golden Dawn: A Complete Course in Practical Ceremonial Magic. (St. Paul: MN: Llewellyn, 1994, pps. Xviii).
[2] W.E. Butler. Magic and the Magician. (London: Aquarian Press, 1991, pps. 21-22).
Corey Wicks is an award-winning journalist and author. He can be reached through email at rosencruez@yahoo.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Corey_Wicks
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Four Men Who Rule the World From the Grave
In postmodern western civilization most people claim to be free thinkers yet are enslaved to the ideas of four men who rule the world from the grave. The four men are Charles Darwin (1809 - 1882), Karl Marx (1818 - 1883), Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 - 1900) and Sigmund Freud (1856 - 1939).
These four men of the nineteenth century were the wrecking balls of western civilization. Their poisonous ideas challenged traditional Christian views and seduced Europe and America into a grand social experiment in unbelief.
What philosophers discuss over tea in one generation is taught in college in the next. A generation later it's taught in high school. Then it's in popular culture and finally it's even taught in primary school.
Charles Darwin's atheistic theory of evolution undermined the Christian faith of hundreds of millions. Marx, Nietzsche and Freud were directly and profoundly influenced by Darwin's writings.
The Darwinian contention that human beings are nothing more than soulless descendants of apes who have no conscious existence after death became the presuppositional foundation of the whole secular intellectual edifice.
Ironically, Darwin's biographers freely admit that Darwin offered very little original thought in his famous 1859 book "The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection." Evolution as a theory of natural history had preceded him by at least two generations. Earlier writers had even discussed natural selection. Darwin's own grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, had written on evolution.
Until Darwin, evolution had been confined to the smallest corner of the intellectual elite. Darwin is famous because he tied all the loose ends together and presented it in an orderly way that caught fire among a far wider range of educated people.
Darwin is also famous for his extremely confrontational and racist 1871 book "The Descent of Man." This book was penned to counter the criticism of his 1859 book and to fully and boldly develop his belief that human beings are descended from apes.
The Descent of Man is unfortunately overtly racist and claims that certain brown skinned peoples are less evolved than the Europeans. This gave great momentum to biological based racism and gave it intellectual respectability.
Aborigines were legally hunted like big game in Australia. Belgians in the Congo shot black natives with impunity. Hitler quoted extensively from Darwin in his book, "Mein Kampf," and developed his claim of Aryan superiority from Darwinian principles.
In the United States, in the late nineteenth century, evolution was taught and discussed only among the educated elite.
Evolution was taught only at the university level and to some degree in the high schools. In the 1880s only about 4% of American students went on to high school which was called secondary school. Only about 1% of the population went to college. All the rest were educated in primary school up to the eighth grade.
The well educated people in the US were increasingly secularized while the primary schools still held to traditional Christian values. This led to a divide between the upper class and the common man that persists to a degree down to the present generation. Secular Humanism has emerged as the dominant faith of the elite. Darwinism is its origins myth.
Karl Marx and Charles Darwin were contemporaries and familiar with each other's work. Marx was influenced by Darwin and mentioned him in his book, "Das Kapital." Marx subscribed to a philosophy of economic determinism. He regarded economic gain as the strongest urge of the human animal. He regarded humans as animals; as mere atoms in motion.
Marx subscribed to the Hegelian concept that human government is greater than the sum of its parts. Thus we have the Marxist illogic that regards the individual as worthless but if you put the individuals together into a government then you have something of real value. Marx considered human government the savior of mankind that would lead people to utopia.
Marx's writings inspired generations of revolutionaries that embarked on the largest economic social experiment of all time. The experiment to see if an all powerful government owning all property could create a perfect utopian society failed miserably. Historians estimate that between 70 million and 100 million people were killed by communist governments in their quest for utopia.
Nevertheless Marxist ideas still guide the socialistic tendencies of all the modern democracies of Europe and of North and South America.
A generation after Darwin and Marx a bolder and more passionately atheistic philosopher arose. His name was Friedrich Nietzsche and he believed that humans are most profoundly motivated by a desire to dominate others. Nietzsche called this "the will to power."
Nietzsche was an existentialist philosopher. Existentialism is radical individualism in which the individual must exert his own will and throw off social convention to create his own unique life. He regarded those who lived according to the rules as inauthentic, as mere followers and small minded.
Nietzsche rejected God's law and wrote some overtly blasphemous things. He also had radical views on politics. He was of the opinion that all the great civilizations of the ancient world were built on slavery and brutality in which the intellectual elite lived luxuriously off of the hard labor of the many.
He rationalized that slavery and oppression were good because it freed the elite to build fabulous buildings and produce great works of art. Hitler read Nietzsche extensively and even gave copies of Nietzsche's books to his officer corps.
Nietzsche's existentialism and atheism was very influential among the intellectuals of his own time and reverberates down to our own day especially in postmodernism. Nietzsche influenced the existentialist philosophers Jean Paul Sartre and Albert Camus and their post WWII philosophy of pessimism. The youth rebellion of the 1960s had many elements of Nietzschean radical existentialism.
Sigmund Freud regarded as the principle motivator of humans. His entire psychoanalytic therapy is based on the influence of feelings and desires. He was especially concerned with repression of urges and how that influenced the mental health of the individual.
Those he influenced went on to launch the revolution in which traditional family structure and fidelity were abandoned. This also is a great social experiment that is ruining lives all across the world. Family breakdown, child abandonment, abortion of millions of babies and the spread of more than three dozen varieties of transmitted disease are grim witness to anarchy.
Darwin saw man as a soulless animal motivated only by the will to survive. Marx saw man as a purely economic creature. Nietzsche saw man through the lens of power and the will to rule others. Freud saw man as motivated disproportionately by . Their blasphemy and lawlessness has torn the heart out of humanity and brought about the alienation and despair that leads to lawlessness, family breakdown, serial killings, shooting sprees and teenage suicide.
Darwin, Marx, Nietzsche and Freud worked no miracles and had no supernatural accreditation yet billions of people follow them. These four men offered nothing but a vain attempt at utopia in this life and no promise of life hereafter.
Jesus Christ by contrast came in fulfillment of over three hundred predictive prophecies that were written in the Old Testament hundreds of years before His birth. He worked miracles among the people of his time and miracles still occur today in His name.
Jesus taught us God's morals and He lived a perfect life and then suffered and died for our sins. We receive forgiveness of sins through Christ. He is the promised Messiah of Israel and the redeemer of all mankind.
Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. This also was foretold by the prophets. Those four men rule from the grave but Christ rules from heaven and is greater than all.
Bill Nugent has written many articles on Christianity, philosophy and science. He has also written books that give Bible based teaching on sanctification and that caution against the error of legalism. His books are available at his website http://www.gracelawandsonship.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_Nugent
These four men of the nineteenth century were the wrecking balls of western civilization. Their poisonous ideas challenged traditional Christian views and seduced Europe and America into a grand social experiment in unbelief.
What philosophers discuss over tea in one generation is taught in college in the next. A generation later it's taught in high school. Then it's in popular culture and finally it's even taught in primary school.
Charles Darwin's atheistic theory of evolution undermined the Christian faith of hundreds of millions. Marx, Nietzsche and Freud were directly and profoundly influenced by Darwin's writings.
The Darwinian contention that human beings are nothing more than soulless descendants of apes who have no conscious existence after death became the presuppositional foundation of the whole secular intellectual edifice.
Ironically, Darwin's biographers freely admit that Darwin offered very little original thought in his famous 1859 book "The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection." Evolution as a theory of natural history had preceded him by at least two generations. Earlier writers had even discussed natural selection. Darwin's own grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, had written on evolution.
Until Darwin, evolution had been confined to the smallest corner of the intellectual elite. Darwin is famous because he tied all the loose ends together and presented it in an orderly way that caught fire among a far wider range of educated people.
Darwin is also famous for his extremely confrontational and racist 1871 book "The Descent of Man." This book was penned to counter the criticism of his 1859 book and to fully and boldly develop his belief that human beings are descended from apes.
The Descent of Man is unfortunately overtly racist and claims that certain brown skinned peoples are less evolved than the Europeans. This gave great momentum to biological based racism and gave it intellectual respectability.
Aborigines were legally hunted like big game in Australia. Belgians in the Congo shot black natives with impunity. Hitler quoted extensively from Darwin in his book, "Mein Kampf," and developed his claim of Aryan superiority from Darwinian principles.
In the United States, in the late nineteenth century, evolution was taught and discussed only among the educated elite.
Evolution was taught only at the university level and to some degree in the high schools. In the 1880s only about 4% of American students went on to high school which was called secondary school. Only about 1% of the population went to college. All the rest were educated in primary school up to the eighth grade.
The well educated people in the US were increasingly secularized while the primary schools still held to traditional Christian values. This led to a divide between the upper class and the common man that persists to a degree down to the present generation. Secular Humanism has emerged as the dominant faith of the elite. Darwinism is its origins myth.
Karl Marx and Charles Darwin were contemporaries and familiar with each other's work. Marx was influenced by Darwin and mentioned him in his book, "Das Kapital." Marx subscribed to a philosophy of economic determinism. He regarded economic gain as the strongest urge of the human animal. He regarded humans as animals; as mere atoms in motion.
Marx subscribed to the Hegelian concept that human government is greater than the sum of its parts. Thus we have the Marxist illogic that regards the individual as worthless but if you put the individuals together into a government then you have something of real value. Marx considered human government the savior of mankind that would lead people to utopia.
Marx's writings inspired generations of revolutionaries that embarked on the largest economic social experiment of all time. The experiment to see if an all powerful government owning all property could create a perfect utopian society failed miserably. Historians estimate that between 70 million and 100 million people were killed by communist governments in their quest for utopia.
Nevertheless Marxist ideas still guide the socialistic tendencies of all the modern democracies of Europe and of North and South America.
A generation after Darwin and Marx a bolder and more passionately atheistic philosopher arose. His name was Friedrich Nietzsche and he believed that humans are most profoundly motivated by a desire to dominate others. Nietzsche called this "the will to power."
Nietzsche was an existentialist philosopher. Existentialism is radical individualism in which the individual must exert his own will and throw off social convention to create his own unique life. He regarded those who lived according to the rules as inauthentic, as mere followers and small minded.
Nietzsche rejected God's law and wrote some overtly blasphemous things. He also had radical views on politics. He was of the opinion that all the great civilizations of the ancient world were built on slavery and brutality in which the intellectual elite lived luxuriously off of the hard labor of the many.
He rationalized that slavery and oppression were good because it freed the elite to build fabulous buildings and produce great works of art. Hitler read Nietzsche extensively and even gave copies of Nietzsche's books to his officer corps.
Nietzsche's existentialism and atheism was very influential among the intellectuals of his own time and reverberates down to our own day especially in postmodernism. Nietzsche influenced the existentialist philosophers Jean Paul Sartre and Albert Camus and their post WWII philosophy of pessimism. The youth rebellion of the 1960s had many elements of Nietzschean radical existentialism.
Sigmund Freud regarded as the principle motivator of humans. His entire psychoanalytic therapy is based on the influence of feelings and desires. He was especially concerned with repression of urges and how that influenced the mental health of the individual.
Those he influenced went on to launch the revolution in which traditional family structure and fidelity were abandoned. This also is a great social experiment that is ruining lives all across the world. Family breakdown, child abandonment, abortion of millions of babies and the spread of more than three dozen varieties of transmitted disease are grim witness to anarchy.
Darwin saw man as a soulless animal motivated only by the will to survive. Marx saw man as a purely economic creature. Nietzsche saw man through the lens of power and the will to rule others. Freud saw man as motivated disproportionately by . Their blasphemy and lawlessness has torn the heart out of humanity and brought about the alienation and despair that leads to lawlessness, family breakdown, serial killings, shooting sprees and teenage suicide.
Darwin, Marx, Nietzsche and Freud worked no miracles and had no supernatural accreditation yet billions of people follow them. These four men offered nothing but a vain attempt at utopia in this life and no promise of life hereafter.
Jesus Christ by contrast came in fulfillment of over three hundred predictive prophecies that were written in the Old Testament hundreds of years before His birth. He worked miracles among the people of his time and miracles still occur today in His name.
Jesus taught us God's morals and He lived a perfect life and then suffered and died for our sins. We receive forgiveness of sins through Christ. He is the promised Messiah of Israel and the redeemer of all mankind.
Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. This also was foretold by the prophets. Those four men rule from the grave but Christ rules from heaven and is greater than all.
Bill Nugent has written many articles on Christianity, philosophy and science. He has also written books that give Bible based teaching on sanctification and that caution against the error of legalism. His books are available at his website http://www.gracelawandsonship.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_Nugent
2012 - Surviving a Natural Catastrophe in a Luxury Shelter
"After the Storm"
Imagine a natural disaster of extreme proportions, such as predicted by Mayans for 2012. You are lucky enough to have entered a luxurius underground shelter. Surviving the underground is the primary concern for victims of a disaster. However, while underground, careful planning has to be done for when the time comes to emerge above ground. The nature of the disaster would most likely dictate the course of action throughout the whole ordeal.
If it is a nuclear fall-out or similar radiation induced catastrophe, one will be faced with the ultimate next genesis: lack of vegetation, polluted atmosphere, no rule of law, etc. If it is a chemical attack or terrorism, perhaps a somewhat different situation will take place.
While underground, someone, like the site manager - or an "after the storm" committee, would coordinate efforts to equip all underground occupants with the best possible training to face the new environment, the new life. Activities may include farming under extreme conditions, water purification, 1st aid, etc. Again, the social interaction should have created a team-like mentality whose main purpose is survival of the species.
How Mini-societies Address the Human Psychology of Living Underground
The philosophy of creating a mini-society precipitates the cultivation of an environment which mimics the normal way of living as practically as possible. To that end, a luxury mini-society type of shelter will be equipped to provide various facilities and programs that would offer its occupants solutions, not only on the survival aspect but also on preserving social interaction and personal engagement. Below is a list of resources and activities that would satisfy these tasks:
1. Library - Resources to educate members; classes will be held - utilizing library resources, to educate and promote social interaction; how to show compassion to each other's concerns, to be forgiving to one's mistakes, to help each other as needed, and so on
2. Emergency drills; members will be educated as to the various levels of support, e.g., site management, medical expertise, equipment, etc; classes for CPR, and other emergencies will be held on a regular basis
3. Quality of Life related; classes on exercise and nutrition will be held on a regular basis to achieve maximum energy, nutrition and health balance; regular data gathering on vitals for each member, such as weight, BP, etc; communicate and analyze these data for each member and compare to the shelter's average
4. Preparation for "After the Storm"; classes will be held - utilizing library resources and personal experiences, to educate members on "how to" achieve a new beginning when above ground; areas of interest will be established upon analyzing the nature of the disaster
5. Comfort Promotes Civility; luxury engineering and design must take survival underground to a higher level; such a shelter is a living community where the prevailing thought is to design an environment as close to the natural above ground environment as possible; exercising equipment found in brand name gyms, such as elliptical trend mills, are placed in the shelter to promote social interaction, health maintenance and hence civility within the confines of the community; areas for studies, relaxation and games are included to facilitate the community oriented feel
Conclusion
Natural disasters, or acts of terrorism have shown to bring the best out of people and most go beyond the simple call of duty. Perhaps it is within the human nature to do good, to create, and yes to survive - to keep going, that brings people together. So far, disasters have proven to be temporary phenomena, not big enough to win over humanity. We cannot sit passively and expect that nature will take care of humanity, at infinitum. We have to do our part. Hopefully, this guide makes for a small, but meaningful contribution towards the ultimate goal: preservation of our species.
Did you find this article informative, thought provoking or interesting? For more information please go to: http://www.terravivos.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Poulios
Imagine a natural disaster of extreme proportions, such as predicted by Mayans for 2012. You are lucky enough to have entered a luxurius underground shelter. Surviving the underground is the primary concern for victims of a disaster. However, while underground, careful planning has to be done for when the time comes to emerge above ground. The nature of the disaster would most likely dictate the course of action throughout the whole ordeal.
If it is a nuclear fall-out or similar radiation induced catastrophe, one will be faced with the ultimate next genesis: lack of vegetation, polluted atmosphere, no rule of law, etc. If it is a chemical attack or terrorism, perhaps a somewhat different situation will take place.
While underground, someone, like the site manager - or an "after the storm" committee, would coordinate efforts to equip all underground occupants with the best possible training to face the new environment, the new life. Activities may include farming under extreme conditions, water purification, 1st aid, etc. Again, the social interaction should have created a team-like mentality whose main purpose is survival of the species.
How Mini-societies Address the Human Psychology of Living Underground
The philosophy of creating a mini-society precipitates the cultivation of an environment which mimics the normal way of living as practically as possible. To that end, a luxury mini-society type of shelter will be equipped to provide various facilities and programs that would offer its occupants solutions, not only on the survival aspect but also on preserving social interaction and personal engagement. Below is a list of resources and activities that would satisfy these tasks:
1. Library - Resources to educate members; classes will be held - utilizing library resources, to educate and promote social interaction; how to show compassion to each other's concerns, to be forgiving to one's mistakes, to help each other as needed, and so on
2. Emergency drills; members will be educated as to the various levels of support, e.g., site management, medical expertise, equipment, etc; classes for CPR, and other emergencies will be held on a regular basis
3. Quality of Life related; classes on exercise and nutrition will be held on a regular basis to achieve maximum energy, nutrition and health balance; regular data gathering on vitals for each member, such as weight, BP, etc; communicate and analyze these data for each member and compare to the shelter's average
4. Preparation for "After the Storm"; classes will be held - utilizing library resources and personal experiences, to educate members on "how to" achieve a new beginning when above ground; areas of interest will be established upon analyzing the nature of the disaster
5. Comfort Promotes Civility; luxury engineering and design must take survival underground to a higher level; such a shelter is a living community where the prevailing thought is to design an environment as close to the natural above ground environment as possible; exercising equipment found in brand name gyms, such as elliptical trend mills, are placed in the shelter to promote social interaction, health maintenance and hence civility within the confines of the community; areas for studies, relaxation and games are included to facilitate the community oriented feel
Conclusion
Natural disasters, or acts of terrorism have shown to bring the best out of people and most go beyond the simple call of duty. Perhaps it is within the human nature to do good, to create, and yes to survive - to keep going, that brings people together. So far, disasters have proven to be temporary phenomena, not big enough to win over humanity. We cannot sit passively and expect that nature will take care of humanity, at infinitum. We have to do our part. Hopefully, this guide makes for a small, but meaningful contribution towards the ultimate goal: preservation of our species.
Did you find this article informative, thought provoking or interesting? For more information please go to: http://www.terravivos.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Poulios
Survival 2012 and the Predicted Earth Changes Pointing to Where to Live in 2012
The prophecy of 2012 has many people question the idea of survival 2012. The idea of survival 2012 states that the enlightened will live along the path to spiritual havens while the unenlightened will struggle and eventually perish a world born anew. Every potential prophesy taken all the way from Nostradamus to the Hopi tribe has landed on the fate of humanity come 2012.
One can only start to tally the evidence which has been with us for longer than we could have imagined. From the earliest prophets in the earliest of times to those who started receiving messages only 20 years ago, the prophesy of 2012 has become a highly debated and mysterious entity in which we all might have to face with little control over our own fate.
What does this mean? It's not like the Earth is simply a merry go round with a directional spinning guide. If it were to switch direction of its rotation, we would likely see weather and other phenomenon related disasters all over the world. There would be no survival 2012 for there would be little left of the planet to survive upon. People would go insane and fear would be the greatest ruling factor of our time.
It is said that survival 2012 may very well depend on individual enlightenment. Those who live and work in an enlightened state are more likely to embrace a future that is different, that has been struck by catastrophe, and that may require complete rebuilding. This said, it has been argued that children, especially under the age of 5, are considered to be more enlightened than most adults could ever aspire to. Thus, should a cataclysmic event threaten us and require enlightenment for survival 2012, then not a single child from the age of 5 and younger should be in harm's way.
The polar shift 2012 is said to be the defining moment of our civilization. We may very well one day wake up to find that our planet is switching the direction of its rotation will inevitably result in serious disaster. This disaster is said to be the worst we will ever see, and those that are taken from life at the moment of the polar shift 2012 will be considered the lucky ones.
Everything from our economy to our environment to our educational system suffers greatly. Perhaps removing our societal binds, destroying the value of money, and creating a human race that was more concerned with their own enlightenment would change things for the better.
It is impossible to determine whether anyone, from Nostradamus fans to Gordon Michael Scallion followers, to the works of Lori Toye and her husband have anything to do with the potential for Earth changes and prophesies 2012 until the end of 2012. Maybe we will all need to walk a more enlightened path or perhaps it won't matter. No matter how hard we try, no one has ever been able to accurately and securely predict the future to the letter.
Could this be true? If it is, there is speculation that the best places when considering where to live in 2012 would probably be the Northern Midwest in the United States and parts of Middle Canada. With the Earth changes that are predicted to come, it is impossible to tell whether there will be a greater need for farming or for defense. What is one agreed upon point is that the Prophesy 2012 is going to bring change for us all.
Find out more about this subject at http://www.newbeginningordoomsday.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jean_Hantch
One can only start to tally the evidence which has been with us for longer than we could have imagined. From the earliest prophets in the earliest of times to those who started receiving messages only 20 years ago, the prophesy of 2012 has become a highly debated and mysterious entity in which we all might have to face with little control over our own fate.
What does this mean? It's not like the Earth is simply a merry go round with a directional spinning guide. If it were to switch direction of its rotation, we would likely see weather and other phenomenon related disasters all over the world. There would be no survival 2012 for there would be little left of the planet to survive upon. People would go insane and fear would be the greatest ruling factor of our time.
It is said that survival 2012 may very well depend on individual enlightenment. Those who live and work in an enlightened state are more likely to embrace a future that is different, that has been struck by catastrophe, and that may require complete rebuilding. This said, it has been argued that children, especially under the age of 5, are considered to be more enlightened than most adults could ever aspire to. Thus, should a cataclysmic event threaten us and require enlightenment for survival 2012, then not a single child from the age of 5 and younger should be in harm's way.
The polar shift 2012 is said to be the defining moment of our civilization. We may very well one day wake up to find that our planet is switching the direction of its rotation will inevitably result in serious disaster. This disaster is said to be the worst we will ever see, and those that are taken from life at the moment of the polar shift 2012 will be considered the lucky ones.
Everything from our economy to our environment to our educational system suffers greatly. Perhaps removing our societal binds, destroying the value of money, and creating a human race that was more concerned with their own enlightenment would change things for the better.
It is impossible to determine whether anyone, from Nostradamus fans to Gordon Michael Scallion followers, to the works of Lori Toye and her husband have anything to do with the potential for Earth changes and prophesies 2012 until the end of 2012. Maybe we will all need to walk a more enlightened path or perhaps it won't matter. No matter how hard we try, no one has ever been able to accurately and securely predict the future to the letter.
Could this be true? If it is, there is speculation that the best places when considering where to live in 2012 would probably be the Northern Midwest in the United States and parts of Middle Canada. With the Earth changes that are predicted to come, it is impossible to tell whether there will be a greater need for farming or for defense. What is one agreed upon point is that the Prophesy 2012 is going to bring change for us all.
Find out more about this subject at http://www.newbeginningordoomsday.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jean_Hantch
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