La Magia y Tu (translation, chapter 1)

This is a book that I purchased at Barnes and Nobles in the Spanish section. So far I can't find any actual English translation anywhere, so I've begun translating it myself (thank goodness for Google Translator, though I have to fix its occasional mistakes). Here is the first chapter! Enjoy and blessed be!

Magic and You

By Migene González-Wippler

(Translated by Autumn Gracy)

1.   God and Nature

God is the creative force of the universe. All those who doubt the existence of god just have to look to nature to be convinced of the presence of a supernatural force within everything that exists. From the leaf of a tree to the subtle perfume of a rose, from the cry of a newborn to the circulation of blood and the magnitude of the human brain, everything in nature proclaims the creative power of God. So far, science cannot explain the evolution of life on earth, or how the first cell—the origin of life—was created. And the most extraordinary and incomprehensible thing is that everything that exists—from the smallest ant to the human being—came from the same original cell. It is inconceivable that everything that exists on earth and in the universe is the result of a cosmic accident. There is only one explanation for the creation and that explanation is the power of God. The great physicist Albert Einstein, who was a great believer in God, once said: "God is subtle but not malicious." That is, everything in nature and the universe has been created with great skill and finesse; not with the intention of misleading man, but with the idea of ​​enlarging his mind and polishing his spirit.

God is only one. All the different religions and faiths worship the same god with different names. The Arabs know him as Allah, the Jews call him Yahweh, the Hindus call him Brahma, the Santeros call him Oloddumarel, but in reality everyone is worshiping the same force because God has many names and many faces. The greatest sin and the greatest offense that can be done to God is to deny that he is the only god that exists. Whosoever thinks that the gods of the Egyptians and the gods of the witches and Aztec Indians are different forces that are not the true God is denying the unity of God because in reality there is nothing without him. This is the first and biggest truth you have to learn to be human. God is only one and there is nothing other than God.
The existence of God has been proven by modern science many years ago. Believing in God is not only an act of faith is a scientific reality.

God is expressed in thousands of ways in nature. His cosmic energy exists in every leaf, every grain of sand; in short, everything that exists. Some substances have a concentration of energy more powerful than others and these are used in works of magic. Among these substances are certain plants, trees, fruits, roots and stones. When assembled with the magic, the cosmic energy of each substance gives more strength to the intention of the work of magic and makes it more powerful and effective.

Everything that exists in nature is under the domain of the humans, as God gave man control over the earth and everything in it. But this also means that we as human beings have the responsibility of caring for nature and not abusing it. God gave man free will to choose good or evil, but also created several cosmic laws which cannot be infringed. When a man violates one of these laws, he sooner or later receives punishment for his fault. All different religions have sacred books where these laws--all similar--are written. For both Jews and Christians these laws are in the Bible, known as the judgments and statutes. These laws are outlined in the book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy in the Old Testament.

Many people think that so-called 'magic' is nothing but pure superstition and ignorance. Others believe that magic is an offense to God and as such is a sin. Neither is true. God made humans free to choose their life and gave them a guide; a series of laws. You can do with your life what you want. That includes magic. But what is magic and how does it work?

The magic is nothing but the intention to change something we do not like in our lives or something we want to attract to us. That intention, using rituals and special ingredients, is known as magic. So the magic is nothing but the exercise of human will, which God gave us to create humans. In terms of its operation, magic works through mental power, which is entirely natural and acceptable to modern science. Magic is not superstition, it is reality.

Because I Could Not Stop for Death (poem)

Because I Could Not Stop for Death

 

Because I could not stop for Death,
He kindly stopped for me;
The carriage held but just ourselves
And Immortality.

We slowly drove, he knew no haste,
And I had put away
My labour, and my leisure too,
For his civility.

We passed the school where children played,
Their lessons scarcely done;
We passed the fields of gazing grain,
We passed the setting sun.

We paused before a house that seemed
A swelling of the ground;
The roof was scarcely visible,
The cornice but a mound.

Since then 'tis centuries; but each
Feels shorter than the day
I first surmised the horses' heads
Were toward eternity.

-Emily Dickinson

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe (my favorite poem!)

The Raven

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
`'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more,'

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Sir,' said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!'
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!'
Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more!'

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, `art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as `Nevermore.'

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'
Then the bird said, `Nevermore.'

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
`Doubtless,' said I, `what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore
Of "Never-nevermore."'

But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking `Nevermore.'

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
`Wretch,' I cried, `thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Prophet!' said I, `thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!

-Edgar Allen Poe, 1845

Egyptian Music - Loreena McKennitt

Full Circle - Loreena McKennitt

Discrimination Against Pagans in the US Today

     "The dogmas of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country."
-Abraham Lincoln

     Hello everyone and blessed be~! I've been super busy with college starting back up and working on renovating my house with my brother, so I haven't had much time to blog (or do much of anything else for that matter). But I have weekends free, so today I would like to discuss the impact of intolerance, ignorance, and mob-mentalities on the pagan community today. And this isn't just about Wiccan, pagans, or one particular group, this goes for everybody. Discrimination is wrong no matter who does it or why. Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Wiccan, Jewish, whatever you are, you have the God (or Goddess) given right to religious freedom! (We should also support LGBT--lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders--but that's a topic for another day)

     "We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people."
  -John F. Kennedy

     So far I haven't had any (real) issues with discrimination myself, thank the Divine, but that doesn't mean it's not a big problem for others. People may just brush this off with a "you're being overly-sensitive", but honestly there is still a lot of discrimination today and it's not even vaguely funny. People have been fired from jobs, shunned by their classmates or communities, received hatemail or any other number of cruelties based upon intolerance of religion. This is truly an outrage because the Unites States is and should be a haven for all kinds of races, cultures and religions. Don't we ourselves fondly call it a "melting pot"? Yet the amount of intolerance that still pervades American culture is astounding and quite shocking.

     Some accounts include:

• Schools banning the pentacle (but not other religious symbols) saying it is a symbol used by Satan worshippers or gang members
• Burial wishes to have the pentacle carved into gravestones denied by the military/US government (This has since been resolved, after 10 years of protesting and hard work)
• Being told that Wicca is inappropriate or blasphemous for employees, teachers, or students to practice, believe, advocate, or display via apparel
• Pagan sites being banned on certain WiFi networks (being labeled as inappropriate right along with porn sites or other such things)
• Being verbally attacked for one's religious views
• Being fired from jobs, suspended without pay, etc. simply for being pagan
• Having others deface property with graffiti bearing hateful messages
• Having people actually stand outside one's house protesting one's religion
• Being told that one's faith will send them to Hell
• Government officials disallowing access to pagan information or tools (such as candles, bells, books, etc.) for inmates while other inmates are free to practice their own religion. (I will point out that obviously some things have to be denied for safety such as athames and bolenes, and possibly candles because of the fire risk, though electric ones seem fine, but things like books should be fair game).
• And yes, even young kids being kicked out of Boy Scouts.

     On a more personal note, I just found out (literally about 4 seconds ago) that my favorite store, Hot Topic, has apparently banned the sale of any "witch or Wiccan" goods. Well gosh, maybe when I go to the mall now I might be more inclined to visit Spencer's to get a shiny new pentacle...

     "If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all."
  -Noam Chomsky

     Many actions have been taken to stop this all too antiquated practice of intolerance, but it's simply not enough. Yes, some legal actions such as lawsuits have been won, but compared to how any have been lost and gone unnoticed it is a disgrace. The Constitution clearly states that all US citizens have the basic right of religious freedom and the freedom of speech, yet these rights are continuously denied by other citizens and sometimes even the government itself.

     "Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too."
  -Voltaire

     Here is just a small compilation of some injustices done to pagans in the US today:
http://www.equip.org/articles/witches-asserting-their-rights-in-three-cases
http://www.rapunzellstower.com/Pagan/discpaper.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_discrimination_against_Neopagans
http://www.newser.com/story/115098/ex-tsa-employee-i-was-fired-because-im-a-witch.html
http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/christian/blfaq_viol_wicca.htm
http://www.sodahead.com/living/is-it-ok-for-the-boy-scouts-to-discriminate-against-wiccans-athiests-and-homosexuals/question-2409735/?page=4&postId=76103187#post_76103187&link=ibaf&q=&imgurl=http://images.sodahead.com/profiles/0/0/2/0/1/0/6/6/1/Man-and-Horse-that-Built-Civilization-67201288868.jpeg
http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=341587
http://obit-mag.com/articles/a-wiccan-veterans-memorial

     On the bright side here are some cases of justice and nondiscrimination:
http://www.erlan.org/DecreasingLegalCases-pub.htm
http://www.verticalsearcher.com/2010/10/wicca.html

     Even when you lie battered and bloodied at the feet of your enemy, treat them with love and forgiveness, as you would they treat you. Stand tall and resolute, and exemplify the merciful love of the Divine to all, especially those who oppose you--they need it most. If you allow your enemy to instill anger and vengeance in your heart, they have already won. Only through peace of mind can we be secure in our beliefs. As Gandhi once said,

     "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."
and
     "You can't shake hands with a clenched fist."

     Keep the Wiccan Rede always in your heart--"An harm ye none do what ye will"--and you will find strength to carry on even under persecution. Love thy neighbor even if he doesn't love you back, I say. It is only through agape, boundless love, that we will bring about the peace we so desperately desire.

     Another thing to remember is that the second best defense against discrimination is knowledge. You need facts and a good angle with which to argue equal rights treatment, and if you can't back up your points with a little good ol' fashioned wit than people may not consider your argument valid.

     If you have been discriminated against in your workplace simply for what religion you follow (pagan or not) you should contact a civil rights law firm like this one: http://www.employmentlawgroup.net/PracticeAreas/Discrimination-Law.asp?_SR=Google%20Adwords&_AC=National%20Discrimination&_AG=General%20Discrimination&_kk=employment%20discrimination%20cases&_kt=758a69bd-d787-48de-a6d8-642d44022c0b&gclid=CNnr-q2_860CFcXd4Aodjiysuw (<---They even have live people online to help you when you arrive at the site!)

As always, blessed be,
-Autumn

Sabbats and Esbats of 2012

Sabbats (Holidays)

Imbolg (or Imbolc)- Thursday, February 2nd
Ostara/Spring Equinox - Tuesday, March 20th
Beltane - Tuesday, May 1st
Litha/Midsummer/Summer Solstice - Wednesday, June 20th
Lughnasadh (Loo-nah-sod) - Wednesday, August 1st
Mabon/Autumn Equinox - Saturday, September 22nd
Samhain (Sow-when/Sow-wane/Sav-in/Sam-Hayne)/Pagan New Years - Wednesday, October 31st
Yule/Winter Solstice - Friday, December 21st

 Esbats (Full Moons)

Monday, January 9th
Tuesday, February 7th
Thursday, March 8th
Friday, April 6th
Sunday, May 6th
Monday, June 4th
Tuesday, July 3rd
Thursday, August 2nd
Friday, August 31st (Blue Moon!)

Sunday, September 30th
Monday, October 29th
Wednesday, November 28th
Friday, December 28th

*Some dates are subject to change (mostly a few days one way or the other) due to varying religious traditions or cultures

Note: In most Pagan traditions, the time around Samhain/Halloween is the New Year, which makes sense because it is the time that plants die and animals go into hibernation in preparation for the cold winter months ahead. The world goes into a slumber at this time and awakens again in Spring at the time around Ostara/The Spring Equinox.

     Personally I find it odd that the modern day New Years is in the middle of winter. It's as if they split a season in half so that there is winter at the beginning and the end of each year, which seems unnatural or unbalanced.

To learn more about the Wheel of the Year, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mabon_(Wicca)#Autumnal_Equinox

To learn more about individual Sabbats (and how to celebrate them), go here: http://wicca.com/celtic/akasha/index0.htm or here: http://www.13moons.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=1&chapter=30