spiritual rambling, thoughts and frustrations

I’m sick and tired of wet rag witchcraft, religion and spirituality! Love light positive energy banish the negativity only love and healing! I’m sick of sickly sweet spiritual things I have a headache from pastels and lilacs. I’m sick of self help magic or magick with the unnecessary K I’m sick of anti negativity and false positivity I’m sick of phrases like ‘living my best life!’ ‘Self love!’ ‘Be your authentic self!’ Yuk!!

 I’m sick of religion and spirituality that sees these things as separate and that denies the reality of God, Gods and other spirits or even reject the reality of miracles and miraculous events in the religion’s structure, faith and traditional history. 

I’m done with the criticism of the occult communities against mainstream communities embracing moderate mystical metaphysical spiritual things! No one has an exclusive right to any of it no one has a monopoly on religion spirituality or the mysteries of existence. Who are you to say some can and others can’t? Who are you to ridicule another on their journey of faith or magics? Your multitudes of initiations and your copious amounts of drug taking and excessive drinking definitely don’t give you the right to be self righteous and judgmental. 

Stop stopping others from exploring their spirituality and spiritual transformation stop claiming cultural appropriation and persecution when the only persecution is self made and all individuals and cultures are guilty of cultural appropriation. Stop criticising condemning and boycotting! 

Start learning and start guiding and teaching when correcting it needed. Guide  and teach with real answers and truth not halfhearted responses or arrogant entitlement. Teach and open all the doors you keep barricaded with unnecessary rules of secrecy and an ego centric attitude that goes with it. Remember always you are not the god or power you worship but a fellow servant and pilgrim on the journey. 

I don’t believe witchcraft is meant to be about the attainment of enlightenment or some sort of spiritual transformation or transcendence. I really don’t think that’s the role of witchcraft. It may be a by product or mystical exploration in the practice of witchcraft but I don’t think enlightenment is the goal of or in witchcraft. 

I’m skeptical about witch cult theories and crypto paganism whilst I believe that folk religion and magic and folk lore and medicine may have syncretic and  connected links to indigenous cultures pasts and shamanic like practices but for the most part they are essentially Christianised and are a type of folk Christian practice rather then “underground paganism” or pagan witchcraft if there really was such a thing. I definitely don’t believe that real witches were executed during the witch trials in history. There’s no witchcraft religious persecution! Get a grip already! 

I have no issues with the Devil in witchcraft but would argue that this may not be the Judaic Christian understanding of the being at least in the medieval concept of him. Satan and/or the Devil can’t do anything significant without the will of God allowing him to do it. The medieval theology gave the Devil too much power, power he never had. 

Stop being anti Christianity just because you are a witch pagan or polytheist these modern traditions exist because of Christianity and the church. Stop with conspiracy theories they help no one and only perpetuate misinformation. 

“Also there is no such thing as a "traditional witch", witches are intrinsically eclectic, syncretic, and incorporate everything under the sun and moon into their practice, there is no such thing as orthodox witchcraft, so I see no contradictions here, I've known witches who used Christian prayers, I've known witches that took up with Santero orisha, it is all still witchcraft.”

There’s no such thing as a universal religion of witchcraft 

I’m sick of feminist bull shit witchcraft! I’m sick of the man hating stereotyping goddess spirituality bollocks!! Get over yourselves and stop perpetuating the evils that were perpetuated upon you women! Get a grip already and stop creating a false history about matriarchal cultures that never existed or supposed patriarchal conspiracies. Just stop it! It’s dumb! 

If all gods are one and if everything is connected then Christianity is as much a part of paganism, witchcraft and hermeticism as any other religion or belief system. 

Books of shadows and grimoires are not a form of scripture in witchcraft. 

January looking back and looking forward

2019 has begun and January is nowmeandering it’s way to a close and we stand on the threshold of a new month. 

January is a month that seems to drag its feet, a month that seems to bring sadness after the celebrations of Christmas if you follow the secular understanding of Christmas and believe it is done when the sun sets on 25th of December. From a religious and traditional Christian practice the season of Christmas doesn’t end till the 6th January when the season of Ephany starts and carry’s on to the 2 February with candlemass a celebration of light  and the remembrance of the presentation of Christ in the temple and the blessed Virgin Mary’s Purification. All of these observances and celebrations are points in the new year to remember the divine is with us, revealing himself to the world and recreating our nature in his image, by his incarnation we are a new creation. 

January is a slow month but I think it is intended to be slow, giving us a feeling of getting nowhere fast. That is the perpose of the month and it’s effect on us. January says slow down, breath, thinking and contemplate the new year from a new beginning a new creation if you will. January is the month of introspection a time to go into our selves and make changes if you choose to or to reenergise our motivation for a new year. 

This month was named after the Roman god of thresholds, beginning and endings the two faced god Janus. He looks both to the past and to the future and represents the stop gap or slowing and dragging nature of January. January says stop make peace with the year that is gone it has passed, remember the joy and learn from the sadness. January also says look to the future of the new year and the new creation move forward with hope and mindfulness take the lessons of the last year and grow in this new year. Always remember the centre of it all the present moment, that small narrow point between the two faces of Janus. That mindful moment of right now.

   

Christ’s incarnation is about right now the new creation is not just a hope for the future or a belief of something to come. It is right here right now. The blessing of love is right here right now what we seek is right here right now God is truly with us right here right now. Right now is within us and part of us the whole time. God is within us and part of us the whole time. 

As January closes remember what you are seeking is already within you. Let us move into February ready to be purified and put our contemplation into loving action ready to grow as the first signs of spring reveal themselves and the new creation is born through us. 

I missed Mass today

I’m skipping church today. I missed mass today, I know it’s not a good thing to do. The Eucharist, the holy sacrament, the Mass is the central part of faith and worship the mystic unity between God and humanity, heaven and earth with all the saints prophets and angels and ancestors. I love the Mass, so why am I not going today? 

For me there is such a thing as too much church, too much obligation and a very real sense of religious and spiritual burnout. I didn’t go today because I didn’t want to sing in the choir this morning I didn’t want to pretend that I’m good at singing in a tired and drained state.  I didn’t want to put on the happy grin of Christian fellowship and communion. I didn’t want the annoying small talk and the sensation of not being heard or listened to or that I’m annoying. I know I’m annoying I ask odd questions that on one thinks of. 

I love Christ, even as a spiritual eclectic and syncretic and a warlock witch, I love Christ and his church and sacraments I love the catholic faith in all its diversity. Sometimes it is best to come away from the community for a time. To commune with God and heaven in solitude and with the holy scripture of creation. To partake and receive Christ in the sacrament of silence, solitude and rest. To go to Christ in the wilderness of simple mundane life before kneeling before his holy and real presence at is glorious altar. 

I didn’t go to mass today. 

A short rant

One of the many mystic, religious and spiritual traditions I follow and practice to some extent is Witchcraft and my path or tradition is a blended one shaped by many religious and mystic occult idea and concepts. Not going to sugar coat it, I’m a book learned witch (warlock is also a label I like!) I haven’t been part of some powerful initiation through some so called ancient tradition or order, I don’t have a long family heritage of mystic or witchcraft practice. I started my journey as a curious teenager buying books experimenting and learning on my own. My choice mostly. 

From this learning journey I’ve come to the view that witchcraft is definitely not a religion and it’s certainly not “the old religion” as some claim. I reject crypto paganism ideas I reject the witch cult underground servival ideas and I reject any notion that the witch trials involved the execution of any one remotely practicing witchcraft or that it was some sort of religious persecution. I reject conspiracy theories and concepts of a universal pagan witchcraft religion. I reject the historic claims of Wicca but don’t reject it entirely as a modern branch of Witchcraft and/or a type of Mystery tradition. This is something that has taken along time to accept. At least from what I know of Wicca as a tradition outside of initiation and through books. I reject the constant anti Christian and anti Abrahamic religion conspiracies and retric.

While my path and personal practice has been shaped by Wicca and these ideas, it’s easy to see, when reading actual reliable history, that it doesn’t fit and appears completely made up and contrived. Now I’m not completely against Wicca I started with Wiccan ideas and rituals and I have a fondness for some ritual structure of that tradition. But I’m definitely not Wiccan. 

If I’m truly honest I don’t really know what I am or what my path is. Hedge Witch or Warlock are terms I like but they are loaded with baggage. I guess I’m some sort of syncretic, Anglo-Catholic Christian mystic that has a personal blended tradition shaped by folklore, folk magic and folk religion with elements of Occult esoteric ideas, modern witchcraft, neopaganisn and animist spirituality. 

blessed sacrament and Anglican prayer beads

Chaplet of the blessed sacrament with Anglican prayer beads to be said in adoration of the blessed sacrament in meditation on the body and blood of Christ 

Cross 

+ in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit Amen 

Apostle creed 

Initiatory bead

Our Father 

Hail Mary 

O God make speed to save me (us),
O Lord make haste to help me (us),
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world with out end Amen.

Cruciform beads 

Angus dei

Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

Week beads 

Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament have mercy on us! 

At end of each week say:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world with out end Amen.

At end of four weeks on the first cruciform bead or on holy medals say:

Oh sacrament most holy oh sacrament divine all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. 

Cross 

+ in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit Amen 

Heavenly Father 

We thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of you son our saviour Jesus Christ, through him we offer our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice, send us out in the power of your spirit to live and work to your praise and glory 

Amen 

blessed sacrament and Anglican prayer beads

Chaplet of the blessed sacrament with Anglican prayer beads to be said when unable to receive communion, in meditation on the body and blood of Christ 

Cross 

+ in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit Amen 

Apostle creed 

Initiatory bead

Our Father 

Hail Mary 

O God make speed to save me (us),
O Lord make haste to help me (us),
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world with out end Amen.

Cruciform beads 

As I cannot now receive Thee, my Jesus, in Holy Communion, come, spiritually into my heart, and make it Thine own forever.

Week beads 

Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament have mercy on us! 

At end of each week bead say:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world with out end Amen.

At end of four weeks on the first cruciform bead or on holy medals say:

Angus dei

Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

Oh sacrament most holy oh sacrament divine all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. 

Cross 

+ in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit Amen 

Heavenly Father 

We thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of you son our saviour Jesus Christ, through him we offer our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice, send us out in the power of your spirit to live and work to your praise and glory 

Amen

blessed sacrament chaplet and Anglican prayer beads

Beads of The Blessed Sacrament, Chaplet Prayer

Blessed Sacrament Beads

Blessed Sacrament Fathers

These consist of a medal of the Blessed Sacrament and 33 beads, recalling the 33 years of Christ's life on earth.

On the medal one makes a spiritual communion as follows:

As I cannot now receive Thee, my Jesus, in Holy Communion, come, spiritually into my heart, and make it Thine own forever.

On each bead say:

Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament have mercy on us!

Anglican prayer beads 

Anglican prayer bead sets consist of thirty-three beads divided into groups. There are four groups consisting of seven beads with additional separate and larger beads separating the groups. The number thirty-three signifies the number of years that Christ lived on the Earth, while the number seven signifies wholeness or completion in the faith, the days of creation, and the seasons of the Church year.[4]  The groupings are called "weeks", in contrast to the Dominican rosary which uses five groups of ten beads called "decades". The beads between are usually larger than the "weeks" beads are called "cruciform" beads. When the loop of beads is opened into a circular shape, these particular beads form the points of a cross within the circle of the set, hence the term "cruciform". Next after the cross on Anglican prayer bead sets is a single bead termed the "invitatory" bead, giving the total of thirty-three. The beads used are made of a variety of materials, such as precious stones, wood, coloured glass, or even dried and painted seeds.

Anglican prayer bead sets are made with a variety of crosses or, occasionally, crucifixes. The Celtic cross and the San Damiano cross are two which are often used.

Unlike the Dominican rosary used by Roman and Anglo Catholics, which focuses on the germane events in the life of Christ and asks the Virgin Mary to pray for their intentions, Anglican prayer beads are most often used as a tactile aid to prayer and as a counting device. The standard Anglican set consists of the following pattern, starting with the cross, followed by the Invitatory Bead, and subsequently, the first Cruciformbead, moving to the right, through the first set of seven beads to the next Cruciform bead, continuing around the circle. He or she may conclude by saying the Lord's Prayer on the invitatory bead and/or a final prayer on the cross as in the examples below. The entire circle may be done thrice, which signifies the Holy Trinity.[4]

• The Cross
 In the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.


• The Invitatory
 O God make speed to save me (us),
O Lord make haste to help me (us),
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.


• The Cruciforms
 Holy God,
 Holy and Mighty,
 Holy Immortal One,
 Have mercy upon me (us).

 The Weeks
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
 Have mercy on me, a sinner.

  
• The Lord's Prayer
 Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
 thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
 on earth as it is in heaven.
 Give us this day our daily bread.
 And forgive us our trespasses,
 as we forgive those who trespass against us.
 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
 For thine is the kingdom,
 and the power, and the glory,
 for ever and ever. Amen.


• The Cross 
I bless the Lord.
(Let us bless the Lord
Thanks be to God.)[5] (Wikipedia)

It would be interesting to merge the chaplet of the blessed sacrament with the pattern of the Anglican prayer beads, as there are similarities. And to include the blessed mother in the prayer. 

Love for all on ST Valentine's day

So I have been reading and following recently the issues surrounding the place of human sexuality and marriage within the Church of England. As there is a lot out there that is either negative to the Church's stance on the issue or to those who believe otherwise or in favour of the church allowing same sex marriage I want to share my thoughts a short prayer I wrote to St Valentine.

According to tradition St Valentine was a Bishop in ancient Rome who secretly married couples when the emperor at the time out lawed marriage, St Valentine was someone who fought for the sacrament of marriage and for those lovers to be aloud to have a sacred union and to celebrate there love. Now obviously I don’t for one moment think St Valentine, were he alive now, would support same sex marriages in the Church, it would be lovely if he did! nor do I personally worry if the Church of England will make allowances for gay marriages to be celebrated in the Church, if they do great, if not then they have stuck to their convictions of their cannon laws and doctrines and the church should be commended for that not ridiculed.

As a gay man who would love to be married to my partner in church and to have my faith publicly celebrate my love and relationship, this would be the biggest blessing ever; but I'm not worried if that day never happens because the church has, in  my experience anyway, come pretty far in its acceptance of her faithful homosexuals and our relationship with the Divine. Lets not force things to be done quickly but, in a spirit of love, let things develop slowly and with a foundation in the continuity of the church's history, traditions and reason. I think it is also important to stress that allowing same sex couples to marry in a religious context does not destroy the sanctity of marriage or its holiness but fulfils it and affirms it. Marriage as a holy sacrament should be available for all if they wish it. (this is all my own opinion based on my faith and personl hopes and views)

St Valentine

Dear Saint and Martyr

You who taught the importance of love

And the Sacrament of Marriage, who in

Opposition to the law of your time married those Forbidden from this sacrament,

Please pray to Almighty God that in our time

The blessing of Love and Marriage can be a sacrament Available to all and that none should be Forbidden from its holiness.

St Valentine Pray for us who have recourse to thee

The burden of our cross and life

I haven't written much lately on mystic things as life has overwhelmed me with difficult things and burdens that need attending and carrying. It seems I am also experiencing a "dark night of the soul". But there will be more insights coming and some creative things too. 

All Hallows eve and all souls

I light a candle for my ancestors, departed loved ones and the saints. Let's embrace those that watch over us and at this time where summer truly ends and winter starts, may we always have their guidance. Let life's cycle start again from the womb of winter and in this darkness may we be lead to the mystery and wisdom in the shadows. We pray for our ancestors may all the saints pray for us. Come to my candles spirits of the dead come and join us in our celebration and rememberance  of you and your love. Bring us guidance and bring us your love. All ancestors known and unknown from time beyond time blood of my blood spirits of my spirit come celebrate with us and depart in joy and love to continue to watch over us. Thanks be to our Lord who governs death by is resurrection and  to our Lady who weeps tears of prayer for us in shadowed places. Amen 

Hidden symbols

Hidden Symbols and the early Christian Fish
 

I was thinking briefly about hidden symbols, as I do from time to time I contemplate the most random of

things and the most pointless. However, this one seemed quite significant; so imagen for a moment the fish symbol used in Christianity, thought to be one of the oldest markers of identifying a secret Christian from the first century. Now I  know that it is accepted that early Christians would not have used the cross a religious symbol for the main reason of it being a sign of execution. Now, this is just the tangent my mind works in but what if they did use the cross!? Look at the graphic shape of the icthus fish, could it possibly be a looped cross!? A cross hidden in the graphic shape of a fish, a secret cross! It is interesting to note that by the second century the cross was recognised and linked to Christianity by both christians and Non-Christians under the title of 'the Lord's sign' or the 'people/devotees of the cross'.  Just obscure speculation really, makes sense considering a lot of the New Testament reference to the cross, crucifixion and it's central meaning to the faith or the world. Oh well thought it was interesting any way!

Summer Solstice at Coldrum

Friday just gone was the longest day and shortest night of the year, the Summer Solstice. The time of year that celebrates the highest point of the sun in the year and also a time to celebrate completion achievement and to remember our connection to all things. This is a time to remember the departed to also understand that from this day on we slowly progress back to the darkness of winter and to carry the strength of solstice light and energy with us.

I spent this day at Coldrum long burrow in Kent with friends having a small pick nick at the base of the mound after lighting incense and placing offerings and practicing some dowsing at this sacred site. It was a very family centered day and a deep sensation of ancestry was really present at this place.  A very mystic place for quiet personal contemplation and meditation on the solstice energy and the ancestors who rest in the world on the other side of the mound. Beautiful stones and beautiful country side. I love this Solstice time it really helps with a sense of renewal and continued progression for the next half of the year. The first half is done and has passed away and now the new half shall bring prosperity and new achievements.

Thoughts and interpretations of the celtic cross

The Celtic Cross, Solar Cross, Haloed Cross or circled cross has been a subject of interest to many people. Its creation and history is a bit of a mystery, some suggest per-christian origins and being a symbol of life and solar rays with a hint at it representing the four seasons and the cycle of the sun or even Odin's Eye. Others have thought it to be an early form of compos and navigation tool.  Others have highlighted the Christian invention of the Celtic Cross from a story of St Patrick carving a cross over the Circle of a Luna Goddess symbol.

While some are romantic and others are possibly within historic and archeological research, I have been pondering the Celtic Cross for myself and although I have a lot of personal fondness for the romantic per-christian solar origins of the symbol I cant help but keep thinking more about it in a Christian context.


I love Celtic Crosses, the shape and variety of styles and symbolism some even depict stories on them, most are hand carved and very ancient, beautiful pieces of human spiritual invention and creativity. An Icon of devotion! This brings me to my almost epiphany like speculative, but still spiritual, interpretation of the symbol. Could it be possible that these crosses are early representations of the adoration of the Sacrament in Traditional Christian spiritual focus on Christ's sacrifice?

The adoration of the Sacrament is the faithful, devotional and prayerful contemplation of the Real Presence of the Body and Blood of Christ in the bread and wine of the Eucharist or Holy Communion.
(1 Cor 10:16-17, John 6: 51-56, Luke 22:19-20) A deeply mystic and spiritual remembrance of Christ's sacrifice. Now this is usually the displaying of the Sacrament (communion wafer) as the body of Christ in a monstrance or other type of altar or chapel display and the devote is to pray and in most cases consume Eucharist or the bread and wine of communion while viewing and contemplating the mystery of the sacrifice of Christ as the 'bread of life' and it's meaning to the Christian faithful.   It is my observation that the Celtic Cross could be a representation of this adoration. The circle being the Host or bread wafer and by spiritual extension, the body of Christ crucified on the cross. A simple more graphic form of crucifix or type of possible stone monstrance. Ponder the Celtic cross for your self and see what you think. This is only my own personal interpretation.

Nature and The Divine

In keeping with the this theme I have going on the sacred being seen in the natural world I thought I would share more about a mystic Christian group that I find rather inspiring.

The group is called Communities of the Mystic Christ and is a UK Christan group set up to be a non-denominational Mystic Christian community that has a focus of faith in the individual experience of God and a deep connection to the Natural World and recognising God's presence within us and the whole of the surrounding world. My favorite part is the Forest Church and also how they have adopted Celtic and British ancient sacred days of the year that coincide with the Christian ritual calendar.

A deeply spiritual community that I think many will find fulfilling. To find out more you can contact the community through their web site and also get more information on what they are about.

Nature, Religion and Divine Light

It has been a rather sunny last few days of April and sitting in the sun this afternoon got me thinking of our spiritual relationship with nature and with the many faiths we follow. I came up with some simple spiritual principles of many of the worlds religions that, to me, seem to be a primal spiritual concepts and subconscious need of humanity. The need to be part of the divine and to see the divinity of the natural world.

This is a a very basic and general mystic view of underlying spiritual principles of most, if not all the worlds religions and dose not necessarily include the theology and tradition of scriptural based faiths. However the concepts are there in those faiths and theologies.

1. The Sun and Light is the focus of either spiritual metaphor or actual worship, for example, seen in the direction of worship toward east and the sun rising. Also the Father/Sky god is always observing.

2. There is a divine Mother or sacred motherly woman who brings life to the light of the world or is the life of the Earth its self. (Isis berthing Horus, Holy Virgin Mary and Jesus, Myths of Inanna and Dumuzi, Elysian mysteries, Attis and Cybele...)

3. There is Dankness and Balance of both light and dark night and day is almost always a spiritual concept of most faiths.

4. The dead or ancestors are never forgotten or gone from us and have become part of something bigger than us and are borne into a form of immortality and new life within nature.

5. The presence of Spirit or the Divine is in all things and in us.

Something to think about I guess when you next sit in the sun on a sunny day. This is not meant to discredit any faiths but to show that it is a basic human spiritual need to see the natural world as the movement and dance floor of the divine. That these concepts have always been part of continuing and renewing religion since the first humans had the inclination to see divinity, one of those things that have been with us always. "As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be..."

For Mystic Christians

I found this lovely site on mystic Christianity centered round a Christian natural spirituality and thought I would share it here. Hope you enjoy it. In a way this site reminds me of St Francis of Assisi prayer, Canticle of the Creatures.

Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,

all praise is yours, all glory, all honor,
and all blessing.

To you, alone, Most High, do they belong.

No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.

All praise be yours, my Lord,

through all you have made,

and first my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day;

and through whom you give us light.

How beautiful is he, how radiant in all his splendor;

Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

All Praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon

and the stars; in the heavens you have made them,

bright, and precious, and fair.

All praise be yours, my Lord,

through Brothers wind and air, and fair and stormy,

all the weather's moods,

by which you cherish all that you have made.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Water,

so useful, humble, precious and pure.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire,

through whom you brighten up the night.

How beautiful is he, how cheerful!

Full of power and strength.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through our Sister

Mother Earth, who sustains us and governs us,

and produces various fruits with colored flowers

and herbs.

All praise be yours, my Lord,

through those who grant pardon for love of you;

through those who endure sickness and trial.

Happy are those who endure in peace,

By You, Most High, they will be crowned.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Death,

From whose embrace no mortal can escape.

Woe to those who die in mortal sin!

Happy those she finds doing your will!

The second death can do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give him thanks

And serve him with great humility.

Obsessions with Spirituality, The Catholic faith and the Anglican Communion

This is a brief personal explanation of my obsessive nature with spirituality in general and my passion for Catholic Christianity and the Anglican Church/ Church of England. I have been very spiritually minded for as long as I Can remember. My family are Presbyterian being of Scottish heritage I guess that makes sense. My uncle is a Minister in the Presbyterian Church and me and my brother were Baptized/ Christened at the Presbyterian Church of South Africa. Trinity Presbyterian Church in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1985.

My mother has always had a diverse spiritual nature her self, and I blame her for mine! My Grandmother also had a very mixed spiritual upbringing. My Grandmother was sent to a convent school in Zimbabwe in the 1940s and she developed a passion for the Catholic tradition and she tells us that she wanted to become a nun but her Mum would not have it, obviously being a very protestant Scottish woman! Any way, My mother would take us to many different churches on most weekends and the ones I remember the most were the Saturday services at the local Seventh day Adventist Church in Zimbabwe. My Mum soon got baptized with them and we became regular members, my brothers and I were dedicated by them, so started the second stage of our spiritual upbringing. My mum was not very absolutist or fanatical in her faith and most weekends we would go to SDA on the Saturdays and then with a friend of my Mum's to a Pentecostal church called Rhema , on Sundays. Holidays were usually at Presbyterian churches.

When my Dad died and my mum remarried spirituality was almost forgotten in our family and we carried on quite well till moving to the UK. My Mum found her faith and started reading her Bible. We were visited by Jehovah's Witnesses now and then and this I think got my mum back to her faith. I began to take more of an interest at the age of 12, and started sitting in with my mum when the JW's were round. However I was not interested in their teachings as I became fascinated with St Swithen's Church in East Grinstead and found my self joining their choir and eventually being conformed. I loved my time there. So many great memories and Spiritual connectedness with friends in the choir and with the beauty of the church icons and Christian faith; there was a real mystic presence there, one I still feel in most C of E churches. A divine presence that fills me with peace and energy and a feeling of connectedness. I Was conformed in 1998 at the age of 13 and loved every minuet of it. I started becoming more and more spiritually aware of things, at one point I wanted to become a priest when I grew up. But I found doubts and confusion setting in and began taking in a new  interest in the teachings of JWs, in hindsight I wish I hadn't. However I did and was baptized at 14 and was an active member till I was 15 and realized I was gay. I left JW, as I no longer agreed with their teachings and started seeing some very obvious unbiblical and even unchristian teachings going on.

I was encouraged to join a Gospel church by some friends from school but my indoctrination from JW was hard to overcome and I soon lost faith in all Christian denominations. I did however have some very interesting spiritual experiences and began to see the biblical explanation for traditional Christian faith and theology. But my path was leading a different spiritual direction and I started embracing alternative spiritual practices on my own. I started with Modern Wicca and Witchcraft and this has always been a fulfilling path for me. I have grown to include a more personal slightly polytheist path and have become more mystic and eclectic in my spiritual views and practice, including Buddhist and Hindu spirituality in my life.

 I decided one Sunday to return to an Anglican Church and take communion and I did,  I had a very interesting experience, a sensation of electricity running through me and a warmth moving over me from my feet up, probably means I'm completely delusional but it was a deep experience and I have been obsessed with every aspect of the Anglican Church since.  Not only that but I have come to a better understanding of the nature of catholic tradition in the Anglican communion and its basis can be found in the bible, contrary to what is misunderstood by many.

Throughout all this though the Anglican Church has always given me a spiritual sense of connectedness and a feeling that it will always be part of me spiritually. From this I have learned to see the Truth of the Church's heritage and history in scripture and to see that it is one of the few Christian faiths that is fully connected to it's tradition and history and yet sill is open to growth and new insight. The Anglican Church, in my view is a Traditional catholic church that is one of change and constant renewal with the Spirit of God through the Gospel of Jesus. I love the diversity and its Unity. In my view the Anglican Church is a reflection of the Holy Trinity, a unity of diversity in its persons but One in its nature and spirit. This needs to be celebrated more in media and in local communities. I can't say I am a Christian,(due to doubts) but I can say I have faith in the Anglican Communion and in its spiritual growth in Jesus.

Spiritually speaking, I will always have an inclusive mystic path to follow but I will never deny the spiritual connection and faith I have in the Anglican Church, its Catholicism and the Christian gospel it teaches.

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me."

- (1 Corinthians 15:10)

Modern Polytheism Creed

I wrote this out of inspiration from the Catholic creeds. I love the Church creeds and find them amazing pieces of writing to read as well as being uplifting decelerations of Christian faith. I am in no way trying to be derogatory to the Catholic Creeds and they have my full respect and sacred admiration. What I have done here is to take inspiration from the beauty of those creeds and apply them to a modern polytheist frame work. It is purely for my own creative gratification and not in any way meant to be an insult to the Church or the creeds. Here I am trying to use the same language for a more mystic modern pagan polytheism, inclusive of the divers traditions of modern spirituality. I hope and pray it is received with an open and spiritual mind and response.

I will include some calligraphy and typographic art work on this creed and the Christian ones at a later time. Other wise I hope this is an uplifting piece of prose for any modern polytheist who may read it.

 

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A Pagan Polytheist Creed

I Believe in Many Gods the Netjer, the Aesir,Vanir the Olympians, the Titans, the Pantheon, the Deva’s and Devi’s, the Kami the Lwa and Orishas and many more. All Unique, individual, Powerful and Almighty forces of nature, united by their nature and known by the titles of Goddess and God.

I Believe in all things visible and invisible. In Universal Divine energy, the Source, the Spark of Life and the formless unity of the Gods known as the Great Mother and the Great Father, or simply God/Great Spirit and by their unity are the Creators of Heaven and Earth, Gods and Humanity. I Believe in the Spark of life, which is the magic in us all.

I Believe in the Communion of Ancestors and the blessing of life, by the power of the Gods, that they have given us.  I Believe in the Mysteries, the secret understandings, the Occult, hidden in the darkness and the light and reveled by the Gods and spirits to the dedicated and devout.

I Believe in the Holy Power of Nature, the Sacred Temple of life, death, our hearts and homes. The freedom of intent and the balance of all things, the ever ancient and ever renewing, mystic cycle of life and the interconnectedness of all things.

Praise be to all Gods and Ancestors, Amen

Eastern Rite Anglicanism

I think this is a fantastic development within the Anglican Communion. It is a perfect example of the growth and continued development of the Anglican Tradition and its diversity of spiritual understanding.

What this means for the Anglican Churches is the option and inclusion of the beautiful and mystic Byzantine/ Eastern Orthodox liturgy in church worship. It is an attempt to bridge the gap between the western and eastern catholic/orthodox traditions of the Christian faith. I support it. The eastern rites are also compatible with Anglican theology as they are Patristic practices, and in some areas share similarities with Anglican teachings.

In my view this should be a welcomed development within Anglicanism and to a further extent all Traditional Christian liturgies should be freely accepted and used in accordance with church Tradition and Scripture.

If you support this join the Face book group and sign up to their newsletters. I have.

So why this blog?

As a type of short introduction to get this blog up and running, I want to just say why I am doing it. In all honesty this blog is more or less for personal release and gratification. I spend too much of my time obsessing about spirituality; I over think, Annalise and argue about many spiritual and religious ideas. I do all this in my own head because I don't fully think any one is really listening or even cares. ( except, I suppose, the Divine in what ever form they my be...)

So this blog is intended to be a small corner of the vastness of the electronic and digital world where I can put all these thoughts, insights and spiritual ideas and devotions; not so much for others to read and debate or argue but for my own peace of mind. I want people to read my words and ideas, (that is what writing is for really) and hopefully find inspiration. But I am not writing for others, I am writing for me, firstly because I want to write and secondly because I have a lot to say on this path and way of life and would rather it was out of my head! Not everyone will agree with my views and that is a good thing. The Divine love diversity. If nature and humanity is a reflection of the divine "In His image He created them...", and the world is obviously diverse so then the Divine must share in that diversity?

If you do stumble on this blog understand that nothing I write is absolute and some things may not have an historical or Traditional validity in terms of theology and established religion. I will however strive to reference as thoroughly as I can and research what I write when I write about other faiths and historical contexts.  What I will mainly write is my own personal insights into a spiritual path I am walking. However, I will write about religions that I have a close connection to spiritually. Namely, Christianity ( from both Anglican/catholic views and extreme Protestant because I have experience of both and wont lie, I will always be a devoted friend of the Anglican communion (catholic) Christian faith...), Modern Paganism, (modern) Polytheism and Reconstruction traditions (because this is more or less that path a walk now), Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese and Japanese Traditional religion and many of the folk mystic a spiritual practices that will always be in the world in some form or another. Again the spirituality of this writing comes from my own insights and spiritual compulsion. I will say it is a motivation of the Spirit, but I will not say these are the words of the Divine because no words ever written by humanity, saints, prophets or otherwise is ever the actual words of the Divine because all humanity is inherently imperfect, however blessed, enlightened or 'touched by God' they may be; as are their written words. (This in no way invalidates the writings/sayings of saints, sages or prophets. Their insight is and was a valid insight for their age and ours, more or less)  With that said the written words can be an insight to the experience of the Divine and that is what I hope for here. I hope this can be a positive place for others to find their own personal spiritual insights on their Mystic Pathways.