So Beautiful~ Meredith's Artwork

Courtnee Shares Some Cool Stuff!

https://instagram.com/p/BG-uOIITDNC

A girl I follow on instagram, her father recently past and she posted this video!


And a friend sent this picture:

Skeptic's Corner

And, if you want to see my evil plot on Soul Coordinate Drawings:

Strawberry Moon - Part Three

*  So, as you see, it's a great time for spell work and manifestation.  It is the Full Moon, which you now know is the time for prayers of culmination.

*  The Full Moon Effect continues to hold us to its mythology today, and as it's such a rare astronomical event, the next three days this time around.

*  I wish you a very lucky Summer!!!

Strawberry Moon - Part Two

And now, the new learning.

It's been over seventy years since the last time this moon phenomenon occurred in the Northern Hemisphere: A full moon for the Summer Solstice.  The next scheduled Strawberry Moon is for 2094.

*  Once in a lifetime event
*  Over 15 hours of daylight today!  FIFTEEN!  WHOO HOO!  (i hate it when the sun sets at 4pm in winter.  That's easily six extra beach hours in the Summer.)
*  The Sun and the Moon can be seen in the sky at the SAME TIME.  WHoo hOO!

*  In First Nation cultures, this phenomenon is known as the Strawberry Moon.  That is the phrase meaning romantic love, happiness, abundance, summer rocks, etc.

*  Here are some corny songs:

*  This is the second full moon in Sagittarius this year, which promises joy, love and abundance.

*  Astrology: There is also a rare Aries Point (vernal equinox in the tropical zodiac, or a NODE)  

-The Aries Point marks the place where the sun, moving north, crosses the equatorial plain.  When this happens at zero degrees, it is known of as a cardinal cross represents movement from the inner life to the manifestation of prayers.

- And a Grand Cross is in the sky, too.  This is when four or more planets show up in a way that two pairs of planets mutually respond to each other, forming a perfect square, or a T-square.  We know from Numerology that four is the number of manifestation and stability.   

For More:  http://www.falconastrology.com/aries_point.htm

end part two

First Day of Summer! Strawberry Moon Tonight!

Hello, Witches.  

I love this course, and i'm so glad to have met you, however ersatz as we are online.  When I teach this in the Fall, of course, Halloween is a big excitement.  

Teaching it in the first summer session is also supercool because of the Solstice.  (However, it's also a very sad day for me because we're going back into darkness, but that's my weird hangup).

ANYWAY.  Let's use your learning:

Today is the Solstice: Wheel of the Year :

========

So, The Lord and Lady meet, procreate, and the Maiden turns into the Mother.  Earth is fecund for a glorious time of Light.  The Harvest Season is still two months away.

It's MONDAY night, (or MOONDAY)

The Night of the Goddess

Hecate's Night

An Altar set up tonight might be filled with Flowers and Herbs (lavender for romance, honeysuckle for Hecate, etc.)

Many modern Wiccans will be joined tonight in Sabbat Circles to celebrate the Solstice.

The Solstices and Equinoxes are important because we are of Nature, of the Earth, and thus we follow survival by the food and light calendars.

  end part one

Numerology

http://video.numerologist.com/free-video.php?utm_source=mindvalley&hop=mindvalley

Hi, I got this in my email, and thought someone might be interested in numerology.  Enjoy.

And Just Incidentally

..I received an unsolicited email from a person claiming to be a psychic, and the subject line read:
Christine, i fear for you

I just deleted it, thought it was pretty weak.  Using a person's insecurities against them to take their cash seemed skeevy to me.  Am I right?  Or am I missing something?

I Stumbled on this Blog

I don't know what I think about this, yet, but it caught my attention and I wanted to ask your opinions?

thanks -

https://tabithasbewitched.wordpress.com/category/altar-etiquette/

This is Cool - John sent his Salem pictures

Thank you so much!

A Little Dragon I saw in the Woods

WOW! John's SPELL is FANTASTIC! ENJOY!!

Enchantment for Summoning a Ghost

A spell to be performed in the fall of the year, at dark of moon, when grasses turn tawny and leaves are frayed.

Supplies needed:

four tea candles in small glass holders

white flour or baking soda

one cinnamon stick

one leaf (any type) caught in mid-fall before it touches the ground

one wind chime or bell (something to make a ringing sound)

a chalice or wine glass

wine, whiskey or beer

a flask of salt water (for protection, probably will not be needed but good to have on hand)

a hand mirror, or a large piece of glass, or a crystal ball (for scrying)

notebook and pen (for writing down observations, automatic writing)

Ouija board (optional)

any lucky charms that hold personal power for you such as a crystal, coin, ring or pendant

Go to a quiet room or remote area. If indoors, make sure you are not interrupted by others coming in and out of the room, disruptive noises such as TV, stereo, etc. If outdoors, be sure you are in quiet place away from busy highways, garish city lights and intrusive people.

Draw a circle with the flour big enough to contain you and anyone assisting you with this spell.

Light all four tea candles and place them at north, south, east and west on the circle.

At the edge of the ring, between the north and east candles, place one cinnamon stick.

At the edge of the ring, between the east and south candles, place one fallen leaf.

At the edge of the ring, between the south and west candles, place one bell (or chime).

At the edge of the ring, between the west and north candles, place one chalice filled to the brim with wine (whiskey or beer will also do).

Place the hand mirror, notebook, Ouija board and any lucky charms you have in the center of the ring.

As you stand or sit inside the ring, say these words to summon a ghost:

Beyond the lace of the stars

from the hidden realms

past sky and planet

ice and flame

where winged Time sits

on the edge of no endings

and no beginnings

I call to you spirit

ghost of green wonder

and ageless unknowns

come to me

come to me

come to me

I bring you wine from the

Earthling plane

cinnamon to wake you

fire to warm you

an autumn leaf for comfort

come to me

speak to me

of wisdoms beyond

I send my will on the wind to you

I send my thoughts to draw you

I ring this bell so you may find your way (ring bell or chime)

Make yourself known

Appear

Appear

1. Thesis: Summoning a ghost.

2. Ghosts have always been an interest of mine

3. Purpose: to explore the unknown and maybe take away some ghostly wisdom

4. I chose as my props things that have meaning to me, or feel right for a spell to draw a spirit. Cinnamon is one of my favorite scents. I love the fall, Halloween and anything to do with October, so it would seem appropriate to use things like leaves to tempt my ghost, and to do the spell during the dark of the moon, during autumn, which is also a time of year that my personal energies run highest. Also, something in my mind or memory reminds me a ghost might like an offering, such as alcohol or tobacco. Since I don’t smoke, wine is my choice. I chose a mirror as a scrying tool because sometimes you see things in reflections that you cannot see with ordinary vision.

Okay, let me try to clarify everything:

Student: 

I'm very confused as to what material we are reacting to for the reaction papers. I know you have given us an incredible list of books Yes!    that are required and are recommended for the class. Are we supposed to be reacting to those? Or the posts on the blog? Or something we see related to Wicca? I'm just completely lost as far as what to react to.   

ME: My sincere apologies.  Any of those sources are good to react to. 

The thinking is this: if you are encouraged to explore the readings, blogs, ancillary films, etc. as the treasures they are and not just assignments, then you might stumble onto something new and exciting that makes you want to study even more deeply into the topic.  For example, maybe the Pendle Witch documentary will fascinate you.  Write about what exactly held your attention; explore WHY you had WHAT reaction and what that says about the lenses through which you view the world.

I've also posted a list of possible paper topics if that helps?

Student:

I also remember something about having a requirement of pages, and I do see a post about those, but I am still confused. Are you holding us to the amount of pages we submit like 50 pages will get us a C and whatnot?   

-I posted on this earlier today, but let me tell you and everyone: i'm going through every student's emails tonight and letting you know where you're at as far as the assignments and blog.  But i can say that EVERYONE has already been FANTASTIC on the blog, and NOBODY in the class should worry about that 20 percent of the final grade.  Just keep it up. GREAT WORK!!!

As far as the 50 pages, that was a lame attempt at explaining the difference between turning in your first draft written the night before and turning in something that makes you proud, something that you are excited about, and something that you have learned for life. 

That is what i care about.  If you are a student who needs paper lengths, then i was guessing 4-7 for the reaction paper.  So, multiply that by four for a general page count, and you're at 28 pages, which would stand at average.  Double that almost and you've got an A.  But that's not to be taken literally, and i am SO SORRY that i can't get that across properly.

I REALLY MEAN IT when i tell you that i want you to turn in something you're proud of.  I'm not holding anyone to any page counts, and i will always explain my reasoning when i grade, and you will always have the opportunity to re-work the paper or project until you feel comfortable with your grade.  I want you to LEARN, and so i'm trying to foster an environment of reward for just being intellectually curious.  So just turn in something you have worked on and learned from.  A basic guide to ask yourself: Is this an amazing paper?  A pretty good paper? An "I'll get away with it" paper, or a shame? That's likely to gauge you closely to what i will find when i read your work as well.

Student:

As far as the artwork goes, does anything count? Drawings, songs (with or without lyrics), etc? I am not a very artistic person so I do know this will be the weak spot for me as I have never written a song or music nor can I draw relatively well.  

-Yes, anything will be fine!  You will be so delighted and surprised when you figure out what you're doing.  So often students who feel they have no talent for art come up with really beautiful projects.  It's not about the medium you use, the thinking is that:

My hope is that by trying to express something that you have learned and has affected you in some way through a different medium than a paper, you will learn about your topic even more deeply in return, while also having fun.

CONTEST * CONTEST* CONTEST

CONTEST #THREE


What is the true origin of the title "Pope" as given to the leader of the Catholic Church?

Good Luck!

Struggling for a Paper Topic?

Here are some ideas:

1.  The Full Moon Effect
2.  The Nature of Ghosts
3.  The Oppression of Women Through Cultural Norms
4.  The Creation of the "Other"
5.  Your opinion about Athiesm
6.  The Flying Spaghetti Monster
7.  The Dawkins' Test: p232 God Delusion
8.  Why Do We Believe?
9.  Should Religion Be Above Critical Questioning?
10.  The Matter of Personal Integrity
11.  Why Does the Witches' Holocaust in Spain Matter?
12.  The History of Christmas by its Various Iterations
13.  Why is it difficult for people to change their minds?
14. Perception is Belief.
15.  The Magical Meanings of the Dragon across World cultures
16. The Intuitive Uses of Tarot
17.  The theory of magick
18.What is a hero?
19.  What makes a person able to torture?
20.  Alchemy as a philosophy
21.  The Four Agreements and the Judge theory
22.  Is giving a child a religious identity child abuse (per Dawkins)

Book Recommendations including the Calendar Book

Great Reads that might be of interest:



Sun, Moon, & Earth   by Robin Heath

Calendar: Humanity's Epic Struggle to Determine a True and Accurate Year by David Ewing Duncan 

Galileo's Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love by Dava Sobel

WINNER! CONGRATULATIONS to COURTNEE!!!!!

SHE WON the latest contest with this answer:

Q:  What is the original meaning of genuflection (drawing the sign of the Cross on oneself)?  That is,
"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" originally had different meanings:

Father =
Son =
Holy Spirit =

A: 

Courtnee GilesSunday, June 12, 2016 at 12:56:00 PM EDT

This was very difficult to find and I am not sure if it is right but I will give it a go!

The very first three-in-one trinity was the worship of the three stages of the sun!
(1. New born at dawn. (2. Mature and full grown at 12 noon. (3. Old and dying at the end of the day. (Jordan Maxwell. BBC of America Quoted in Exposure Vol. 5, No. 6 1999). All three of course were one divinity being the sun. And so the main medium through which Satan was worshipped in Babylon was the sun. They noticed that the sun had three distinct stages and this fitted well with their belief as they were already worshipping three. Thus the sun was worshiped as three gods. The rising and new born sun as it came to life, the mature and full grown sun at noon, and the dying sun as it set at the end of the day. Yet while they worshipped the sun as three gods, they were not three gods but one god!
So the rising sun was god, the midday sun was god, the setting sun was god, and yet there were not three gods but one god! In other words, 1+1+1=One! So here is the true absolute origin of the trinity doctrine. And this became incorporated into this mystery religion and the worship of Satan.

http://www.trinitytruth.org/paganoriginsofthetrinity.html

* I also found that they believed the Holy Spirit to be a Goddess or Virgin Mary.

Coaolescing THE READINGS- Making it ALL Connect!!

Hi, Everyone,

Have you been enjoying the books?  I hope so.  I'm going to string all the readings together for you here just to make sure you get all you can out of them from within the parameters of the course and beyond.

I. Required: Cunningham, Scott  Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner 

I choose this book because i think it is written in an accessible and enjoyable manner. Pedagogically, it is a very good introduction to the religion of Wicca.  Wicca, as you now know, means "wise one," and Wicca is a New Age religion, cobbled together from Pagan traditions of the past.  It is a nature-based religion that observes the cycles of the natural world.  The God and Goddess are simply human-derived understandings of the dual forces of the Divine.

The suggested supplements were chosen with these ideas in mind:

·       Booth, Mark  The Secret History of the World
         This book gives a very thorough history of the theologies and secret teachings that are expressed in all world religions throughout the Ages.

·       Jong, Erica  Witches
       This book gives a very good accounting of the perception of Witches in the eyes of the normative culture and society.  This book also has some breathtaking artwork in it.  Beautiful.  Inspiring, i hope.
 

·       Konstantanos  Nocturnal Witchcraft
        This book is a good illustration of one of the subgroups of Wicca that have arisen in the past forty years.  Other types of Wicca include Goth Craft, Green Witchery, and Ocean Witchery.
   

• Buckland, Raymond Buckland’s Complete Guide to Witchcraft

 This book is the King of all Textbooks on the religion of Wicca.  It is also useful because while Cunningham wrote for the solitary Witch, the Complete Guide explores Covens as the standard for the Wiccan religion.


II.  Required,· Andrews, Ted  Animal Speak  

This book was chosen to introduce you to the idea of Nature Spirits and Animal Spirits.  Animals are the other conscious beings on Earth, and it would behoove us to understand how they understand Nature.  So much there to enrich your life.

Also, as Wicca rests on the theories of Energy, and as such, Animal Energy is a natural tie-in. 


III. Required,· Ruiz, The Four Agreements 

I primarily chose this book because even though it seems quite simple, it has such life-transforming power, and it is my hope that the Light will come into your life through the wisdom of this book.

Furthermore, you will find that the fundamental teachings of most world religions are echoed in the Four Agreements, and vice versa.  So much of this course is meant to illustrate the common narrative threads and echoes of the true human nature are timeless and universal.

Finally, The Four Agreements are relatable to the teachings of Wicca as well.    

Suggested·   Ruiz, The Fifth Agreement

This was recommended just in case you want to continue your learning of this Toltec Philosophy.

IV.   Required,· Taschen, Alchemy

This book was chosen for its deeply beautiful and historic artworks. Wow, it's so beautiful. Just turning its thick, glossy pages is a deeply aesthetic experience that few can appreciate properly.\

  Furthermore, Alchemy is a Philosophy, also equally relatable to Wicca and The Secret History as well as general world theologies.  

Plus, alchemy is fun to know.  It's a secret, thriving art for the initiated. It's a collection of mythologies and misunderstandings.  It's a method for living life.  Combine the philosophy of Alchemy with the Four Agreements and you may have just stumbled upon your life's purpose.  I thought it would be cool to learn about that.  

Related suggested books:

• Ackerman, Diane  The Alchemy of Mind   Wow, this book is just an amazing, mind-opening read.
• Zukav, Gary   The Dancing Wu-Li Masters Again, Wow, this book is just an amazing, mind-opening read.  It's especially good for people who enjoy math, physics, or philosophy.

Suggested Non-Fiction Readings and Documentary Films

    

·       Dawkins, Richard  The God Delusion

·       Hitchens, Christopher God is Not Great

·       Hitchens, Christopher  The Missionary Position

·       Sagan, Carl   The Demon-Haunted World

·       Schermer, Michael, Ted Talk:  Why People Believe Weird Things

This grouping of readings and viewings is a look at atheism.  We use atheism as a tool to get a perspective about the nature of consciousness without the filter of religion.  This gives us a multi-dimensional understanding about the nature of religion, deity, and the human heart.

·       Richard Francis, Judge Sewall’s Apology
The Pendle Witch Child, Documentary available on YouTube 

·       Kraemer, Heinrich Malleus Maleficarum (suggested for reference)
·       Summers, Montague. The History of Witchcraft (suggested for reference)


This grouping of readings and viewings include the core texts of the study of the Witch in world history, the Witches' Holocaust, and other historically significant events that evolve from the same core human experiences.

Sewell's Apology is a fascinating story about the fallout of the post- Salem Witch Trials. It is a true 'heroic' story of an unlikable, cowardly man who faced down his fear in the public eye.  This is a perspective you won't from an ordinary Salem Witch Trials course.

The Pendle Witch Child is not only a stunningly visionary documentary, but it also documents a tale of a family of "Witches" in an age when people truly believed witches were a real threat.  This is especially good because it is also relatable to modern-day witch burnings that take place in Africa every year. 

AND FURTHERMORE:

·       Morrow, James The Last Witchfinder (suggested, Fiction, highly recommended)
  
This is a fictional story that is based on the life of the actual Pendle Witch child, but only people who study this stuff like you do know that, which is a very small percentage of the world population indeed.

·       Salzman, Mark  Lying Awake, Fiction

This book takes the tenants of atheism and the human longing for belief and faith and wraps it up nicely in a metaphorical conundrum that an ailing nun must face.  Simple, but elegant, enjoyable reading.

The Page Limits

Hi,

It's come to my attention that you guys are still struggling with the assignments.

More clarification:

RE: THE PAPERS

 I am asking for research in the sense that this is college, and one cannot write papers and make assertions without supporting them with evidence.  Therefore, if you are reacting to animal totems per se, your emotions and thoughts will feed into the reaction, absolutely.  But if/when you make conjectures, eg, "tattoos are historically used for..." or whatever you claim  it's fine to claim it, but you must prove that you are right.  That is where the research, or supporting research, comes in.  In other words, if we do not have evidence, then we are making Spectral Arguments, which means that you can have someone tortured for being a witch just because you CLAIMED that person was a witch.  A claim isn't enough, you must support it.

As for the 50 pages.  So many students seem to "need" page limits to understand what they are accomplishing.  So, foolishly perhaps, I tried to give you some page guidance.

BUT, that is wrong-headed thinking.  You know if you have put effort into a paper or project, and so as a teacher, i'm looking for the actual learning that has taken place.  That considered, if you turn in three pages of widely-margined rough-draft, i'm not going to be convinced that too much thinking has gone on, and you will not EARN an A.  

In other words, just do the work.  Do the work with your whole heart and head invested.  You're putting your name on that work.  Allow your name to have integrity.  And, if you feel my grading is unfairly meted out, then challenge me.  I'm open to any discussion as long as it's based in evidence.

John Proctor's Monologue - My Name

You have all witnessed it—it is enough. You have all witnessed it; what more is needed? No—no I have signed it. You have seen me. It is done! You have no need for this. Damn the village! I confess to God and God has seen my name on this! It is enough! You came to save my soul, did you not? Here—I have confessed myself, it is enough! I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name, God knows how black my sins are! It is enough. You will not use me! I am no Sarah Good or Tituba, I am John Proctor! You will not use me! I have three children—how may I teach them to walk like men in the world and I sold my friends? I blacken all of them when this is nailed to the church the very day they hang for silence! You are the high court, your word is good enough! Tell them I confessed myself, say Proctor broke his knees and wept like a woman, say what you will, but my name cannot… I mean to deny nothing. Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life. Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul, leave me my name!

Read more: http://stageagent.com/monologues/1089/the-crucible/john-proctor#ixzz4BFmCARv4

Here's my Artwork for the Class

Torture

Here is a good link to see the sickness of humanity at its worst.  Remember, these people believed they were justified in killing the "Other."


http://www.medievalwarfare.info/torture.htm

Modern Day Salem Witch Trials : A Difference

The Crucible, the play you probably know about the Salem Witch Trials, hinges on John Proctor's famous monologue where he chooses his HONOR over his own life.  He decides to go to death instead of live a liar.

Fast Forward to today.  In a very similar situation, the Memphis Three, when faced with the same choice, chose to lie instead of continue to suffer in prison.

How do you feel about this?  About what the Memphis Three did?  John Proctor?  Good paper here.  A lot to grapple with.

John Proctor:

West Memphis Three:

Salem - Judge Sewall

Speaking of integrity, meet another type of hero from this time, Judge Sewall:


http://www.amazon.com/Judge-Sewalls-Apology-American-Conscience/dp/0007163630

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/sal_bsew.htm

Salem - Giles Corey

Meet Giles Corey:

I admire how he beat the system.  He had to do so by dying, but he would rather have died than let those officials take his integrity and his property. 

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/gilescoreypage.htm

CONTEST * CONTEST *CONTEST

What is the original meaning of genuflection (drawing the sign of the Cross on oneself)?  That is,
"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" originally had different meanings:

Father =
Son =

Holy Spirit =


GOOD LUCK!  

SALEM WITCH TRIALS PART ONE

Okay, so this is one of those times I really dislike online teaching.  Giving it a 'go':

1.  So, I assume as Americans or informed global citizens, you're at least aware of the Salem Witch Trials.
If not:

Really, REALLY thin Introduction to the Salem Witch Trials:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-the-salem-witch-trials-175162489/?no-ist


Much more academic site:

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/salem.htm


Watered-down version:

http://www.salemwitchmuseum.com/education/


For serious students:

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/salem.htm



2.  Plus, you were probably made to read The Crucible by Arthur Miller.

Taking the back-door entry to the Salem Witch Trials (very unconventional way of teaching, you're welcome), I'd like to introduce you to The West Memphis Three:

http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/famous/memphis/index_1.html

What's pertinent here for this class is that the prisoners traded freedom for a (false) confession.  That is a very modern thing to do.

Back to the Crucible.

Watch this scene.  Notice how John Procter choses to die rather than lie.  What does that mean about who we are today in the modern age and our relationship to personal integrity?

(skip ahead to 2 minutes 50 seconds)
http://youtu.be/8Eel02K-WPo

A Saying for You

432 hz DNA Healing/Chakra Cleansing Meditation/Relaxation Music

Great background music, esp. when getting ready for bed. Enjoy~ very cleansing.

Don't Stress!!

Hi, Everyone,

It's MUCH MUCH MUCH more important to me that you learn from your work.

SO, if you're the type that needs deadlines, by all means,  follow them.

Otherwise, just get your stuff in by the last day of the session, June 27.  Okay?

Thanks,
christi


ps:i'll be answering all your emails today

Faces in the Trees

Faces in the Fire

A picture of my cards

ghost1- taken of me in backyard speaking to Spirit

witch3

Divination - The Tarot

divination is speaking to the spirit world.  tarot is one of the most ancient of these methods, and i encourage you to learn these links.  i also encourage you to learn tarot.  it's a great tool for finding help with your lifelong pursuit of spiritual growth.


http://www.learntarot.com/journey.htm

Checking in

Hi, Witches,

I am going (soon) to upload some useful videos.  Hope all is well out there.  Are you drawing links between the readings?  Let me know how it's going!

Thanks,
Christi

Alchemy Articles

Serious:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/eso/sta/sta37.htm



Curious:

http://www.alchemylab.com/history_of_alchemy.htm


Scholarly:

http://www.alchemystudy.com/courses.htm

St. Valentine

"He was a Roman Priest at a time when there was an emperor called Claudias who persecuted the church at that particular time," Father O'Gara explains. " He also had an edict that prohibited the marriage of young people. This was based on the hypothesis that unmarried soldiers fought better than married soldiers because married soldiers might be afraid of what might happen to them or their wives or families if they died."

"I think we must bear in mind that it was a very permissive society in which Valentine lived," says Father O'Gara. "Polygamy would have been much more popular than just one woman and one man living together. And yet some of them seemed to be attracted to Christian faith. But obviously the church thought that marriage was very sacred between one man and one woman for their life and that it was to be encouraged. And so it immediately presented the problem to the Christian church of what to do about this."

"The idea of encouraging them to marry within the Christian church was what Valentine was about. And he secretly married them because of the edict."

Valentine was eventually caught, imprisoned and tortured for performing marriage ceremonies against command of Emperor Claudius the second. There are legends surrounding Valentine's actions while in prison.

"One of the men who was to judge him in line with the Roman law at the time was a man called Asterius, whose daughter was blind. He was supposed to have prayed with and healed the young girl with such astonishing effect that Asterius himself became Christian as a result."

In the year 269 AD, Valentine was sentenced to a three part execution of a beating, stoning, and finally decapitation all because of his stand for Christian marriage. The story goes that the last words he wrote were in a note to Asterius' daughter. He inspired today's romantic missives by signing it, "from your Valentine."

"What Valentine means to me as a priest," explains Father O'Gara, "is that there comes a time where you have to lay your life upon the line for what you believe. And with the power of the Holy Spirit we can do that -- even to the point of death."

Valentine's martyrdom has not gone unnoticed by the general public. In fact, Whitefriars Street Church is one of three churches that claim to house the remains of Valentine. Today, many people make the pilgrimage to the church to honor the courage and memory of this Christian saint.

"Valentine has come to be known as the patron saint of lovers. Before you enter into a Christian marriage you want some sense of God in your life -- some great need of God in your life. And we know, particularly in the modern world, many people are meeting God through his Son, Jesus Christ."

"If Valentine were here today, he would say to married couples that there comes a time where you're going to have to suffer. It's not going to be easy to maintain your commitment and your vows in marriage. Don't be surprised if the 'gushing' love that you have for someone changes to something less "gushing" but maybe much more mature. And the question is, is that young person ready for that?"

"So on the day of the marriage they have to take that into context," Father O'Gara says. "Love -- human love and sexuality is wonderful, and blessed by God -- but also the shadow of the cross. That's what Valentine means to me."

Halloween Debunked

http://youtu.be/vHLgob-PpIk

from: religioustolerance.org

 Traditions originating in Celtic times:

The origin of Halloween lies in the traditions of the Celtic people.

The Celts coalesced as a society circa 800 BCE. They were located in what is now the United Kingdom, much of Western Europe and an isolated enclave in what is now Turkey. They held a major celebration near the end of our month of October, which they called called "Samhain," a festival to recognize the end of summer. There seeems to be little standardization in the pronounciation of "Samhain." Sam-hane, Sow-in, sow-en, sow-an, soow-an, sow-ween, etc. ₁₃ The story that "Samhain" was a Celtic God of the Dead appears to be a myth. However, it has been repeated so often by conservative Christian and secular sources that it has taken on a life of its own.

The Celts believed that the veil between this world and the next was thinnest at this time of year. Friends and relatives who had died would often return, with their souls inhabiting an animal - often a black cat. Black cats have remained a symbol of Halloween down to the present time.

In celebration of the recently completed harvest, Celts would give offerings of food to the Gods. They often went from door to door to collect food to donate to their deities. Also, young Celts would ask the townspeople for kindling and wood, and take it to top of the hill for the Samhain bonfire. These are two of the possible origins of present day "trick or treating."

Samhain was a fire festival. Sacred bonfires were lit on the tops of hills in honor of the Gods. The townspeople would take an ember from the bonfire to their home and re-light the fire in their family hearth. The ember would usually be carried in a holder - often a turnip or gourd. They felt nervous about walking home in the dark; they were afraid of evil spirits. So they dressed up in costumes and carved scary faces in their ember holders. They hoped that the spirits would be frightened and not bother them. Children continue to dress up today in various costumes. Pumpkins are now the objects of choice into which to carve faces.

Wiccans and some other Neopagans base much of their religious faith on the religion of the Celts. They continue to celebrate Samhain today.

Traditions developed since Celtic times:

There are many folk traditions associated with Halloween. It is possible that some had their origins in Celtic times.

	Jack-o'-lantern: The term "Jack-o'-lantern" came from an Irish folk tale of the 18th century. Jack was an Irishman. He had tricked the Devil into climbing an apple tree. He then cut a cross symbol in the tree trunk, thus trapping the Devil in the branches. When Jack died, he was unable to again access to Heaven because of his meanness. The Devil, having a long memory, would not allow him into Hell. So he was forced to walk the earth endlessly. The devil took pity on him and gave him a piece of coal to light his path. Jack put it inside a hollowed-out turnip that he had been eating.
	Apples were considered have long been associated with female deities, and with immortality, resurrection, and knowledge. One reason is that if an apple is cut through its equator, it will reveal a five-pointed star outlined at the center of each hemisphere. This was a pentagram -- a Goddess symbol among the Roma (Gypsies), ancient Celts, ancient Egyptians, modern-day Wiccans, etc. There are many Halloween folk traditions associated with apples: Unmarried people would attempt to take a bite out of an apple bobbing in a pail of water, or suspended on a string. The first person to do so was believed to be the next to marry. Peeling an apple in front of a candle-lit mirror was believed to produce the image of one's future spouse. 3 Attempting to produce a long unbroken apple peel was said to estimate the number of years you had to live. The longer the peel, the longer your life expectancy.
	In All Souls' Day, European Christians had a tradition of going from home to home, asking for soul cakes, or currant buns. In return, they would pray for the souls of the homeowner's relatives.

Origins of Christian holy days:

	All Saints' Day was created by Pope Boniface IV in the 7th century CE. There were so many saints by this time that there were not enough days in the year to accommodate them. So, All Saints' Day was to recognize the saints who were without their own day, and to celebrate saints that the Church had failed to recognize. It originally was held on May 13, but was moved by Pope Gregory in 835 CE to November 1. This may have been done in order to distract Christians from celebrating Samhain.
	Halloween was originally called All Hallows' Eve which means the evening before All Saints' Day. "Hallow" is an Old English word for "saint". This was shortened toHallowe'en and finally to Halloween. Satanists have adopted Hallowe'en as one of their three main seasonal days of celebration. The others are Walpurgus Nacht on MAY-1 and the Satanist's personal birthday.
	All Souls' Day was created for NOV-2 to honor faithful Christians who had died but were not saints. The three days from OCT-31 to NOV-2 was given the name Hallow Ti