Thursday, June 23, 2005

MARS SPECTACULAR

MARS SPECTACULAR! The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again. The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10 P.M. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m. By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30 A.M. That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month. Share this with your children and grandchildren. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN
Bob

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Pagans and Witches

Perhaps some are a little confused about Witches, and Pagans. Paganism and Witches are not all the same. All witches are pagans, but all pagans are not witches.. Calling oneself a Witch, does not make oneself a Witch. Years of practice, years of learning. It is a big world out there and there are a lot of books. Not all books are written by Witches, Some are written by Christains who think they know about Wicca. Please becareful on which witch book you purchase. Do some research on the author. See if they are a true pagan or if they are just writting a story book. There are plenty of steriotype writters. You need to figure out the difference. There are several different kinds of Wiccans. Just as your christainanity has several branches so does Wicca. So you need to figure out your roots and go from there.
Perhaps you can actually find a Wiccan that would be interested in teaching you. But you have to becareful there too. Some just proclaim to be a Witch. Don't be afaid to ask for crudentuals. If they do not have any, becareful. No one can properly teach you with out them. There are alot of Fluff Bunnies out there. And you need to find out which witch is right for you. A true Flamenca or Flamen is truely hard to find, but there are a few out there.
Someone thats is new to the Craft has a long road ahead of them but I will guarantee it will be like a rollarcoaster ride. And it can't be taught by someone that has only been in it for a year. After all they were only on the path just a short time and they would not know everything ot to begin to know everything. So just becareful whom you befriend. Once you start consuming knowledge you wont be able to stop. Believe me nothing will stop you, Nothing will be as important as learning the Craft of the Wise. It will be your life. So you can't just say I don't have time right now to do this. This will be time consuming, but just think of the rewards you will have. The ability to make things right.
Blessed Be

Whats Is Wicca?

When you first learned that witchcraft was alive and well today.
What did you think Witchcraft was?
So many Ideas have gotton attached to the name of The Craft.
Even definitions is an ongoing effort.
Just defining what we mean when we say Witch-Craft and Witch.
If we can review some basic definitions with you, It makes my job easier.
So here goes a glimpse inside a Witch's Lexicon....

Witchcraft is an old religion:
The Craft, a way of thinking about Deity.
As a Religion it encourages growth in the individual preparing the way for the spirit to reach toward our guide. The Elders Ones, and toward the Ultimate Deity.
Witchcraft implies a set of ethics summed up in the Wiccan Rede.
Eight words the wiccan rede fulfill..
If it Harm None,
Do what you Will..
I never really studied The Craft growing up,
But the Bible just didn't work for me.
It was then that I took a serious look at studing of Wicca. I was both surprised and pleased
to discover that Wicca was much more then the practice of Magic..
Wicca is very sincere and caring.. Down to Earth Religion.
The true Magic of Wicca has turned out to be the Lord and the Lady, the caring and sharing,
The desire to explore and the understanding the ability to live in harmony with ourselves and with Nature..
Therefore, from this presented above. It is simple to see that Satanism and Witchcraft are two very different things. Nor are they related. Nor of the same.
Wicca is the Five pointed Star, The Pentagram.. In the center of everything is the Deity.
Like gravity, the Deity is impersonal. It treats everyone alike. It transcends gender and human
type emotions.
I believe in the unknowable God who is the sum of all creation. God is not black nor white. God has no gender. And the God and Goddess who are reflections of that power. They were conceived by the need of the Ancient Wise Ones, and born of their knowledge and faith as Witches.
Wicca is a Church and a way of life..
Who profits from all this, Rarely does the Parishioner..
It is full of boundless choices.
The choice to learn and grow through knowledge, A choice to search for that which pleases ourselves, A choice to be different from the normal, A choice to be.. All this and so much more comes to us because " WE CHOOSE" to belong and to be Witches..
The bottom line is Wicca is chosen! And chosen by you...
Blessed Be