Sunday, September 25, 2005

Rockin' for A Cause

Another week has gone by. I'm feeling exhausted, as always.


My sister just got chickenpox a week before that scared the hell out of me. I never had pox since I was a kid and never wanted one of course even if I spent almost 2k for vaccination.






Rockstar INXS, the only TV show that's keeping me busy every Wednesdays and Thursdays ended last Wednesday and as anticipated it JD bagged the most coveted title "Lead Singer of INXS." I would love to watch the show again in case there's going to be a replay of all the episodes. I hope they come up with a VCD/DVD copy of the show and the proceeds will once again go to the victims of Hurricane Katrina just like what they did before. For those who are saying that rock and roll is merely drugs, sex, and violence, think again or get some life because it can be for a cause too.




It's a Sunday, my twin sissy and I decided to cook elbow macaroni and spicy tuna pasta. I gave the spare tuna to our house cat Soon-Yi but after a while it got me wondering why she didn't finish all of it until I realized that it's spicy. Poor cat.






Sunday, September 18, 2005

On Pagans, Heathens and Recons

A Brief Introduction:


The following introduction is offered here to help to dispel many of the myths surrounding Neo-paganism, Witchcraft and the Heathen and Reconstructionist religions. The ways of many Neo-Pagan traditions, religions, and groups, as well as some of the Heathen and Reconstructionist religions, are described in even more detail on various other pages on this Web site and elsewhere on the net. This 'overview' is a very generalized rendition of some Neo-Pagan, Wiccan, Witch, Heathen and Reconstructionist religions and may not necessarily reflect the beliefs of all Pagan or Heathen individuals, religions or traditions.





Pagans

Paganism is not a single religion, but an umbrella term for all those religions other than the Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. A Pagan is a person who follows one of those "other" faiths. Many Witches, Wiccans, Reconstructionists, and other Neo-Pagans simply identify themselves as "Pagan" or "Neo-pagans" when talking with others who may not be familiar with the complexity of the different belief systems. This can make it sound like "Paganism" is a religion instead of a collection of religions. Neo-paganism should also not be confused with the "New Age" movement, as Pagans are almost exclusively involved in distinctive religions while New Age spirituality draws from many sources and esoteric spiritual techniques which are generally added as an extra layer on top of whatever religion one normally follows.


Note: The word 'Pagan" itself comes from the Latin paganu(m), for someone who is not from the city, rather from the country. In Late Latin, this turned into pagensis, "one who is from the country, " and this ultimately became the French pays and the Spanish Pa's, both meaning "nation."- (From Etymologically Speaking at www.westegg.com/etymology/) 


Witchcraft and Witches

A practitioner of a nature-based/revering or folk belief system, art or religion. Not all Witches follow the same belief system. Some practice what is called the "Old Religion" which has its roots in Pagan pre-monotheistic folkways and beliefs and which usually follows the agricultural seasonal cycles. Many Witches believe in a polytheistic deity structure usually based upon the local gods and goddesses of the area of origin. Witches may practice alone as 'solitaries" or in covens. There are also family groups or traditions that trace their practices and beliefs within the same close group throughout several generations. Some Witches consider Witchcraft to be a religion while others simply practice witchcraft as a magical art.


Traditional Wicca

A modern religion of Witchcraft is called "Wicca." Traditional Wicca is based on the teachings of Gerald Gardner, is coven (group) based and each coven can trace its lineage (line of teaching passed on by initiated Traditional priests and priestesses) back to Gardner himself. There are offshoots of Gardnerian Traditional Wicca such as Alexandrian Wicca, Georgian Wicca and many others. Traditional Wicca is considered a 'mystery' religion, one that requires initiation by the coven and has a "degree system" or different levels of rank based upon coven training and the readiness of the initiate to accept the duties and responsibilities of that degree. Traditional Wiccan covens have a core of inner knowledge-often called the "Book of Shadows"-which is shared only with initiated Wiccans. Most Traditional Wiccans believe in the balance of male-female divinity. Traditional Wiccans are seldom solitary except for those 'Elders'-usually former priests and priestesses-who may have retired from active coven involvement, have taken a voluntary sabbatical or do not have access to a Traditional coven in their area.


Strega

(Stregheria, La Vecchia Religione, "The Old Religion") An Italian form of Witchcraft encompassing elements of the pre-Christian European mystery teachings and the ancient Etruscan and Tuscan religions. Many modern Italian Witches today, especially those who still reside in Italy, are Christians who have simply continued to practice their native Old Religion alongside the 'new'.


For Other Forms of Wicca visit:
http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usfl&c=basics&id=2876




Sunday, September 11, 2005

No Umbrella

When I arrived from work this morning, I told myself that I'll bring a small bag so I can bring an umbrella in case it rains this afternoon. My bag is ready to go but after a power nap, I woke up and changed my mind. I decided not to bring an umbrella.




The weather was good when I left the house, the sun was up I was in a hurry to catch an FX because It feels like I'm melting already. It took me just an hour or two to buy all the stuff that I needed I was in a hurry so I chose an FX that's ready to leave just to get squeezed inside when a big guy sat in the middle of everyone. I was literally screaming inside I'd like to transfer to another FX but I'm left with no choice I have to be home early so I have more time to rest and sleep. All hell broke loose when the rain poured heavily just while I'm about to get off the fx. Can this day get any worst? I told myself. After a sunny day here comes the storm! How odd. I can't run in the rain so I had to stop at a nearby store, video shop, Jollibee, Mc Donalds, and a waffle store even if the apartment is literally a few steps away. It took me an hour to get home, would you believe it? I was soaking wet and mad like hell imagine how a sudden change of mind and weather ruined my day.




Sunday, September 04, 2005

National Geographic Special: Big Cat Crisis


"Could a 500-pound tiger be living next door to you? Is America is in the midst of a big cat crisis? It's a problem that some belief has exploded in recent years as thousands of private individuals acquire large, exotic felines as pets, unaware of the amount of care these animals require. There are now an estimated 15,000 tigers, lions and other big cats in backyard and basement cages across America. For some people, big cats can provide the irresistible thrill of being close to a piece of the wild, but inexperienced owners learn the hard way that these predators cannot be domesticated. NGC examines both sides in this powerful and emotionally-charged debate over private ownership of big cats, asking who, if anyone, should possess this piece of the wild."


I've always been a cat lover since I was a kid. I remember back then I even wanted to own a cub, yeah a baby tiger would you believe it? Because they're real cute and cuddly, so helpless and innocent looking like there is no way they can harm you... not until they've grown into humongous and furious cats. 


I've watched this Nat Geo episode a couple of times already but I like to watch it over and over again. Imagine these cubs being sold at an affordable prize anyone can own one or more or as many as they an owner can manage. Sadly, not all owners are able to cope with these animals' basic needs, in the end, these poor creatures suffer and eventually die due to insufficient care. I think the crisis on domesticating tigers is getting alarming because not all 50 states in the USA are implementing the law regarding legal ownership of these wild animals that gives any ordinary individual the freedom to own one or more of these huge cats.


Back at It: A Long Overdue Update

It's been three months since I last sat down to write, and I've missed this more than I can express. Life has a way of throwing unex...