#Religious Practices

[incognitopolls]

For example, anon's mother is a Christian but also regularly goes to Buddhist temples to pray.

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[atheostic]

A breakdown of how to become pope (and the top contenders for the role)

[theic-manic]

For us, knowledge tends to mean information, facts, and concepts. But in ancient times, knowledge was centered in personal relationships.

To know someone is to enter into a close relationship with that person.

Knowing the divine involves much more than simply mastering facts and information about it. It even transcends discussions about the nature and character of the divine, as important as those are.

Knowing the divine means entering into a close relationship with it.

It means identifying with the divine and learning to view everything as it does. Knowing the divine will transform our thoughts and actions, our priorities and values, and our relationshipswith fellow human beings.

It is far more important than religious rites, sacrifices and burnt offerings, or any other religious activities.

- NLT Illustrated

[crazycatsiren]

The divine ones in my life, they understand, and they're here for me. They know, and they're around. I feel them, I sense them, I'm grateful for them.

[viagginterstellari]

Vestal - Varanasi, 2013

[sinnaktuk]

Favorite funny dream from last year or so ago.

I was back in school and in my medieval art history class, we were talking about the depiction of religious men in art at the time. There was an oil painting of a monk/priest in training and it was called “Young Man in the Village.” The only thing that was strange about it was the man was veiled. He was wearing the same historic clothing contemporary with the 14th century but with an added almost sheer veil. (not so much hijab instead think dark wedding veil) My professor mentioned that it was an old practice that was almost completely abandoned by then. And my friend asked why and I said automatically, oh you know that one passage in the New Testament where the disciples were described as having illuminated faces and a glow to them. And my professor said yes and additional after the resurrection of Jesus Christ he was described as so beautiful and full of glory his face shown like the sun. So when a priest or monk was not around their own monastery they would wear these veils especially after completing their education go show they were enlightened and full of light. It was said their faces were illuminated and beautiful like Christ so it was a service for the regular people so they wouldn’t be blinded. Then my prof added it also is from the Roman practice of wearing a head covering mantle as Princeps.

For the next few days after this dream I was convinced it was real 😂 I was frantically searching online for any evidence of male veiling practices or anything about male veiling in Christianity. But I think it makes sense so yeah male veiling ✨

[sonennou]

Ar wezh kentañ 'm boa 'n em bilet 'Oa noz kentañ a ma eured./ Pand an er gwele daveti Hi 'droe he c'hein da ma hani./ Hi 'droe he c'hein da ma hani Ha m'he zapas e penn he fri./ Ha m'he zapas e penn he fri Ha he zaolas àr ar plas-ti./ Ha ma mamm-gaer a oa fachet 'Welet he merc'h àr gorf 'r roched./ Aet ma mamm-gaer get he gwazhad Ha ra d'he merc'h ur votezad./ Me 'yay d'ar foar da Sant-Jermen Da breniñ un ejen melen./ Da breniñ un ejen melen A gousto kant skoed ar vlevenn./ A gousto kant skoed ar vlevenn Ha kement 'rall en diskroc'hen./ Ha kement 'rall en diskroc'hen Evit mamm-gaer mont d'an of'renn./ Pa oa mamm-gaer barzh ar porched Toud an dud 'gomañs da c'hoarzhet./ Pa oa mamm-gaer 'barzh an iliz Toud an dud ha aet en hiris./ Daet ar person get e droad-kroez Evit lakaat mamm-gaer er-maez./ « Alon, alon, aotrou person, Mamm-gaer-me n'eo ket ul loen ! »/ Hag ar boser get e vorzhol evit lazhiñ mamm-gaer 'un taol./ « Arest, arest, boserig fall, Mamm-gaer-me n'eo ket gwazh e'it un arall ! (1)/ » Bout 'vehe kernoù àr he fenn Mamm-gaer-me n'eo k'un ejen ! » (2)

FR. LES CORNES DE MA BELLE-MÈRE. La première fois que je me suis battu c'était durant ma première nuit de noces. / Quand dans le lit j'allais vers elle, elle me tournait le dos. / Elle me tournait le dos, alors je l'attrapais par le bout du nez. / Je l'attrapais par le bout du nez et la lança au milieu de la maison. / Puis ma belle-mère se fâcha en voyant sa fille en corps de chemise. / Ma belle-mère s'emporta et donna un coup de sabot à sa fille. / J'irai à la foire de Saint-Germain pour acheter un bœuf jaune (à robe claire). / Pour acheter un bœuf jaune qui coûtera cent écus le poil. / Qui coûtera cent écus le poil et autant pour le dépecer. / Et autant pour le dépecer pour que belle mère aille à la messe. / Quand belle-mère fut sous le porche tous les gens se mirent à rire. / Quand belle-mère fut dans l'église tous les gens eurent une frayeur. / Le recteur arriva avec son pied de croix pour mettre belle-mère dehors. / « Allons, allons, monsieur le recteur, ma belle-mère n'est pas un animal ! » / Puis le boucher (vint) avec son marteau pour tuer belle-mère d'un coup. / « Allons, allons, mauvais boucher, belle-mère n'est pas pire qu'un autre ! / » Bien qu'elle ait des cornes sur la tête, ma belle-mère n'est pas un bœuf ! »

EN. MY MOTHER-IN-LAW'S HORNS. I will go to the fair of Saint Germain to buy a yellow beef which will cost a hundred ecus a hair. Which will cost a hundred ecus a hair and as much to cut it up so that mother-in-law goes to mass. / When mother-in-law was under the porch, everyone started laughing. / When mother-in-law was in the church, everyone was frightened. / The rector arrived with his cross to throw mother-in-law out. / "Hey, hey!, Mr. Rector, my mother-in law is not an animal!" / Then the butcher came with his hammer to kill mother-in-law with one blow. / "Hey! bad butcher, mother-in-law is no worse than anyone else!" / "Although she has horns on her head, my mother-in-law is not an ox!"

(1) n'eo ket gwazh evit = n'eo ket gwazh eget ; (2) n'eo ket un ejen

+ : Inzinzac-Lochrist, 1993.

[wikipediapictures]

Epiphany (holiday)

“Epifania del Tallero, the Feast of the Apparition of the Lord on January 6, Gemona del Friuli, Province of Udine, Italy, European Union.” - via Wikimedia Commons

[lamblvd]

Begging of my journey.

Initially, my Satanist being was very superficial; I read something every now and then, I knew the basics, but nothing much.

And then, one night, I began to read Anton Lavey's Bible, sitting in front of my first altar, and I began to take notes, and I was so surprised by how much this man was a whitefly in the midst of hypocrites and deficients.

Having an altar is a great thing for me, even if it's not much; I keep crystals, candles, incense and seals for whenever I need them.

I usually do research and meditate on it, it's a comfort that I take great care of.

The thing that surprised me most of all is the fact that you don't have to pray to anyone: just meditate. And it's the best thing, because Satanism is based on independence, so you don't depend on anyone but yourself, you don't have to beg to anyone for anything.

Obviously, no divine hand will ever help you do anything if you don't learn to do things yourself, and this is a concept that many people still don't understand today.

The independence I am referring to is clearly not what we learn as people in the transition from adolescence to adulthood, but that of facing everyday problems, the inner problems that we carry with us.

In addition, I eliminated many Christian symbols present in my room, as they caused me a lot of discouragement and annoyance. And I often laugh at those who think that the cross as opposed to St. Peter is that of "Satan".

Ave Satana.

[tears-that-heal]

To My Dear Brothers & Sisters in Jesus Christ....

"Mindfulness"

The term, mindfulness (or mindful), has become a loaded word in our modern day. According to Webster dictionary, mindfulness is defined as such. 1. the quality or state of being mindful. 2. the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one's thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis; also  : such a state of awareness. So this formal definition seems to be a great word to describe one's mindset or outlook on life. Personally, I strive to be "mindful" on the daily, but what this word is strongly associated to eastern religions like Hinduism and Buddhism.

I touched on these two religions, and their practices on yoga and meditation in a previous post, but adapting their practice of "mindfulness" hasn't needed to happen because within the church. As a Christian, we gain knowledge, wisdom, and understanding through the Holy Spirit, a.k.a Yeshua/God. To achieve "mindfulness" without God is what I'm mainly addressing here. This post is a loving warning for you to be alert and sober whenever you come across this word in the world. Do not fear it, but definitely ask the Holy Spirit for Discernment and Wisdom if you come inbox contact with this subject; especially in Psychology and other Wellness-related services in the US. While still in California, I worked in high school education for a time and "mindfulness" was brought up alot in multiple mandatory meetings. *sigh* Basically, "mindfulness" is the practice to achieve awareness on your own human knowledge and understanding, and to also sustain it on your own will. Truly its more of an awareness of oneself, then awareness of others. Which ties into what I said in my previous post on yoga and meditation.

Mindfulness meditation is, of course, a thing too. It's the "how-to" to practice becoming and being "mindful". For Christians, we mediate/ponder on God's Word, the Holy Bible. Then through prayer, we receive knowledge and understanding from the Holy Spirit of what we've read. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT) We are instructed to not depend on our own human knowledge and wisdom because our understanding is limited and flawed. Compared tp our God/Yeshua, who's All Knowing and Perfect. I personally strive to live by this biblical passage as humanly possible. Of course, my efforts are imperfect and God know that too. He simply asks us to look to Him as we wholeheartedly, try daily. So please, be weary of the practice of "mindfulness" as you travel through this life on earth. God Bless <;3

[theic-manic]

2025 Novena journey: days 7 & 8

For those who haven't been following, I decided to pray a Saint Mary Magdalene Novena as an indirect way of honouring the memory of Pope Francis, aka Mary Magdalene’s biggest stan since Yeshua.

Yesterday afternoon I prayed for guidance for the 7th day in a row and I received some clarity on a channelled message that is rather personal and has been playing on my mind repeatedly for a couple of years now.

This was in addition to some other much needed spiritual synchronicities.

Such as a reminder that the divine is within the mundane.

Today, I prayed again after feeling quite guilty for yet again engaging in non-spiritual hobbies while experiencing brain fog.

Today I also asked for improved self-compassion since I have a tendency to hold myself to impossible standards (which I was gently "lectured" on via other synchronicities last night as well).

The divine, tapping the sign:

Psst there's a connection here you're just too brain foggy to perceive right now so here's a few more bread crumbs. In fact, one of those saints you briefly saw mentioned by name in a book last night has their feast day tomorrow so here you go.

I then (re)discover.St. Catherine of Siena.

I won't go into specifics on how I relate to her. However, there's a lot about her lore that I can relate to, so I'll just provide one link for anyone curious about her.

Though I will add her Patronage:

Against bodily ills; against fire; against illness; against miscarriages; against sexual temptation; against sickness; against temptations; fire prevention; firefighters; nurses; nursing services; people ridiculed for their piety; sick people; Theta Phi Alpha sorority; Europe (declared by Pope John Paul II); Italy; diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania; diocese of Gamboma, Congo; diocese of Macau, China; Siena, Italy; Varazze, Italy

[s2lavander-cakess2]

My altar <3

[charlesreeza]

The infant Jesus hawking jewelry.

Actually, this is a devotional statue of Jesus as a child, or the Divine Infant, similar to the famous Infant of Prague, but with more tasteful clothes. I assume the beads were offerings made to the little idol and he is either showing them off or trying to give them back.

Photos by Charles Reeza

at the church of San Giuseppe dei Teatini in Palermo, Sicily.

[lokavisi]

This also applies to religious practice, too.✌️

Fine. Here you have it. The one true rule of witchcraft:

Stop bitching about other people's practices and focus on your own

[mysterioushimachal]

The Hidden Stories Behind Kotgarh’s Devta Marich Ji and His Ancient Rituals

[jeronimoloco]

Chingay in JB, a feast for the senses

Johor Bahru’s Chingay is quite a spectacle to behold. Where Singapore’s modern take on the southern Chinese tradition of youshen, or procession of dieties, is contained and choreographed, the JB parade is an unabashed expression of faith, unity, and community spirit. The JB parade, which has been around for some 150 years. Except for 1942, when the war came, JB’s Chingay has been held annually…