Things not to do with religion

[Sliceanddice]

we have mirror in our home for good energy
we also have the squirrel protecting us.
the magical squirrel who comes alive at night and dances we believe

[marasbaras]

Actually, I'm a bit of a pyro....

I'm an ex-Boy Scout. That means I'm a trained pyromaniac.

[Geek King]

I'm an ex-Boy Scout. That means I'm a trained pyromaniac.

Pop quiz hotshot, the camp director wants a ten foot tall bonfire for the campfire circle in two hours. What do you do?





<<I built it out of pine logs and pine knots...cleared the first two rows of the circle due to heat. >>

[Gothicsmurf]

Yeah, things trapped inside shields can be really annoying. I had something give me nightmares for a few days (I call them nightmares, but they felt a bit on the ridiculous side, even when I was in the middle of them) until I had the ex pull down the shields he had put up. Turns out that I have a finer touch at it than he does.

I too have a strong touch so I have to be very careful. I don't do it to trap things in, but to keep them out. Which in essence traps things in as well. *sigh* What's in now though is fine and I have found that "my" little girl comes and goes even with entrances salted.


AnqeiicDemise - Totally forgot about the stones. That's good too. Have them in every room. I also have 7 coins under my front door mat. What a difference that has made!

[Pagan]

My shields are pretty non-restrictive. I work more with intent than anything else. Kind of a "bad things go around this place without noticing, thanks" sort of shielding. I'm not really explaining it all that well, though.

Yeah, things trapped inside shields can be really annoying. I had something give me nightmares for a few days (I call them nightmares, but they felt a bit on the ridiculous side, even when I was in the middle of them) until I had the ex pull down the shields he had put up. Turns out that I have a finer touch at it than he does.

I run two shields....a shield of Lugh (for protection) and a hawthorne shield (to hide me). When I erected my shields, I was at my friend, Kathy's (our little "grove" if you will) and her husband, Rob, helped me put them up since I had never done it before. The main reason I needed them is that I had a shadow person in my apartment. When we put up the shields, I felt and Rob saw the shadow person leave.

I've also got the salt in the corners of my apartment and I've also got yellow cloth tied to the door handles (for positive energy, like the sun) and cedar (for protection) on the window sills and above the doors, including the bedroom door.

Of course, my stuff is a little more militant than some others since I'm not Wiccan. I'm BanDrui, which is the feminine version of a Druid.

[RetailWorkhorse]

A possessed My Little Pony?
Ok now THAT sounds interesting.

Yup! Pumpkin Sweetie Pie** is in my art bag..........uhm..... she USED to be in my art bag.....the jar is empty again...............





**Just now did a search and have FOUND my little pony! Her actual name is apparently Little Honey Pie. I wonder where I got her new name?

[zzapp the witch]

If you would like to cleanse your abode/office, but can't be running around with burning things, try sea salt and a vacuum. It works. Also, using cedar oil on doorways and thresholds. Put some sage in the vacuum bag and selectively *suck up* bad energies if need be.

[PepperElf]

how about cleaning out hatred and intolerance?
If anyone feels I should go to whatever-this-fratching-thing-is... 'sok to say it... but, all references to religion here are only because it really happened at work, just about 12 hours ago, and it frankly relates to what happened to the group in the original post... that one person used "authority" against another guy at work because of religious intolerance and hatred.

had a younger worker who was "doodling" his religious symbol, kinda in soap suds while cleaning. I've seen him do it before but... eh, i kinda like learning about other religions.

he was gently ordered to erase it by one person (H). And, from my discussion with H afterwards... his reasons were valid. He didn't care what symbol it was, he figured it could offend someone so... across-the-board / same rules for all... no.

(oh but before that, H had asked what religion it was, and ... I told him... after all he DID ask.)

What pissed me the f* off was what happened right after H said it should be erased. The guy was hesitant - i think he felt it was because of his faith specifically - so another guy MM said in a LOUD and carrying voice, "WIPE THAT SHIT OFF NOW!!!!"

When I tried to talk to MM I got the same voice, told to "STAND DOWN" all aggressive like. And both of them said that my actions were "egging the worker on" and likely to cause an incident.

I am still very pissed about that.
1) I spoke to H about the faith in question because he DID ask what it meant.
2) ... And somehow MM yelling at the top of his lungs, calling the guy's religious symbol shit is somehow going to diffuse the situation?
3) When I tried to talk to MM the first time, I had been trying to ask to speak privately... therefore I feel he was very out of line... and again his actions were the most likely to cause an incident than mine.

4) Most importantly, I did get to talk to both H & MM privately after they'd calmed down... and yes, right or wrong I had to ask... "If it had been (symbol from another religion) drawn in the suds, would you have allowed it?" H said no, that he personally felt that symbol was bad, but he was more concerned about people getting in an uproar and having an incident or fight started... and that any religious symbol would have gotten the same answer. Plus he was calm and professional while we talked.

MM's answer was... Yes. The other symbol is allowed because of *insert personal beliefs* And he proceeded to "explain" how evil the doodled symbol was and that they do "this and this and this that's evil." He also said, "And they do drugs and that kid is going to be a druggie just like the rest of them!"

I don't respect MM anymore. I did, mostly, but... to start spouting off that that worker is going to be a drug abuser just because of his religion?

The saddest thing of all was this... afterwards, I saw the kid and gave him a sad look and smile, whispering "Sorry!"
He nodded, and the look in his eyes said what he didn't voice... "Yeah, I'm use to it..."

[Broomjockey]

how about cleaning out hatred and intolerance?
If anyone feels I should go to whatever-this-fratching-thing-is...

No specifics mentioned, so it's fine. As for what Fratching is, it's a sister site Raps set up to have all the debates and contenscious issues hosted on. It's a way to keep bad blood off CS.

[RetailWorkhorse]

He nodded, and the look in his eyes said what he didn't voice... "Yeah, I'm use to it..."

There are a lot of stuff we have to hide from society. It's sad. If you see the kid again, give him a hug for me, I know what it's like to have to hide a part of yourself.

[karath]

Hey, out of curiosity...while I grew up Christian, and personally haven't had any memorable experiences with ghosts or spirits, the vast majority of my friends have.

You all sound very knowledgeable about this; are spirits something I should be worried about? The more I listen to my friends (and to you guys ) the more I feel I should do something to, I don't know, be on my guard at least. Are the things you wonderful folk suggested something everyone should do, or just people who have actual experience with that world? Any advice is appreciated, be it via PM or this thread

[zzapp the witch]

The short answer that my father gave me: They can't hurt you unless you let them.

Some people have paranormal experiences, some don't, its just the way it is. If you worry about them, do something. If you don't, don't. For the most part, rituals and practices are mainly psychological reinforcements of positive things we wish to happen.

Being raised Christian, think of it as another way of praying, or lighting a candle. Its all very personal, and can vary greatly from person to person.

[karath]

Ah, ok! That makes a lot of sense. Thanks Zzap!

[RetailWorkhorse]

Hey, out of curiosity...while I grew up Christian, and personally haven't had any memorable experiences with ghosts or spirits, the vast majority of my friends have.

You all sound very knowledgeable about this; are spirits something I should be worried about? The more I listen to my friends (and to you guys ) the more I feel I should do something to, I don't know, be on my guard at least. Are the things you wonderful folk suggested something everyone should do, or just people who have actual experience with that world? Any advice is appreciated, be it via PM or this thread

Most ghosts really have no reason to hurt you. The ones I've talked to usually just liked to watch the living. That's about it. The ones that DO want to hurt you only want you out of their space because THEY don't like the vibes coming from YOU. It's kinda like how some dogs and cats will love you but others freak out. It's a preference for the Ghosties and Souls.

[Pagan]

You all sound very knowledgeable about this; are spirits something I should be worried about?

Most ghosts really have no reason to hurt you. The ones I've talked to usually just liked to watch the living. That's about it. The ones that DO want to hurt you only want you out of their space because THEY don't like the vibes coming from YOU. It's kinda like how some dogs and cats will love you but others freak out. It's a preference for the Ghosties and Souls.

Right! And remember, ghosts are just like people....there's good, bad, and all shades (no pun intended!) in between. I remember listening to "Coast-to-Coast AM" (great radio show, they talk about all kinds of things http://www.coasttocoastam.com/) one time and someone put forth the theory that to the ghosts, we are the ghosts.

Some ghost are just residuals, meaning that they're just repeating the same events over and over regardless of anyone being present. Some will interact with you.

Actually, a good show to watch to get a sense of ghost is "Ghost Hunters" on Sci-Fi. I think new episodes start next Wednesday, too. The EVPs they get sometimes are just absolutely amazing! (I find it hilarious that they're Roto-Rooter guys, too! )