Spirituality And Gender

Book: Spirituality And Gender by John Nash

A major crisis in the world today concerns women and spirituality. Women everywhere are experiencing a rapid expansion in Consciousness that has opened up new avenues to self-expression and fulfillment. From the limited fields of the home, teaching, and nursing, women now enjoy opportunities in virtually every field of endeavor: the professions, politics, the military, business, manufacturing and construction industries, entertainment, sports, and many other areas. Although they have met some resistance, the response from male colleagues to women's entry into these fields has been overwhelmingly positive. For the most part, men are readily sharing in women's consciousness-raising. Government and industry leaders stress the contribution that this previously untapped human resource can make to growth and prosperity. Today's women can do anything men can do, outside the realms of physical sex and religion.

Women have long been welcome in organized religion in service roles. Nuns could teach in schools and nurse the sick, female parishioners could arrange flowers on the altar, women could teach children and other women in Sunday school and could serve as volunteers in the great many jobs needed to keep a church operating. Now women are knocking on the seminary doors and demanding entry to the ministry. Some Christian denominations have admitted women to the ministry on an equal footing to men--in a few cases even to senior ranks such as bishop. Reform Judaism welcomes women to the rabbinate, and women have made some inroads into the priesthood of Hindu and Buddhist temples. However, other Christian denominations and Islam adamantly refuse even to discuss the issue of female ordination. After all, as the fundamentalists are quick to point out, it was through women that sin came into the world. Furthermore, the Savior/Prophet was male, so that's that.

For much longer, women have played a distinct spiritual role, although this role has received scant support from male-oriented society. The goddess culture of ancient times was destroyed by patriarchal invaders, notably the Hellenic Greeks. Priestesses and vestal virgins continued to play a significant role in religious life during the Greek and Roman periods, although large numbers are reported to have been raped or murdered. Others went to war, often fighting to the death or taking their own lives before they could be captured.

In the later Christian era, a few women, like Hildegard of Bingen and Theresa of Avilla were revered as mystics, but many more, including Joan of Arc, were burned at the stake. Historians attribute much of the appeal of Medieval Witchcraft to women's unfulfilled saccerdotal ambitions. Even today, Wicca attracts women who might in other circumstances be attracted to the priesthood available to their male counterparts.

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Magic And Warfare Appearance And Reality In Contemporary African Conflict And Beyond

Book: Magic And Warfare Appearance And Reality In Contemporary African Conflict And Beyond by Nathalie Wlodarczyk

This study explores the roles played by magic in contemporary African warfare, specifically through the case of Sierra Leone, to assess its impact on behaviour in conflict. In the last two decades, rituals designed to imbue people with Supernatural power and make them immune to enemy fire have been seen on post-Cold War battlefields across Africa. Wlodarczyk argues that the use of magic in warfare can be understood, not as an illustration of how Africa’s reality is qualitatively different from the West’s, but as appropriate and logical. Here, a conceptual framework is suggested for analysing culturally alien practices more broadly, to inform approaches to civilian and military intervention not only in Africa but in conflict theatres around the world.

Wlodarczyk has built on the by-now considerable body of work on the importance of belief systems in African politics to offer a systematic analysis of the role of ‘magic’ in the Sierra Leone conflict. Making good use of the extensive evidence gathered by the trials on war crimes and her own field research, she provides a detailed account of the origins, organization and behaviour of the Kamajor militias that formed the core of the so-called Civil Defence Forces, which fought the rebel Revolutionary United Front. This book is a perceptive analysis of the nature of violence in contemporary Africa, which has relevance well beyond the continent. And it reinforces the argument that it is impossible plausibly to interpret political events in settings different from ours without an Understanding of the cultural context within which they take place.”—Patrick Chabal, International Affairs

"Researchers who specialize in military studies are a pretty hard-headed bunch, unlikely to spend much time thinking about the worlds of spirits. If they read this book, as they should, they may start to do otherwise. Wlodarczyck’s achievement is to show the relevance of spiritual matters for military and political affairs in many parts of the world, concentrating on Sierra Leone. I hope this book will alert many people to an aspect of warfare that is likely to grow in importance."--Stephen Ellis, Desmond Tutu Professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
“Nathalie Wlodarczyk has done a stunning job bringing the immensely complicated, sensitive and intriguing subject of magic to the academic field. From a sound theoretical base, this book brings empirical research and meticulous insight into Sierra Leone’s war and its Kamajor fighters. Magic and Warfare combines a fascinating intellectual adventure with an engaging clarity that steers the reader to a greater understanding not only of the Kamajors and the war, but of the nature of belief and its relationship with action.

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Samurai Voodoo Doll The Truth About Voodoo Dolls Today

The Samurai voodoo doll and in fact voodoo dolls in general, have seen a great revival in recent years, with a growing number of westerners expressing interest in these curios. Yet the world is not preparing itself for a riot of black magic - for these little Samurai voodoo dolls are armed with charm and a cheeky little smile! Voodoo doll charms have become hugely popular with people for a wide number of reasons.

Voodoo itself carries with it much mysticism and intrigue, with many people perceiving it through the lens of Hollywood. Certainly films have depicted dark, mysterious and undoubtedly evil doings relating to voodoo, with voodoo dolls being tortured, stuck with pins and burnt. Yet this image is distinctly unfair, and the reality of voodoo, and its use of dolls, is as distant from black magic as the little voodoo charms carried by people today.

Used as key rings, attached to bags and zippers or simply hidden inside a pocket, the little samurai dolls which people enjoy today are in no way symbols of dark magic or of a culture which entertains dark or evil forces. Indeed, voodoo is very much an aspect of the ancient Caribbean religion which worships Loa, and Loa's sub-deities. It is a religion which harnesses the natural world, and which takes on board the idea that everything is interconnected, With Spirits and natural energy underpinning all that we see, both in the natural world and in the behaviour of people.

It is particularly this idea that people's behaviour can be affected by natural forces or energy which has encouraged the increased interest in lucky charms, samurai dolls and voodoo dolls. However, rather than seeing these little doll charms as being dark, restricting or affecting people's behaviour against their will, it is instead the idea that people who approach you with dark thoughts, ill intentions or bad news will find that their negative energy is either dispelled or rebuffed.

In practice the concept is that one of these brave little voodoo doll charms will defend you from this negative energy, bouncing it back towards the other person, and keeping you safe from harm. Sticking pins in your little doll charm will do little else but risk him losing a little of his stuffing, and you wouldn't want to impair his ability to defend you, would you?

Whether you believe in the idea of natural energy, negative energy or the ability to defend yourself from negative energy is unimportant. Certainly many people do, and we all know people who seem charmed, able to float through life untouched by negative energy, or like ducks, able to let bad news or dark times simple trickle off their back as they drift onwards towards warmer waters. Similarly many of us know people who seem always to be the ones to experience bad news, calamities, failures and problems, constantly stressed, upset or angry, with a fuse so short that it barely has any delay before bursting with a furious reaction!

Why should it be that some people have it so easy, whilst for others life seems to be a constant challenge? Is there something in the idea of being charmed? Is it simply that by believing that things will get worse, that they do, and that by having faith that things will improve, they will? If this is the case, then our plucky little heroes, your little samurai voodoo doll or other voodoo doll charms may work simply by being around, filling you with just enough confidence to make the difference.

Of course, for many people charms have great importance, from special pebbles or shells, to crystals or pendants, jewels, rings or other items which seem imbued with energy or associations which help the owner feel more positive. Voodoo dolls manage to evoke the mystery of an ancient and powerful religion from a part of the world connected deeply to the natural environment. A holiday to Haiti will not only bring you right to the heart of the origins of Voodoo, but is likely to help invest you with renewed vigour, feeling positive and energetic! But of course, that might simply be the sun, the white sand and the local rum!

There are many people who carry such charms simply for their visual appeal, and this is understandable looking at the wide selection of voodoo dolls available today. Delightfully designed, with great detail and a distinct sense of charm which has a great deal to do with their cheeky little expressions.

The samurai voodoo doll may offer you protection against those who may mean you harm, or he may provide you with a renewed sense of confidence and faith in yourself, or he may simply be a rather unusual little character hanging from your bag or tucked in your pocket. But one thing is for certain - voodoo doll charms won't needle you, and who knows - maybe neither will other people whilst you keep him with you!

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Protection And Reversal Magick A Witch Defense Manual

Book review: Protection And Reversal Magick A Witch Defense Manual by Jason Miller

Jason Miller's Protection & Reversal Magick: A Witch's Defense Manual, is a fine book that I could recommend, without reservation, to anyone with an interest in magick and witchcraft that goes beyond the typical Wicca 101 books so prevalent in every chain bookstore in America. It dives head first into a topic that is almost never mentioned in so many books on witchcraft, and that is that there is some risk associated with magickal practice.

It's an all too common problem with many books on witchcraft to completely gloss over or sugar coat the idea that magick is real and can effect you negatively as well as positively in order to appeal to a wider audience.

Protection and Reversal Magick is a well done book, for both the novice or the experienced. The author's conversational tone (and occasional humor) is much appreciated. I found that even in just the reading of the book, the principles and ideas seemed to help and I like that the meditations or spells, if you prefer, can be done virtually anywhere at any time. Preferably, of course, you would prefer to be alone to concentrate, but in an emergency you gotta do what you gotta do...The information on how to tell whether you are the recipient of a psychic attack is invaluable.

This book does not strip down or sugar coat its contents to appeal to the dabbling magician. That being said, it does book provides a practical, easy to understand, step by step guide to magical protection that can be put into use really by anyone with a desire to try. In other words it delivers exactly what it promises, the information you need to help you protect yourself from outside forces as well as conditions brought on by your own actions. It draws from a variety of sources without the all too common pit fall of "being eclectic for eclectic's sake". It also provides many new spells and ideas straight from the author's practice. Not only does this give you a great starting point from which to begin working from but also gives you a head start from which to do your own further research into the topics presented if you wanted to. In addition to being grounded in tried and true methods, this book is able to appeal to all readers by not being grounded in one tradition or religion and instead focusing on the craft and techniques of magick.

This book is an excellent guide to using protection magic. It helped me to obtain peace in my life. I always felt that hiddent forces were influencing me, making me angry and belligerent. Since I began using the practices outlined in the book I have become much more calm and relaxed. I recommend Protection and Reversal Magick to anyone dabbling in the magical realm.

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Protection And Reversal Magick A Witch Defense Manual

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Journal Of Experimental Spirituality

Book: Journal Of Experimental Spirituality by Ashe

At first glance, this issue may appear to be a departure from our previous offerings. William S. Burroughs has long been and continues to be, though somewhat softened by time, a controversial figure. His life and theories remain kewl and are still discovered by successive younger generations. To a large extent Burroughs is talked about but not discussed. He has become another larger than life pop icon—all be it one that retains the potential to be both edgy and disruptive. Key quotes and his larger Theoretical constructs are discussed in academic, literate and specialized circles. Few, however, actually peer beneath the hood and attempt to figure out the moving parts in his engine of genius. Even fewer have looked at his theories in a spiritual, or more appropriately a magical, context. At the center of his work, especially from The Wild Boys forward, is a grappling with his reality of a magical universe populated by diverse gods and multiple zones beyond the control of the terrestrial material world.

Would it surprise one that Burroughs wrote often of drugs, control systems and communication? Probably not. Would it surprise the casual fan that he believed in a magical universe, felt affinity with the Egyptian notion of seven souls and was an initiated Chaos magician at the time of his death? Quite possibly. Burroughs’ later writing is infused with complex episodes and examinations of the magical universe, the importance of dream space, the travels of the soul After Death and the power of magick. His characters conduct postmodern rituals from the wild boy tribes’ unigenesis to his hard-boiled detective’s occult investigative techniques. Sometimes spiritual gnosis is a lambent flame warming the seeker with the careful time-honed glow of wisdom and sometimes spiritual metamorphosis is a blast furnace reducing the old to ash. Much of the work contained in this feature would fit the latter more than the former. Some may find portions of this material disturbing or offensive. There is currently a notion circulating in scientific research circles that high risk holds the potential for high gain. There are those who have reached the determination that the
same holds true for Experimental Spirituality as well. Prem, Sven

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A Witch Like Me The Spiritual Journeys Of Today Pagan Practitioners

Book: A Witch Like Me The Spiritual Journeys Of Today Pagan Practitioners by Sirona Knight

Right off the top let me say that I hope this book inspires another one or two in the same line, although perhaps not limited to book authors. I love the idea of learning more about some of the background of some of the “big names” in Paganism. Of course, some of the people I would most like to read about are deceased, but perhaps there are close associates who could provide the data for “posthumous interviews.” In another vein, perhaps a book of Fictional biographies could be assembled for the likes of Harry Potter, Sabrina, Samantha (“Bewitched”) Stevens, the “Charmed” sisters, etc.

It is difficult to critique a book like this, other than on technical grounds, since it is composed of individual life stories and opinions. I truly believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, no matter if they match up with mine or not. So, I find myself in the position of not being able to disagree with any of the statements contained within this book.

Perhaps the only legitimate criticism I can level at this book, if it is that, is that of the fourteen authors presented here (Dorothy Morrison, Phyllis Currot, Raymond Buckland, Z. Budapest, Marion Weinstein, Patricia Telesco, Raven Grimassi, Lady Sabrina, Skye Alexander, A.J. Drew, Silver Ravenwolf, Timothy Roderick, and Sirona Knight), there are only a few who are “Old Timers” (i.e., their first published work came out 20 or more years ago). Even that, however, merely reflects the author’s choice to Deal With those individuals who have stood up for their beliefs, and who are still on the cutting edge of the evolving religion of Wicca.

This is a fun book. No, you won’t learn any deep, dark secrets. There are no skeletons in the closet being revealed. And of course, each author presents themselves in the best possible light,. That is human nature and no one can be faulted for that.

It is a book worth reading, because it shows that Wiccans are very human, and that some of us are willing to stand up and take our lumps for our beliefs. Wiccan authors are becoming more visible, and their books more viable. If you want to know more about the works of these authors, they are listed in the appendix. That appendix could form the basis for a decent “wish list” to improve your library.

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Learn The Secrets Of How To Voodoo

Voodoo emerged in West Sahara and is constructed on African ideology from Nigeria, Benin, and Togo everywhere the Yobura people dwell. The word Voodoo is derived the west African word, "Vodun," meaning "phantom."
Voodoo worshipers have faith in one God. Devotees are in touch with God with the help of the Loa, (spirits.) The Loa are to Voodoo what the Saints mean to Catholics. The Loa are duty-bound for everyday Experiences in life. The 1700 & 1800's brought numberless slaves from Africa to the Caribbean islands to work on cotten plantations. The slaves brought along their vodu and traditions. Ceremonies were constructed of communal song, drumming, dancing, chanting, and the sacrifice of creatures. Plantation owners pictured them to be savages and attempted to Christianize the slaves. Being that there were many similarities between the religions, Catholicism was worked into the Voodoo practice. The 1700's saw the arrival of enslavement, along with the slaves' religion of vodu, to New Orleans. Over many years, Voodoo in Louisiana changed and evolved to what is now known as "Louisiana Voodoo."

Well known people in Voodoo?

The oldest Voodoo queen in New Orleans is DeDe Sainte'. She arrived from Santo Domingo and allegedly bought her freedom. Sainte' held rites in her garden on Dumaine St. She would become an inspiration to Marie Laveau, New Orleans most celebrated Voodoo queen. There are plentiful misconceptions whenabout the practice of voodoo. Some of these include human sacrifices, cannibalism, the power to turn into animals, worshiping Satan, andbringing people back to life. In absoluteness, Voodoo is a extraordinarily spiritual religion whereas devotees work towards achieving a higher state of consciousness. All around the world today, Voodoo is practiced by millions of people all around the world.

Learn how to voodoo safely use Voodoo, & gain access freely to custom voodoo dolls at my Store.

Vodu is rather interesting, and like all magical workings voodoo uses a tool to assist in projecting the energy the user harnesses, the tool vodu practicioners choose is a doll, the voodoo doll is just a tool to direct energy, keep a eye open for my next artical on voodoo dolls, andhow you can create one at homeone with a basic love spell...

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