Archive for December, 2004

There Aren’t Enough Candles

There aren’t enough candles to light for the dead. How do you acknowledge the souls of over 100,000 people who died in an instant? Do you light blazing bonfire to lead them home? The cries of the dead reach me half way around the world. The cries of the living reach into my living room each day.

What happens when the earth stretches? A tsunami destroys lives across four countries. I don’t believe that this is the work of a vengeful God. What did these people do to deserve this? I just don’t believe they were destroyed for their own failings — or those of any others. This was a natural event. The earth need to stretch out her plates and readjust. The problem is that we live on her and she can’t always worry about us. Just as we don’t worry about the tiny creatures we may unitentionally harm as we go about our daily lives. Not everything that happens has a human reason. We are a part of the world that we live in, not the only cause or effect.

My heart and prayers go out to those who have died and those struggling to live on.

If you have the means to help via prayers, magick, or donations, please do. Right now there are thousands who need anything you can offer.

Donations:

Prayers:

Solstice - Stillness of Winter

Solstice to me is not so much a religious event, but more falls under the category of spiritual event which acknowledges the natural world. Religion is a man-made construct. The solstice happens whether we acknowledge it or not.

Jewitches of my ilk, work with the natural world so it is best to acknowledge major natural events.

Unlike Yule which for most Pagans is about bringing back the sun, the winter solstice is about imersing yourself into the stillness of winter. I attended a fully silent ritual this year which cast a circle in silence and then lit a cauldron which timed a group, silent meditation. When the cauldron went out, the ritual ended and we released the circle.

It’s the second year I’ve done this, and it will be my tradition from now on.

The sun will return in it’s time. For one moment we acknowledge the darkness of winter, before moving forward into the returning warmth.

Oy is Just Yo Backwards

I keep this site pretty serious, but I think it’s time to show I have a sense of humor. I love pop culture, from the pop artists of the 1960s to the O.C. and its Chrismukkah madness! If you do not have a sense of humor, these may be offensive. Even if you do, you might be sensitive and get offended. Stop looking if you get offended.

So here are a few of my favorite
Popjewlar Culture sites:

Hanukkah Hey Yeah!

Manischewitz Swag and other fun stuff
Jewish Super Hero Corps
Jewsweek Magazine
The Yada Blog
Chrismukkah.com

There are so many more,
but this is enough for one day!

Eighth Day of Chanukah

“On the seventh day YHWH rested. . . .”

But on Chanukah, the miracle lasted for eight days. It lasted longer than creating the universe and all its inhabitants? Granted, making oil last for eight days seems far less complex than the act of creation. But still, it lasted eight days. A day longer than creation. Does humanity really need such a reminder of the ongoing work of creation?

What do you think?

Seventh Day of Chanukah

The number seven is one of the most magickal numbers. The seventh day is the day of rest; the Sabbath. A day we honor for its own sake. Honor the Sabbath. Honor the seventh day.

In all cultures, myths and legends seven represents…

completeness and totality
macrocosm
perfection
plenty
reintegration
rest
security
safety
synthesis