Recently a pen pal I talk to on Instagram talked to me about sharing my YouTube channel with her. I asked her why. And she simply said,
“Your Instagram posts, your blog posts, I’m an interested party,”
Lol, I guess my posts on IG and my blog are a little weird. I post everything from my favorite shows and movies to the images I use on my blog posts. That’s what for people interested in what my posts are like.
Lol I love my little memes. Well I finally decided to share my eclectic YouTube channel with her. Even though I don’t post videos or talk on there. I just save videos into folders. Mostly for research. But also entertainment.
Apparently she loved it. Looks like people like weird shit. So without further adieu, here’s my YouTube.
Some examples of videos I save and archive
It’s not much. And YouTube has forced many of my playlists to be private some reason. The only thing I can think of is that they are Occult. And therefore, considered bad for most people. But yeah. Enjoy everyone,
Known by a bunch of different names. In different cultures. The Welsh have Nos Galan Gaef. The Manx have Hop-tu-naa. Some Catholics Venerate St. Allan.
And really all of the Saints on this evening. In Brazil there is a little creature called Saci who is similar to Rumpelstiltskin. He’s a real trickster. And this is Saci Day. He lives inside of dust storms.
Specifically dirt devils. Legend has it that he’s invisible as long as he has his red cap. And that he grants wishes to those who take it away from him. However, people who claimed to have actually done this, say that his cap smells horrible. And that no matter what, the stench has never washed off.
And of course you have to set him free afterwards.
In Latin America we have Noche De Brujas (Night of the Witches). When tradition has it, that we witches our most powerful. On November 1st, we have Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). For the adults that is. November 2nd is Dia de Los Muertos for the children.
La Santa Muerte and Dia De Los Muertos
Dia De Los Muertos is a Spanish celebration of All Saints Day in the Catholic Church. And a celebration of La Santa Muerte. The Christianized version of the Aztec Goddess of the Dead, Mictēcacihuātl. Her name means “our lady of Mictlán”. Mictlán is the land of the dead.
Her husband is Mictlāntēcutli. Later she was turned into a Saint by Folk Catholics. Who began to see a reborn version of the Goddess, as a Catholic Saint. Dressed as the Virgin Mary. But in the form of a skeleton.
The skeletons aren’t always dressed as Mary. Other times they look like women dressed as flamenco dancers. The skeleton dolls are called Katrinas. The irony of this is, Halloween is the Christianized version of Samhain. They created Hallowsmas as a way to convert Pagans.
This kind of backfired in them. The only thing this accomplished was for Pagans to learn how to hide. In plain sight. Indigenous people in Mexico started worshipping their Gods in secret on that day. And to this day the Great Goddess Mictēcacihuātl continues to be worshiped and adored.
And now even non indigenous people are praying to her.
Originally, the day was used to Christianize the Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-en). Where sows or female pigs were slaughtered. And then salted and preserved for winter. In those days, winter was a grueling endeavor. Imagine months of being trapped in your house.
With no safe way out. Entire families trapped until the spring time. And homes back then were very small. Often there was a common living area that also doubled as a sleeping room and kitchen. So Samhain was the preparation of all that.
And contrary to the popular belief, it was not the Celtic festival of the dead. But rather it was a sort of harvest/preparation for winter. What the Celts did believe in however, was that Faeries ran wild during this time. And while some of the Fair Folk are good, others are evil. And some are just ambivalent about humanity in general.
And don’t particularly care to not harm us. So, like every other Celtic fire feast, they created Bonfires like this.
A depiction of the Druids and other Celtic God worshippers, dancing around a bonfire to gain its protection.
Now you think this is simple right? No, it isn’t. Building a Bonfire back then was not easy. To make a fire holy, you had to perform certain rituals. The bon in bonfire, is a Middle English word for “Bone”. Animals were sacrificed in magical rituals to ward away enemy spirits, black magic, and even the dead.
Other rituals used a need-fire or friction fire. Need-fires were more complicated. As in a huge pain in the ass. Remember those sticks you rub together to make a fire? The same principle applies. Except that there are large sticks.
Like trees practically. Using a large fire drill made of oak. The sacred tree for male Gods. Such as Thor. Even Jesus was crucified on an oak tree.
An oak drill was made to “need” or drill into the other wood. Now, because of how large these logs are, a platform had to be created to hold one up. And gallows rope would be tied to the drill. The group of men (it’s a male centric ritual even symbolically with the logs) are the ones who rub or need the wood into a friction fire.
The point is, these magical fires were used to keep away enemy spirits. By enemy, I don’t mean necessarily evil. But what is evil to us may not be for a Faerie. Faeries often kill humans by accident. So the bonfire was used on Samhain and the other fire festivals for protection.
From disease, enemy spirits, and enemy witchcraft. Bones tossed into fire is also a remedy against Ghosts. So the veil does get thin during this time. But the Celts didn’t celebrate this as a time for their dead. In fact, it’s unknown why Christians started this myth in the first place.
Perhaps the belief in spirits walking the Earth got stuck in their heads. And for some reason they assumed it would be the dead. And not nature spirits. Frankly I’m surprised they didn’t think of devils instead. But for whatever reason, they chose to Christianize Samhain as a feast of the Christian Dead.
Now, when the calendar changed, so did the date for Samhain. It’s no longer on October 31. Many (like myself) celebrate it on the evening of November the 6th. At sunset. Until sunset the 7th.
Others celebrate it on November the 11th. In my case I just decided to celebrate a Samhain week. That is at its peak the 6th and ends the 11th. For Halloween, I celebrate the feasts of the dead. Specifically the ones mentioned above.
But also the Catholic version. I’m a Christo Pagan. So for me, Christian holidays are magical too. No matter their origin. Perhaps the Christians were being attacked by angry spirits of the Celts.
Who demanded they leave their people alone. And that led to the idea this was a festival of the dead.
The Black Vespers of the Christian Dead
The Catacombs
That’s just me speculating. Now what’s really interesting is how the Catholic Church celebrates this holiday. They made their Christian version of Samhain as chthonic as possible. Originally, the day had it’s own mass. Masses in Catholicism are considered the highest form of prayer that there is.
Because it isn’t just one person praying. Or even two. But large groups of people in the hundreds or even thousands. In churches over the world, praying around the exact same times. Or the same days (at different times).
The Priest would wear a ‘penitential purple’ vest. This was the color for Vigils. Because they adopted the Celtic practice of celebrating a feast day since the Evening of the day before. This is due to the world becoming liminal between the time of the actual day, and the day before. So if you ever wondered why Hollow’s Eve and Christmas Eve are so important, there you are.
Halloween, from Hallow-en which itself comes from “All Hallows’ Eve”—the eve of All Saints’ Day. The Saints themselves are dead spiritual masters. Ascended Masters. So they fall in line with what many traditions call “The Mighty Dead”. Kings or Queens of the Dead.
Or in some cases a more powerful than usual dead person. Like the human version of an Archangel or a Faerie King/Queen. A higher level of human spirit. Note I said “like”. I am not saying that’s what the mighty dead are.
Hallows is another way of saying “holy”. So all holy eve is what Halloween means. The Eve of the Holy Ones or Saints. It comes from the Middle English halowen. From the Old English hālig for “holy”.
Also known as the Vespers of the Dead. Or the Black Vespers, in which the Priest would dress in black as the proper color for funerals. Originally, these prayers weren’t spoken on All Hallows. But instead were spoken after the Second Vespers on All Saints’ Day. Which was on its way to becoming All Souls Day.
The day for praying for all the dead in general. To achieve Heaven and leave Purgatory. The traditions of speaking the Vespers since All Hallow’s Eve came later. With the British. They began to say it since the evening of All Hallow’s.
The tradition of kids dressing up in costumes and trick or treating also comes from the British Catholic Church. The boys would often dress like St. Michael the Archangel. And all the kids would knock on doors asking for “soul cakes”. It helped to feed the poor. And in exchange, those children promised the families something in return.
They would pray for that family’s departed relatives. So even the act of feeding the children was chthonic. It was for them to do funeral prayers for their dead.
A boy dressed as St. Michael for All Hallows’ Eve
For those interested, here is the original book on the prayers that were used during this time. A (Pre-55) All Hallows Eve Devotional Booklet from Ancilla Press. Three pages of the original prayers for Hallow-en can be found in that link. The writer of that blog also states something. He says All Hallow’s Eve prayers can only be made official again, when they become widely practiced in the home first.
There is a lot to unpack here for this month. Not only do we have a full moon. But a lunar eclipse! Which is the moon in its chthonic form. So the time and power of the dead is going to be magnified. It doesn’t just mean the dead are stronger though.
It means the whole world itself will be a lot more Liminal than in normal Hallowsmastide. Time to delve into that.
The World is in Between
The veil won’t just be thin. It will be practically non existent. And all spirits, such as the dead as well as the Fae, and other creatures will be able to enter our world. Even in our dreams. A lunar eclipse represents the unconscious levels of the mind.
And it’s possible for the spirits to open door ways into our minds. Sometimes to help us. Other times to play harmless pranks. Sometimes to cause harm. And sometimes even by accident.
So it’s important to take precautions in sleep for the next few days. Probably until spring too. The following is a simple charm to keep your energy protected.
Mind, Body, and Soul Protection Charm with the Sidhe and your Deity of Choice
Ingredients :
1) Three Quarters (or any other silver or partial silver coins or medallions)
2) A religious symbol or book of your choosing
3) A bag to place the coins inside, this one is optional. If the religious symbol is small enough to fit in the bag you can add it too.
Instructions :
Place the three coins under your pillow. Either by themselves or in a bag. The number three opens and closes doors. Which blocks the spirits and even other sorcerers out. And because at least part of the quarters is silver, that’s enough to ward away evil spirits.
And block magic. Silver is the metal of the Celtic Fae. Who are aligned with the Moon. Add a religious symbol of your choosing. It can be something like a Bible. A Star of David.
A Pentagram. Well the banishing pentagram that’s right side up. Not the upside down pentagram. After you placed the items under the pillow say,
“I call upon those wise and friendly spirits of the Sidhe (pronounced “she”) those who are the kin of Danu. I ask you to protect my mind, body, and soul during this eclipse. That by the number three, you close the doorways to any enemy spirits, enchanters, and their magic, so mote it be,”
The Triskelion, a symbol sacred to the Celts. They favored things in threes
This might sound wiccany, but it actually isn’t. It’s a spell I created myself. Calling on the Tuatha Dé Danann. The ancient Faerie Gods of Ireland. Tuatha is the word for nation, tribe, or even family.
A clan. And Dé Danann means “of Danu”. The tribe, nation, family, or clan of Danu. The ancient Celtic Goddess. We don’t know much about her in scholarly circles.
Except that she’s important and very powerful. The Grand Matriarch of the whole civilization.
Danu herself
She is the “Mother of the Gods”. Creator and Maker of all things. Sidhe refers to the mounds where the Faeries in Ireland live. Overtime, the word became so associated with them, that it now has a double meaning. Sidhe meaning a Fae.
Now, you take your chosen symbol of your religion. And pray to your Deity the way you normally would. Ask for protection at night and in your dreams. From anything or anyone who would try to harm you. Then place it under your pillow and that’s it.
I would probably add a protection prayer or spell to shield your mind. Here’s a good one from Lady Beltane,
And this one is also good,
Now those obviously are Wiccan spells. But who cares? Wicca is a good path too. Now these charms ward you personally. But that’s only part of the issue. You also have to take extra steps to ward your property.
Christians who use spiritual warfare, often use sealing prayers. Which are basically magical prayers, to seal the energy of a property. Create an impenetrable barrier that blocks just anything from coming in or out. Those prayers are flawed though. Imagine you you have a bad (or even good) spirit in a location.
The barrier goes up. Now that poor good spirit will be trapped inside the house. Unable to ever leave. And eventually it will become aggressive and come after you when you go to sleep. Maybe even developing insanity after a time.
That’s the best scenario. The worst scenario, is that you have a demon trapped in there with you. And maybe good spirits who would have protected you before, can’t get to you now. Because the whole place is sealed. You have no idea how many times I’ve heard accounts of a Christian exorcist accidentally driving away a good spirit.
One who was guarding a property. And then with no guardian standing in its’s way, a more powerful and evil entity shows up. And infests the property afterwards. I encourage you to study the sealing prayers yes. But make your own versions of them.
I do. In Hoodoo, we also have fiery wall of protection oil. We use the oil to anoint the four corners of the property and home. To create an invisible holy fire barrier. We also have fiery wall candles.
And fiery wall incense. For various rituals. That’s one way to ward. But that’s the main thing you need to worry about. Now for the actual forecast itself.
The Eclipse in Taurus
From Pandora Astrology :
Typical relationship shit. Re-evaluating everything Blah Blah Blah. I can basically say that about almost every astrological event. It’s all tied to human destiny in the end. The most important part is that we speak with our shadow selves.
Many of us will be exposed to our deep and dark selves. And others who know how to use the eclipse will use it to further themselves. You can also use it to recharge your amulets. As well as necromancy and darker magics. You probably don’t need to know that ” dark ” doesn’t mean evil.
Just using darker types of energy. The water trine energy helps with psychic gifts. So this is also a good time to meditate and perfect your skills. The eclipse is for empowerment. So take advantage.
According to Pandora Astrology, the lunar eclipse starts at 1:25 PM Pacific Time. In Miami, and all of the East Coast that’s’ 4:25pm. Now is the time to be honest with yourself. And shed masks we place on ourselves. Especially being submissive to others.
Time to be true to yourself.
Eclipses are also about dominance. You need to be stronger. You need to stand up for yourself. You need to be powerful. So don’t be afraid.
That’s from me, not pandora. What Pandora does say is to remain grounded. And not be overwhelmed. Taurus is a peaceful sign. Let it wash over you.
They also say it’s a good time to release stress (better said than done). Release it all into the earth. Now is also a good time for clearance rituals. It’s also good to do some uncrossing spells. That is, removing of bad luck and bindings. But they warn that do to how emotionally volition everyone will feel, you still need to mind yourself.
And your surroundings as well. Here’s a video as well.
There’s this whole yin and yang conflict between emotions and peace. So don’t be surprised if you feel a little more bipolar than usual. You might feel overly emotional one moment. The next you might be as stoic as Socrates. Or you might be loving one moment.
And plotting to choke out your partner or sibling the next. The chart and message from Pandora Astrology,
From Witchcraft and More we have Urgent Messages for all Zodiac Signs. The video can be seen here. Now for the actual Full Moon itself.
The Hunter’s Moon also typically brings out strange dreams. Well, October Moons in general. Hallowsmastide is a time of divination and magic. Our friend the Peculiar Brunette says,
” The Hunters Moon has symbolized a time of harvest, abundance, the afterlife, spiritual transformation, and divination, “
In October, this effect is magnified.
This Moon is also a Moon for shadow work. For introspection and self reflection. The fact that its combined with an eclipse means it’s stronger. You might feel depressed, angry, and have that annoying internal voice talking to you. The one that criticizes you all the time.
Now is the time not to ignore it, but acknowledge it. Embrace the darkness within. Sit in the pain and feel it. And then work with it. Ask it why it hates you so much.
Eventually your shadow self will appear and answer your questions. And you can heal it back to a normal shadow self. In balance with the rest of your psychic energy. The final things from her amazing article (she goes into this more deeply than I of you are a beginner and need ideas) are these charts.
Moon Water of course is another option. I may update this with more stuff later. I figured I would post it now ASAP. But at the moment you should be set. Celebrate the Full Moon!
I made the above banner in honor of my friend, Tamara “Mema” Dial. Mema was a believer in Wicca. She wasn’t a practitioner of magic. But she did believe in many Gods and Goddesses. And in Wiccan Spirituality.
Now again, it falls to me to write out a good enough eulogy for a beloved friend. Good enough, because nothing I write will ever be enough. Yesterday, as I was trying not to stress out about up coming projects and bills I got a text from Tammy. Or at least I thought it was Tammy.
To say I was shocked is an understatement. It was more like I lost my breath. Then I was hit with the shock like a truck. Followed by a paralysis and then a numbing feeling I still haven’t gotten over. She was doing fine she had told me.
The tumor had shrunk. It wasn’t supposed to take her away so soon. She had good chances. Now I wonder if Tammy had shielded me from the truth. She always said I was like another son to her.
Maybe she knew. Maybe she didn’t. Either way, it fell to her loving husband to contact me. And tell me what had happened. And to tell all of her friends and family.
Her favorite dress
I didn’t know Tammy’s life before she contacted me. She was originally a client. She found me on Facebook. Said she needed help because her house was haunted. This was back when I still worked with paranormal groups.
The house that she and her family lived in had been used as a funeral parlor. There had actually been wakes held there as well. And it was close to a cemetery. It was filled with the dead. I couldn’t do much.
The places of the dead, belong to the dead. They felt this was an intrusion on behalf of the living. I was able to pacify them. And offer cleansings. But ultimately the only solution for them was to move out.
With her grandchild
They did. And in the meantime, I stayed in touch with Tammy and her sister. As time passed, and more paranormal problems persisted, we learned that Tammy’s side of the family was magical. They had magic in their veins. It explained why she was so sensitive to energy.
And why she took to the magic I taught her as easily as she did. She told me later that in her youth, she had studied Wicca. She used to have tools and magical things with her. But she lost them in a move. I think her Granddaughter had also wanted to study it too when she got older.
We used to talk and text. And I would flood her Instagram with memes and funny videos. We bonded over animals and spirituality. I never met this woman before in my life. And now I will never get to.
Is it weird to mourn someone you never met? Not a celebrity. But an actual person. A person you only spoke to on the phone and wrote to online. But a person who may as well have been a part of your family. To you Tammy, I give you my salute.
May the Gods of your Ancestors and your path, be with you on your journey to the other side,
I want to preface this with something. I am not a Liberal. I lean way more left than that. I’m not one of these “love trumps hate” people. Or those people that wear those ridiculous Vagina hats when they go to protest.
I view Liberalism and Conservatism to be part of the colonial framework of the oppressor : the US Government. I used to be a typical Cuban Republican. Until I woke up. And realized I had been brainwashed by the idiots in my Cold War Era Republican community. But soon I learned that Liberals are no better.
Because Capitalism is a Goddamned death cult. I don’t care what you believe in. You have to acknowledge that this is true. Only a fool could say otherwise. Especially while the capitalist death machine is forcing us over the edge of mass suicide and mass homicide everyday.
It’s what allowed the Colonizers to steal this land from the indigenous peoples. To me, liberals are the same kind of thieves and corrupters that the conservatives are. The lesser evil, is still evil. And if you vote for it, you’re ultimately enabling evil. That’s why I prefer movements for justice.
Like Black Lives Matter, Antifa, the NoDapl Water Protectors etc….
So I make this statement so that you don’t think I’m another one of those bleeding heart fools. Who claim they “support people like me” when they don’t. I normally despise both factions of American politics. And I reject the notion of “national unity”. Because that’s the slogan used by those in power over all of the oppressed.
They told black people to stop protesting for their rights for “the good of the country”. Fuck the country. My country is the Earth. And the struggles of all people, are my struggle too. But now to begin this post.
Really begin it. I’m sure you all recall my angry post yesterday. Me screaming my head off to my native guide. After last nights outburst, I had dream. A weird one.
Algonquian Shaman
It was as if I was experiencing everything myself. Not all of the dream can be shared. Some of it was specifically for me. But there were other visions as well. And those are meant to be shared.
And those are the ones that bother me. Because I believe it’s happening right now. And it will trigger an event in the future. I was visited by Niiji spirits last night. Spirits of the land.
Spirits of Turtle Island. I have seen native spirits in visions when I was awake. And worked with them when I was awake. But I have never dreamed with them. I have had dreams of other spiritual groups I am a part of.
But not indigenous. Until now. I wish I could say it was a nice dream. I wish I could prattle on endlessly about how “enlightening” it was. Or how the “spirits accepted me!” Blah blah blah.
But unfortunately friends this was not a positive dream. Well, let me take that back, there were positive things in the dream. From a certain vantage point. I will talk about that afterwards in another blog. This is what the Elders who entered my dreams showed me.
First, they weren’t natives from Florida like I had expected. I have tried to connect to indigenous cultures and religion from here. I assumed up until now, that maybe I was rejected by the spirits. They insisted that they haven’t. That they were “growing our relationship slowly”.
That in time they would come to me. But after a while I just became skeptical. And I believed the native spirits just didn’t embrace me. Man did they kick my ass yesterday. I don’t know if it was the smudging.
The “joke” my spirit played on me. Or maybe it was my own lack of faith. Sometimes the spirits wait until you are ready for them. But their definition of ready is different from ours. I laid down to sleep last night.
And I began to dream. But this was a really strange dream. It didn’t seem to be about me. It wasn’t psychological. I received visions of Algonquian.
Many of them. Some were alive. And some were dead. There was a small town somewhere I couldn’t recognize. A place that was infested with evil.
And the souls of the Algonquian were warning me. I saw violent scenes of persecution. I saw all these southerner types with pitchforks. But then I noticed something strange : I saw people with torches like the Neo Nazis had in 2020. But there was something different about them.
They were dead. And they weren’t Nazis. They looked like German barbarian tribes. The Teutons of Germania. From the time of the Roman Empire. They had been dead for thousands of years.
They were dark spirits. Blonde haired and blue eyed. They were the spirits of war and conflict. They died in battle. And their souls had never found peace.
And they were haunting their descendants. Only it wasn’t just their descendants anymore. Something dark and unseen, like a massive shadow was controlling them. I saw all these crazy right wingers being made more violent and fierce by them. But then the Algonquin Elders pointed to them again.
And I heard them say,
“Pay attention,”
And I did. And I soon realized that these wild spirits had other wild spirits accompanying them. From various cultures. And each of these wild spirits were tormenting humans from their own cultures. And making them more violent.
And then I realized what they were. In Santeria we call them Eggun Buruku. Or Muertos Oscuros, Dark Ghosts. In Indian culture they have the Pretas, which are also called Hungry Ghosts in China.
A flame mouth Preta or Hungry Ghost
And these, shadow things stood invisible to them all. I call them shadow things, because I don’t know what they are. I can only guess as to what they could be. All I could say is that they were a collection of energy. Evil energy.
Avatars for evil. Or maybe what we call evil doesn’t have a true form. Maybe this is what evil, true evil looks like. When it isn’t hiding in flesh and bone. Maybe this is the true form of evil.
Naked and unashamed.
The closest thing I could find to the world these spirits came from. It was cold and dark. A frozen wasteland.
They were telling me that the social and political conflicts were being egged on by spirits of conflict. Angry spirits. Evil spirits. And that people on both sides were being effected. Left Wing, Right Wing, it doesn’t matter anymore.
Something evil is infecting people. That’s what they showed me. I also remember pulling people out of a mud bank in a river. They were alive. But something had absorbed them into it.
They were trapped. I think these are people who are neutral. Or innocents getting caught in the crossfire. I don’t know. Hell, for all I know these could be the “immigrants” from the border.
I use the quotation marks, because those people are indigenous. Almost all Mexicans and so called Latin Americans, are people of native ancestry. Or mixed Native and European ancestry. They were labeled “immigrants” by the US regime to strip them of their Niiji identity. It’s easier to control and block native peoples from returning to lands they have gone to, since the beginning of time, if you label them something else.
The Rio Grande (Great River) is being messed with by Greg Abbott. I didn’t see these people in the mud as being North or South natives. Just as natives. As if interfering with the River is causing a spiritual imbalance in the land. It makes sense.
Natives all over the continent have seen bodies of water as doorways to the other side. Some natives left offerings to the spirits at ponds or rivers in small baskets. But the natives trapped in the mud were alive. I think this is about the indigenous peoples coming across the man made European American border. What is effecting them, is also effecting their ancestors.
And then there was a mist. And I was pulled out of the Dream. And I woke up. In Florida, we have been afraid for some time now. The Governor here is openly authoritarian.
And we fear that any day now, any form of criticism may end with you going to jail. Gods know he’s already tried to make it illegal to speak bad about him or his party. Whole families are being uprooted and forced to leave Florida now. Even those loud mouth Cuban immigrants who are life long republicans have been forced to go. These idiots who voted for DeSantis are now being forced to go to states like Tennessee.
There’s more Cubans there than have ever been. To escape from here. The rabid wolf is biting the hands that fed it. Good. If the rest of us are suffering, they should do.
They created this dystopian nightmare in Florida way before DeSantis. Played a pivotal role in making this a red state. Now they can enjoy the fruits of their labor. And go be exiled again. Because, it’s the “free state of Florida” right?
Free of humanity. Free of compassion. So here it’s already begone. But like a fool I believed the more liberal states wouldn’t fall to this. The vision says otherwise.
When the Weimer Republic in Germany collapsed from within, it had a bunch of moderates and liberals. And everyone believed that Hitler could be voted out in the next election. We all saw how that one worked out. And liberals here aren’t doing anything to stop this. Their answer to everything is “vote blue!”.
Or “blue wave!” as if that will change anything. They even use the same language as the people in the Weimer Republic.
“When the pendulum swings, democracy will come back,”
No it fucking won’t. We never had it in the first place. This country was only free during native rule. That’s it. But we, all of us in North America, have never experience true democracy. Just a parody of it.
It’s like they’re not even planning to fight hard for 2024. They just assume they have their little victory on a silver plate. They use these elections to raise campaign money. That’s it. The same thing happened in Mexico.
During the Mexican Revolution, Francisco Madero and his moderates believed that when they took over that was it. That they didn’t have to replace the corrupt army or anything else. All they had to do was be the government of the people. Of course Emiliano Zapata had warned them repeatedly about the corruption still inside the government. About Paramilitary forces that wanted to take over.
Madero ignored the warnings. First, they arrested Pancho Villa on trumped up charges. And forced him into exile. With Villa gone, they moved in on Madero and his government. The rest is history.
Of course in this case I think it will be worse. The Algonquin Elders showed me that violent spirits would be everywhere. And would corrupt everyone. Right Wing and Left Wing alike. I think that’s the trap.
I think they’re trying to trick us into offing ourselves. We’ve seen the rise of People’s movements. Fighting for black lives and indigenous peoples rights. And for the right to not be erased from history. I think that the dark ones want us to kill each other.
Because they have so far been unsuccessful in stopping us from waking up. And fighting back through protest. I can only imagine that this must be causing spiritual ramifications. The spiritual world has beings that govern this world. Faerie Kings.
The Mighty Dead. Angels. And even Demons. Its believed in Christianity that there is an Angel and a Demon for every country. Saints too.
And Gods as well. Marion Weinstein in one of her books (I forget which) said that she believed there was a spiritual component to conquest. That evil spirits erode the will of a people. To make them easier to conquer. If that’s the case, the collective will of America has started to be recharged again.
And since they can’t erode us the way they used to, this is plan B. Today, in my YouTube mentions I saw this.
From the Humanist Report
You should watch the video. But the cliff notes version is the Canadian government is making arrangements. In case the US becomes a full Authoritarian State within the next elections. Because it isn’t just Trump anymore. There are far right wing extremists all over the GOP.
Many of which joined pre and post Trump. These aren’t the regular Republicans of yesteryear. These people are nuts. But what this particular video isn’t showing, is how far to the right the Liberals are as well. They have moved right of the spectrum.
They may disagree on economic issues. And liberals may pretend to care about social justice. But the truth is, they are just one side of the same coin. And if the Dream is any indication, it won’t just be one side or one group that will be tempted by these dark spirits. We all have to watch our backs now.
And we all have to work together to ward away whatever this is. And we must all be aware of our own behavior. I reiterate this again : I am not one for national unity. Or bleeding heart notions of “we need to come together”. I think it’s Bullshit.
But this message came from the Elders. And if I have to choose between a warning from them, or my own political opinion, I’m choosing them. They have never led me astray. Something bad is not coming. Something bad is already here. And we were all blind not to see it.
The Shadows are here, making beasts of all they touch.
Today is the feast of one of my favorite Folk Saints, St. Guinefort! He isn’t considered a “real” Saint by the church. In fact the church keeps trying to say he’s a “demon”. Which is their typical go-to bullshit whenever they can’t explain or debunk anything. But who is Guinefort? Why is he so loved even today? And what is his function as a Saint? What’s the controversy about?
In the Begining
Guinefort with his friend, St. Roch. Who he tended to and aided before he died
Guinefort is a 13th Century Saint. Declared by the people, a protector of infants. Sometimes referred to as Guinefort the faithful. Was a companion to Saint Roch. In fact, you’ve probably seen St. Guinefort before and not known it.
Roch is an Occitan Saint. Something that is rare already. The Occitan’s were an independent civilization in what is now the South of France. They embraced cultural pluralism. The idea that society should have room for all cultures.
And not simply be part of a uniform culture. They especially embraced Gnostic Christianity and Paganism. And because of this, the Catholic Church launched a new crusade : The Albigensian Crusade. The first and only crusade done in Europe. They committed horrible atrocities against the Occitan people.
Burned hundreds to the stake. In some cases burned people to death inside churches. They committed genocidal acts that one can only liken to the atrocities committed today against the Palestinians. And when it was all done (after many, many years) the Occitans were forcibly annexed by the French. The North of France is the real France.
What’s called the South of France today, was once the land of the Occitans.
So the fact that Roch is Occitan is a special thing. He isn’t your typical Saint. He represents an entire culture that is still oppressed and colonized even today. There are still people descended from the Occitans who are reclaiming their history. Their culture.
What we know about Roch is that at some point he ended up in a city named Piacenza. Although some sources say he was in Mayorca. And there he tended to people who were suffering from the plague. He was well known by everyone. Both by his charitable works.
And by the fact that he was born with a cross on his chest. Which grew as he had grown into adulthood. According to the Golden Legend, it says his mother was sterile. But became pregnant after prayer to the Virgin Mary. The young Roch became a mystic since he was a child.
The accounts claim that simply by doing the sign of the cross, he was able to dismiss diseases from people. Actually drive them out. He was immune to the plague for a time. He moved from country to country, following the plague. And saving it’s victims.
But eventually he managed to get a wound on his leg. And it became infected with the plague. The people he had aided didn’t treat him with the same love and respect he had showed them. Quite the oppposite in fact. They cast him out of the city.
At this point he was near Lyons in France. They had banished him to the forest to die. And he would have too. If it wasn’t for a companion God had sent him. The story says he commended himself to God.
And waited for whatever lay for him.
St. Guinefort the faithful, with bread for St. Roch
Strangely enough, as if sent by God, (perhaps he was); a local hunting dog soon appeared to him in the Forrest. The dog had brought him bread to eat. Cuddled with him at night to give him warmth. And gave him loving devotion. And he kept bringing him more bread to eat everyday.
This dog was Guinefort. Then a spring rose up out of no where. And he was able to drink fresh, clean, water from it. As well as clean his wound. But even more importantly than that, the dog healed him.
He kept licking the infected wound. Not only did the dog not catch the plague. But Roch began to realize that his wound was drying up. Effectively being healed. He no longer felt weak or lethargic.
This dog, this simple creature, had done for him what no human could have done. Saved his life. And he gave love freely without expecting anything in return. Just like the good man he had saved. Guinefort traveled back and forth to find things for Roch.
Then one day the Guinefort’s owner, a local Knight followed him into the forrest. And he discovered the human Saint. He took St. Roch home and finished healing him.
And wherever he went, Guinefort was sure to follow. His ever faithful companion and friend.
Because of this ordeal, Roch became the patron saint of healers, healing and warding off of diseases (especially plagues), falsely accused and persecuted people, and a few other things. Eventually he died in prison back home. His own noble family failing to recognize who he was until after death.
He became a folk saint for a time. But one encouraged by the church and the local authorities. Likely due to his noble family pressuring the church. He believed so deeply in renouncing the world that he wouldn’t even tell people who he was. He could have escaped persecution.
But choose to die being falsely accused of being a spy.
Martyrdom& Sainthood of Guinefort
Guinefort himself would not be so soon forgotten. The greyhound (and possible familiar) to St. Roch, was destined for his own martyrdom and sainthood. Sometime after Roch left for his home town, the tale of Guinefort takes a tragic end. One day the Knight who owned him left his young baby boy in Guinefort’s protection. And he left the home to hunt.
A snake had some how snuck into the house and was about to kill the baby. Guinefort wrestled with the snake and killed him. Though the snake also wounded him. Then when the Knight came home, he saw that Guinefort was covered in blood. But could not find the boy.
He thought Guinefort murdered his son. So in a fit of rage, he killed him. But then he heard his son crying. He was hidden under the crib. And he found the dead snake next to him.
And its blood spilled everywhere. The Knight realized the blood on Guinefort was that of the snake. That he had received the injury in the defense of his son. He was so ashamed and filled with sadness, that he carried Guinefort’s body into a dry well on his property. That he turned it into a make shift tomb.
A classic icon of St. Guinefort killing the snake and being Impaler at the same time
He filled it with stones and grew a garden there. Stories started to spread that Guinefort’s spirit was protecting women and children. And that he could be called upon to ward off plagues and heal diseases. Especially from children. Some accounts say that he started the folk devotion to Guinefort.
But it’s also said that after Guinefort’s death, lightning had burned his castle to the ground. The people believed it was no short of an act of God. Punishing the Knight for striking down his holy servant.
ThePrayer of Guinefort
“Saint Guinefort, O holy dog, slain by thy master’s hand.
A martyr made of this good boy, most brave in all the land.
You saved a babe from venom’s fate brought forth by viper’s bite.
Protect us please, like that small child, throughout the day and night.
We vow henceforth to do our best to never act in haste,
for as your master struck you down, God laid his home to waste.
But vengeance never rights a wrong, the past is carved in stone.
Yet dogs forgive their master’s faults, and faultless dogs atone.
May humans strive to have pure hearts so generous and true,
thus echoing God’s boundless love, exemplified by you.
Please guide beloved pets who pass to heaven up above,
when God’s creations are called home to share eternal love.
For in each creature’s gentle soul dwells part of the divine,
and beaming forth, for those who see, a miracle doth shine,”
Persecutionof Folk Believers
St. Guinefort in anthropomorphic form
“ The peasants of the area…began to visit the site and honor the dog as a martyr,”
– Etienne de Borbón, a 13th-century Dominican inquisitor from France
At first, the church looked positively on Guinefort. They even wanted to canonize him. When they thought he was a human that is. But as soon as they realized the miracle Saint was a dog, they lost it. Etienne de Borbón had heard miraculous accounts of the folk saint that was healing the people.
A Saint connected to St. Roch no less.
Roch had started out as a folk saint as well. Before the church had officially canonized him. So the fact that this was also a folk saint didn’t matter much. And Guinefort was a companion to another saint. Something that is common among Saints.
Whenever a young child was sick and close to death, Guinefort was their last resort. If a family couldn’t afford a doctor, or the doctors of the time could do nothing, they would make a small pilgrimage to Guinefort’s tomb. They would make a small fire. And leave the sick child swaddled up in cloth. And beg the Dog Saint to save them.
In the morning, the children were always safe. And their illnesses were gone as well. Another healing ritual that was performed. This was the binding of disease through Guinefort.
“A healing rite for sick children developed where people would knot tree branches in St. Guinefort’s Woods, thus ‘binding’ the child’s ailment,”
– Saint Guinefort . Org
Soon, more reports of miracles related to Guinefort were popping up all over France. Etienne had been ready to put his own support behind this new Saint. After Guinefort’s identity as a dog was revealed, things took a dark turn. The Inquisition resolved to exterminate all devotion to the folk saint. And prosecute anyone caught in venerating him for heresy.
The church officially declared that this was “demonism”. After all, only a human can be a Saint. So if the miracles are working, they must be empowered by Satan. The idea of an animal being a saint was considered nonsense to them. They also began a tireless campaign of disinformation.
Before, they supported Guinefort and his saintly ritual for healing. Now they decreed it as “pagan” magic. They also claimed “many children had diedat these superstitious rituals”. Except, the only people claiming this was the inquisition. Before the persecution of Guinefort’s followers, no such reports of child deaths had ever been made.
” The only dog to become a saint was a French greyhound, unjustly killed after saving a child from a snake in the diocese of Lyons; in the thirteenth century the common people knew him as St Guinefort, and healing miracles on sickly children were performed at his tomb until the Dominicans suppressed the cult.58 “
– Man and the Natural World by Keith Thomas (New York: Pantheon Books, 1983), p. 106, with note on p. 342 :
58. In his Le saint Lévrier, Guinefort, guérisseur d’enfants depuis le XIIIe siècle (Paris, 1979), Jean-Claude Schmitt reveals that the cult was still in existence in the later nineteenth century. His book provides a brilliant analysis of the myth and the elements which gave it potency.
So here we have evidence from actual historians that no children had ever died as a result of the rituals. Reports stated that the children had always been cured. At least up until the desecration of St. Guinefort’s tomb. After that who knows. But at least during the actual, original ritual, miracles were performed at his tomb.
In fact, if anything, accounts of that time tell us that infant mortality had actually dropped significantly. And all around the same time that devotion to Guinefort was being spread. But they needed to dirty up his holy image as a protector of children. And make him look as bad to the masses as possible. They sent their knights to tear apart the tomb and desecrate it.
Digging up St. Guinefort’s body. And burning it. But no matter what they did, it failed. Because for centuries, Guinefort has been venerated in Folk Catholicism. Faith in Guinefort survived.
The Host (The Inquisition) under the orders of de Borbón instituted financial penalties. Anyone caught venerating Guinefort was subject to massive fees. In extreme cases, the church even stole people’s property as punishment. This was a common practice for different Christian denominations. Usually, for people accused of witchcraft.
Even today. Through both World Wars interrupted the cult of Guinefort for a time. But now it’s even expanded as far away as San Diego, California. With celebrations in his honor. And modern day followers creating devotions to him.
Personal Experiences with Saint Guinefort
I have called upon him for protection of my house and loved ones. And to care for my dead when they pass. He’s real alright. And there’s nothing “demonic” about him. Also, the church says that dogs and other animals “do not have immortal souls so don’t bother praying to them,” because according to the church you would be praying to nothing.
An empty void. And thus the “fallen” will take over and answer the prayers. What utter rubbish. There are even Angels in Heaven with animal faces. Even Jesus appeared in several visions as both a lamb and a lion.
How the Hell are you going to tell me that an animal can’t be a saint? God has appeared several times as elemental forces or inanimate things like a burning bush. I would think an animal would be able to be just as divine as a bush. Guinefort has helped me break curses. When I have called on him in paranormal cases, he has protected families from malign entities.
And he helped me with healing as well. But one of the most important things he does is protection. I have used Saint cards baring his face and name. And things have been blocked from entering my home. He’s also aided me in other things.
Including restraining negative spirits. Long enough for me to banish them. I long have suspected that Guinefort is what I call a higher familiar. A familiar spirit who is of higher rank and power. Or even a Totem Spirit.
Whatever he is, he is definitely a saint and definitely divine.
Today I am sharing one of my favorite blogs. The Chinese Folk Tales blog. One of the best folkloric and traditional blogs out there. This is the Chinese version of the story in the Ullambana Sutra of Maudgalyayana. But here, his name is changed to Mulian.
But this is the same person. Simply Buddhism, like other religions, changes form based on cultures.
” In ancient times, in the holy city of Wangshe Cheng, there was a Brahman, a son of a high official, a man named Mulian. He was an original follower and disciple of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, and he was renowned for his ability to detect and to communicate with those now in the other realm. Accordingly, he was regarded as the foremost sensitive, medium or spiritualist among all of the Buddha’s disciples.
Mulian had for many years ‘gone out’ ; that is to say, he had renounced the world, undergone the meditations and exercises required of ascetics, and traveled as a holy man, preaching the doctrine of the Buddha, returning periodically to receive instructions from the Buddha but always on the road far from home.
Now one day the Buddha happened to lecture on the Four Objects of Gratitude, the first precept being filial piety. Mulian attended this lecture and was so moved by the Buddha’s words that he desired to return home to see his mother once again.
The day came when he finally arrived back in his hometown but only to discover his mother had already died. How he had planned to dote on her, to see to her every needs–and now she was gone! And how regretful he now was!
Mulian then called upon his abilities as a medium to reach his mother now in the other world, to see her in her new existence.
(In the original telling I have also read, he had no idea that both his parents had died. He astral projected to Heaven. And found his father there. But his mother was absent. And he soon became worried about where she had gone, back to story).
To his shock, he discovered his mother had sunk to the hell of hungry ghosts and was now undergoing great torment there.
He could see her and was within reach of her. Mulian looked closely at his mother. Besides her stomach’s being enlarged extended like a great drum, her neck itself was as thin as a needle.
He cried great tears and held out his rice bowl containing leftover rice to her. Before she could even eat one grain, though, the rice before his eyes turned into a mass of flames. Such is the torment hungry ghosts endure–drifting, with their stomachs extended due to starvation and their threadlike throats connecting their heads to their bodies, they are unable to eat a morsel of anything, for all offered to them turns to fire.
There was nothing Mulian could further do at that moment. He was, however, resolved to save his mother from this horrible existence.
He sought out the Buddha.
‘ Venerable Lord,’ he said, addressing the Buddha, ‘my mother is experiencing unbelievable suffering! Please let her be released through your mercy!‘
‘Mulian,’ replied the Buddha, ‘your mother’s sins in her past life were too great. There is nothing no individual, you included, can do. However, there is hope of salvation through the power of the Sangha. Only with that power can your mother be saved.
‘So, Mulian,” continued the Buddha, ‘on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, make an offering of one hundred different meals for the community of monks. Doing so, you will not only save your mother but all the other hungry ghosts gathered as well from the torments of hell. Seven past generations of parents, grandparents and ancestors will be blessed by your gesture, and your offerings will earn great merit.‘
Mulian followed the Buddha’s instructions, preparing a hundred dishes of food on the fifteenth day of the seventh month for the community of monks, including those from far and near. The monks, in turn, commenced praying, entered into meditation, and then received the offerings.
Thus was Mulian’s mother saved from hell.”
The post ends here, however it doesn’t mention the last portion of the story. Eventually his mother is freed from Hell. And she goes to Heaven for a time. But she still has to make up for her karma and reincarnate. She reincarnates as a sweet, small, dog that is adopted by a wealthy family.
Who showers her with love. But Maudgalyayana, or in this case his Chinese name, Mulian, finds out. And he does more of these rituals so that his mother can be allowed to reincarnate in human form. As reincarnating as an animal is seen as a “lower afterlife”. Something I find puzzling.
Because even the Dali Lama has said he has contemplated reincarnating as a mantis. Or a grasshopper or something. I can’t remember now. But the point is, this is a leader of a religion. And he sees animal reincarnation as a positive afterlife.
Not lower afterlife. Then again the Dali Lama belongs to a different sect of Buddhism altogether. Maybe in his, it’s different. But continuing on with the Chinese Folk Tales blog post….
This was the origin of what is called Pudu, “the ferrying of souls.”
It should be noted that this ritual, the Ullambana or Pudu, are meant to transfer good actions or merits to the offending ghost. In other words, Maudgalyayana/Mulian was using his good actions and good karma as a form of karmic payment. A type of sin offering like the Jewish scapegoat almost. The difference here is, nothing is being sacrificed (like the poor goat). And no one is absorbing sin.
It’s quite the opposite. The ritual sort of allows a person to share their merits and good karma with the deceased. Extending what you have to that person. Like extending shelter or food to a homeless person. You aren’t giving up all of your food.
Or even your house. You’re simply sharing it. So that the poor person can leave the cold and the dark and have a home. I’m sure I’m probably over simplifying it. But at least to me, that’s my understanding of the ritual.
And many people, especially the monks and nuns, are praying for these souls. Now all people in some way are connected to the divine lotus. Also known as the triple gem. And many other names. The flower of life basically.
It’s sort of like the tree of life in the Kabbalah. But Buddhist practitioners, even lay people, have a deeper connection. Because Buddha taught them how to do it. He did it via the Noble eight fold Path. And the many rituals and prayers.
So even a common Buddhist believer has a connection to the the Triple Gem (The Buddha, The Dharma, the Sangha). Now imagine all those believers connected to the triple gem. Sending all of their prayers through the food offerings. All that divine light increases the power of the ritual. Because you see the light you have inside, isn’t 100% yours.
We are all sharing this one, big, giant soul. Our individual souls are small pieces of it. But the Ullambana Ritual allows you to connect the food to the massive light of the triple gem. So technically the merit sharing isn’t even where the power comes from. It’s the triple jewel.
So the good karma and merit comes from this ancient source of light. This center of power for all beings. Back to the article,
The Chinese Pudu, the Feast of Souls, is known as Yulanpen, or Ullambana. The tradition started in China when Emperor Wu of Liang (464-549 A.D.) entered a temple and inaugurated the Feast based on Indian traditions. He too provided a feast of many foods, each in a bowl, allowing seven generations of souls to leave behind the existence of hungry ghost in hell.
Sadly, today in Taiwan the tradition has lost its original mission in providing donations and relief and venerating ancestors. Instead, it has regressed to that of being a mere raucous and wasteful festival.
Notes :
From Fojiao gushiji (An anthology of Buddhist stories); Taiwan Fojiao Bianji Weiyuanhui, ed.; Taipei: Fojiao Chubanshe, 1986; pp. 90-92.
The very last paragraph contains the editorial sentiments of the original Chinese text.
Mulian is the sinicized form of Maudgalyayana. Wangshe Cheng is the historical ancient city of Rajagrha, Rajgir, or Rajagaha. Located in Bihar, Northeast India. The Four Objects of Gratitude are family (filial piety), all sentient beings, one’s homeland, and the Triratna, or the Three Jewels of Buddhism (the Buddha; the Sangha, or Buddhist monastic community; and the Dharma, or the Law). The non-Chinese term Yulanpen is the Chinese transliteration of the Sanskrit Ullambana, which means “hanging upside” or “[im]pending,” perhaps reflective of the continual fate of hungry ghosts.
The story is very important historically. Now with the Buddha’s own lecturing on filial piety and his encouragement of Mulian’s mission to rescue his mother, Buddhism in China began to take a different course from that of Indian Buddhism. Chinese Buddhism, with the Buddha’s apparent blessings, began emphasizing the ancient, pre-Buddhist Chinese concern with filial piety. The supposed abandonment of earthly ties with which Indian Buddhism has been popularly associated was now played down. Most important, perhaps, are the Buddha’s words to Mulian.
Regarding the need for a unified response to relieving the sad souls in hell. That one cannot go about providing such relief alone. His words, in effect, inaugurated the codified approach of making large offerings to aid those in hell. In his masterful book on Yulanpen (The Ghost Festival in Medieval China; Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1988). Stephen Teiser points out that a growing number of scholars now discount the above stereotype of Indian Buddhism of being overly unconcerned with existing familial ties. He also writes that one scholar, Iwamoto Yutaka, suggests the origin of Ullambana might lie, not with the above circa sixth-century myth, but with the Greek myth of Dionysus’s descent into the underworld to rescue his mother, Semele (23-24).
Among most people in medieval China and probably among most Chinese in our time, Ullambana has long coalesced with the likewise ancient Taoist Zhongyuan so that today people tend not to differentiate between Buddhist and Taoist feasts for the dead (Teiser, 41).
Ti-tsang (Ksitigarbha), the bodhisattva for whom the underworld is a permanent abode. This bodhisattva actually chooses to live in Hell and the other lower realms, in order to save lost and condemned souls from eternal damnation. Here we see him setting Hungry Ghosts free with a blessed food offering. From the article, The theme of mercy and respite
Since we are in the middle of Hungry Ghost Month, I thought I would share this. The actual text used to bless the food offerings for the hungry dead. You bless the food by reciting this Sutra over it three times. This is the Buddhist text for liberation from Hell. Note that “hell” here isn’t just the Hell you are thinking of.
Hell in Buddhism and Hinduism can also refer to :
– Purgatory and Limbo
– A Lower Astral plane that isn’t exactly Hell
But it certainly isn’t Heaven. Such as Ghosts re-living their old lives because they don’t know they are dead.
– A sort of weird fake dimension that souls of the dead condemn themselves to.
Like a nightmare they can’t wake up from which becomes their afterlife.
In short, Hell seems to be any negative type of afterlife. It isn’t all in one neat little box. It’s hard to fully define. And while there are demons, there are also hells that are controlled by Kings of the Dead. For the punishment of the wicked.
So they aren’t demonic kings. They’re just enforcing the punishment. The most famous case being that of King Yama. The Underworld King who sentences everyone to Hell. And in many cases even for the smallest offenses.
Although it’s said he has no power before followers of Lord Shiva as well as Buddhist followers. But he’s not evil. In fact he is seen as the “King of the ancestors”. And “King of Justice” since he punishes the wicked. He’s just a little overzealous is all.
Another thing that should be known, is that in both Hinduism and Buddhism people send themselves to Hell. A person’s own negative karma from sins send them to lower afterlives. This includes negative reincarnations. Which is why many religious fanatics think a person suffers in life due to a past life. I don’t 100% agree with that.
Otherwise everyone on Earth would have been evil in another life. But the take away here, is that they don’t believe Gods send people to suffer. People send themselves to suffer if their souls demand purification of some sort. But even then, hell isn’t eternal. At some point they are allowed to be free and return to Earth.
Hell is only until they have been purified through suffering for past negative actions. Buddhism however teaches, we should not simply accept that. Or allow it to happen. The Buddha teaches that even extremely sinful souls can be saved. And should be saved.
Despite whatever they did in life. Which is why the Buddha created this ceremony. Which led to the creation of this Sutra (text) which shows you how to free souls. By means of a Buddhist Mass. And the text is so powerful that even if you don’t feed a monk or nun or Buddhist practitioner.
The act of simply reading the Sutra three times over food will form the mass. Without further adieu, here is the sacred Text.
THE BUDDHA SPEAKS:
THE ULLAMBANA SUTRA
The Disciple Maudgalyayana (Mulian in Chinese) offering food to his dead Mother in Hell
Nomo homage to the Ullambana Assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
Thus I have heard, at one time, the Buddha dwelt at Shravarsti in the Garden of the Benefactor of Orphans and the Solitary.
Mahamaudgalyayana had just obtained the six penetrations and wished to cross over his father and mother to repay their kindness for raising him.
Thus, using his way eye, he regarded the world and saw that his deceased mother had been born among the hungry ghosts, having neither food nor drink, she was but skin and bones. Mahaudgalayana felt deep pity and sadness, filled a bowl with food and went to provide for his mother. She got the bowl, screened it with her left hand, and with her right hand made a fist of food. But, before it entered her mouth, it turned into burning coals which could not be eaten.
Mahamaudgalyayana called out and wept sorrowfully, and hastened to return to the Buddha to set forth all of this.
The Buddha said, “your mother’s offenses are deep and firmly rooted. You alone do not have enough power. Although your filial sounds move heaven and earth, the heaven spirits, the earth spirits, twisted demons, and those outside the way, Brahmans, and the four heavenly king gods, are also without sufficient strength. The awesome spiritual power of the assembled Sangha of the ten directions is neceessary for the liberation to be attained.
I shall now speak a dharma of rescue, which causes all those in difficulty to leave worry and suffering, and to eradicate obstacles from offenses.
The Buddha told Maudgalyayana: “The fifteenth day of the seventh month is the Pravarana day for the assembled Sangha of the ten directions. For the sake of fathers and mothers of seven generations past, as well as for fathers and mothers of the present who are in distress, you should prepare an offering of clean basins full of hundreds of flavors and the five fruits, and other offerings of incense, oil, lamps, candles, beds, and bedding, all the best of the world, to the greatly virtuous assembled Sangha of the ten directions. On that day, all the holy assembly, whether in the mountains practicing dhyana samadhi, or obtaining the four fruits of the way, or walking beneath trees, or using the independence of the six penetrations, to teach and transform sound hearers and those enlightened to conditions. Or provisionally manifesting as bhikshus when in fact they are great Bodhisattvas on the tenth ground–all complete in pure precepts and oceanlike virtue of the holy way–should gather in a great assembly and all of like mind receive the pravarana food.
If one thus makes offerings to these Provarana Sangha, one’s present father and mother, parents of seven generations, as well as the six kinds of close relatives, will escape from the three paths of sufferings. And at that time attain release. Their clothing and food will spontaneously appear. If the parents are still alive, they will have wealth and blessings for a hundred years. Parents of seven generations will be born in the heavens. Transformationally born, they will independently enter the celestial flower light, and experience limitless bliss.
Buddha instructing Maudgalyayana on how to free his mother
At that time the Buddha commanded the assembled Sangha of the ten directions to recite mantras and vows for the sake of the donor’s family, for parents of seven generations.
After practicing dhyana concentration, they then may accept the food. When first receiving the basin, place it before the Buddha in the stupa. When the assembled sangha has finished the mantras and vows, then they may accept it.
At that time the bhikshu Maudgalyayana and the assembly of great Bodhisattvas were all extremely delighted and the sorrowful sound of Maudgalyayana’s crying ceased.
At that time Maudgalyayana’s mother obtained liberation from one kalpa of suffering as a hungry ghost.
Maudgalyayana addressed the Buddha and said, “this disciple’s parents have received the power of the merit and virtue of the triple jewel, because of the awesome spiritual power of the assembled Sangha.
If in the future the Buddha’s disciples practice filiality by offering up the Ullambana basins, will they be able to cross over their present fathers and mothers as well as those of seven generations past?”
The Buddha replied “good indeed, I am happy you asked that question. I just wanted to speak about that and now you have also asked about it.
Good man, if bhikshus, bhikshunis, kings, crown princes, great ministers, great officials, cabinet members, the hundreds of officers, and the tens of thousands of citizens wish to practice compassionate filial conduct, for the sake of the parents who bore them, as well as for the sake of fathers and mothers of seven lives past, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the day of the buddhas’ delight, the day of the Sangha’s Pravarana, they all should place hundreds of flavors of foods in the Ullambana basins, and offer them to the Pravarana Sangha of the ten directions.
They should vow to cause the length of life of the present father and mother to reach a hundred years without illness, without sufferings, afflictions, or worries, and also vow to cause seven generations of fathers and mothers to leave the sufferings of the hungry ghosts, to be born among men and gods, and to have blessings and bliss without limit.
The Buddha told all the good men and good women, “those disciples of the Buddha who cultivate filial conduct should in thought after thought, constantly recall their present fathers and mothers when making offerings, as well as the fathers and mothers of seven lives past. Every year, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, they should always, out of filial compassion, recall their parents who bore them and those of seven lives past, and for their sakes perform the offering of the Ullambana basin to the Buddha and the Sangha and thus repay the loving kindness of the parents who raised and nourished them. All Buddhas’ disciples should respectfully receive this dharma.”
At that time the bhikshu Maudgalyayana and the four-fold assembly of disciples, hearing what the Buddha said, practiced it with delight.
Maudgalyayana/Mulian successfully gains the power through the Buddhist Mass to free his mother from the Abyss
End of the Buddha speaks of Ullambana Sutra
True words for repaying parents’ kindness.
Remember, once you blessed the food, you have to go to a crossroads, a cemetery, or some other desolate place. Then in your mind say who the offering is for. And snap your fingers three times to summon the soul you want to feed. Then lay down the food and walk away without turning around to look back. Otherwise you will take that soul with you.
Make sure you have your car positioned backwards to leave so that you don’t have to face the crossroad or other area. And also cleanse your car and house. And add wards. Religion doesn’t matter. Whether it’s a Christian Cross, a Wiccan pentacle, or the various Buddhist and Hindu talismans that ward these beings off. Just be warded.
If you don’t have a specific soul to cross, then just offer it to the lost souls in exchange for your neighborhood being left alone. Be safe everyone,
– M
Sources :
1) ” To Hell And Back “ By Chris Lydgate December 1, 2009, Arts and Humanities, Reed College
6) Ghost Month 2018 (The Hungry Ghost Festival) – My first blog post on Hungry Ghosts which tell the story of Maudgalyayana/Mulian setting his mother free. It contains a bunch of details and my own reflections on it
The spirits of the forgotten and nameless dead are all around us
Since Wednesday, it’s become the Chinese Ghost Month. The time when souls of the dead are free from Hell and Purgatory. And are walking the Earth. Some are haunting humans, and others are just roaming the streets at night to see what victims they can find. But not all is bad. Now is the good time to free any souls that need to be free.
Whether it’s loved ones or anyone who needs light to go to the other side. In China, food is blessed using a special Buddhist Text. And then they go to the Crossroads. Or to a Cemetery. Or some other desolate place where these types of spirits roam.
You have to recite the text three times over the food offering to bless it. And leave the food there. And say, “This is for the condemned souls who need to be free,”
And if there is a specific person who is trapped in Hell or Purgatory who must be free, you offer that food to them. So if you fear that a relative is trapped, this is the time to free them. Once the offering is made, call the deceased by name three times. That way they can eat the food and be free. They possess animals to eat. The animal eats the physical food.
What the soul eats is the blessing that sends them to Heaven. Do this an hour or two before sunset. Don’t go out after dark. And have a religious symbol or amulet for protection. Once you lay the offering on the floor, turn around and walk away without turning back.
It’s also a good time to make offerings to Gods of the household to protect the home. To reinforce protective charms. And to close all the windows at night. In fact close the blinds as well. And do not take any animals out at night. They should be in doors. And the backward and front yard should be blessed by holy water. Only consecrated places are safe enough to take them outside. And even then I would be careful.
The Ghost Months ends Thursday, September 14th. But by that time it will already be the time of the dead. In other words, the time of the Wild Hunt in European lore. Or at least getting close to the Wild Hunt. It will be winter time.
So the dead will probably still be walking around. Or maybe we will have a brief respite before it starts happening again. Don’t take my word for it. Take it with a grain of salt. But be wary regardless.
Taboos should be respected during this time. The following is a survival guide for Ghost Month. Just giving you that as a reminder. I know I know. I’m a broken record.
Trust me, now is not the time to fuck around and find out. Otherwise you’ll be stuck calling in an exorcist. And cleansing for a whole month. Dealing with this horseshit is not something you wanna be doing. Normal life is enough of a pain.
On the New Moon in Leo, Pandora Astrology says,
Meanwhile, Cherokee Billie says,
The rest of her article details how to best use this astrological energy.
From Purple Rays we have an article on New Moon Energy. And more info on the New Moon in Leo here. That’s it everyone. That’s all she wrote. Stay safe during this time.
The word Curandero or Curandera for women, comes from the word for “cure” a person who “cures” people with magic. Therefore Curandero means “Curer” in English
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