31 years ago this morning I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, who was perfect in every way! That tiny baby turned into a beautiful, independent, responsible young woman and one of the best mother's any perfect little boy could ever hope to have. I am so proud of you!
Guess what guys i was making a philosophy paper and i decided to write a little about magick and i got -5 for spelling a large number of the words "Magic" as "Magick". hahahahaha
:p
Have you ever used your empathy to know when you have received an email, text message, etc.? If you do, does this effect when you log on, or however you actually check your messages?
Hey folks, my granddaughter Lakota, Elly Mae here on the forums, had an unfortunate skateboarding accident. If you have been on the forums for awhile, I suppose you remember every sad little picture of her at the ER getting casts put on various parts of her body, especially on her birthday several times. Well....she now has her 8th broken bone, this time it being her leg.
Hi all, this is my first post here so I'd like to preface that I am not a practitioner but I definitely have an appreciation for magics and witchcraft, so hopefully well met!
Secondly, I have found a symbol that perplexes me and would like to see if anyone has information on it or clues as to what it may mean. (I hope this is the right portion of the forum for this) Thanks to any who look at thi
Hi all, this is my first post here so I'd like to preface that I am not a practitioner but I definitely have an appreciation for magics and witchcraft, so hopefully well met!
Secondly, I have found a symbol that perplexes me and would like to see if anyone has information on it or clues as to what it may mean. (I hope this is the right portion of the forum for this) Thanks to any who look at thi
Hi all, this is my first post here so I'd like to preface that I am not a practitioner but I definitely have an appreciation for magics and witchcraft, so hopefully well met!
Secondly, I have found a symbol that perplexes me and would like to see if anyone has information on it or clues as to what it may mean. (I hope this is the right portion of the forum for this) Thanks to any who look at thi
I'm personally in favor of what's going on in the streets, and want to promote it. I hope that's cool. I think our community here has common cause with the arc of the movement.
Here's a brief article with some suggestions for supporting the effort.
Personally I kind of find him annoying, and where as in most forums, new users posts a bunch of basic dumb questions and clog up the foruns, Bob and his so called occult stories do so here.
Sometimes I read them, if they look interesting, but mostly Mr. Bob's posts just clog up my precious "What's New," selection everyday. :(
Maybe if he had better stories? Or was more selective about them? Everyday there is atleast 1 though, and it's usually just crap. Sorry, Bob.
Oh the Media. If the Pagan community had a Bogey Man in its closet this would be the guy. Whether on TV, radio, or in print there is this idea that the media is out to "get" Pagans. I'm here to et the record straight the Media is not out to destroy the Pagan community....it is simply out for itself.
The Media ::cue cheesy horror music audio/visual effects:: is a business. It is attempting to sell time slots for advertisers and generate a viewing base to view said ads. While there is a duty to distribute information, said information is presented in such a way as entertain and maintain viewers. The Media is not a monolithic force, rather is similar to various anthills; similar in structure, agenda, and tactics, but wholly independent from one another. Those who fall afoul of one anthill are wary of theirs. After a few negative encounters with anthills you might think there is some conspiracy within the Formicidae Family. In reality Pagans are interesting to the Media because we are different. They do not share our goals, drives, and passions. To them we are an interesting bit of news to pull out during Halloween or when the news is slow. We are always good for the " Hey lookit what those folks is doin'! They is straaaaaaage" news spot.
Alright before we continue I know I'm painting in broad strokes here. I'm using stereotypes and hyperbole to build up a strawman which I'll sacrifice on my altar of wit and point. I do not like using this tactic but I'm writing to inform and entertain. I KNOW I'm being a little far out in my presentation of the media, so rather than send tell me where I've gone wrong in my presentation of some mysterious other call the Media call me on any flaws you see in my suggestions and tips. This is a subject which I care about in my community and I would like to get feedback.
A few lessons for presenting a positive public image to the media ( Also read How not to make us all look like asshats). This guide is written from a Pagan perspective which I'm sure will not apply to all fo you, but I'm going to operate under the assumption that you folks are smart enough to adapt these tips to your own needs.
- Dress for Success: Part of our entertainment value to reporters is how different we are. If you appear before a reporter dressed like a typical American adult, or better yet in professional attire you will spoil part of the "Hey look at them" mentality which makes us an easy target.
- Talk Slow, Strait, and Sparingly: Always be honest and to the point with reporters. If asked a question you do not have the answer too or do not feel comfortable answering at that moment let them know. Statements such as: " I don't have that information currently", " Unfortunately I'm not the person to talk to about that I can give you contact information after the interview". Remember the media loves to use silence to induce rambling. Resist the urge to babble and keep your answers short. Let them feel awkward with the silence.
- Be Aware of soundbites: Make simple statements which are fit for soundbites. Monitor your language to prevent clever editing.
- Describe Yourself in Positives: Pagans deal with stereotypes, from the classic Satan worship questions to accusations of killing stray pets. Even reporters who are trying to present you in a positive light will drag popular misconceptions out of the closet. Rather than defend yourself with "don'ts", "nevers", "Aren'ts", and "nots" seak in terms of "do's", "are's", and other positive descriptions. When you define yourself in negatives no one gets an idea of what you or your group do. You will appear to be on the defensive.
- When Confronted with Ngative Stereotypes/Claims Dismiss Them: Laugh at those who bring such bullshit to your door. A laugh and a dismissive comment is a powerful weapon in your media arsenal. Accused of eating babies respond with " :: polite chuckle:: I don't know where you heard we do that, but it is simply ridiculous" Leave it in their lap. Do not argue, and don't feed into it. If they press the issue say " ::shake head and laugh again:: If you are going to continue with this childish nonsense we're done here." Blunt but professional. If it continues live up to your word and stop participating.
-There is no " Off the Record": Never cease to treat all media correspondence as a professional interview. You are not friends.
-Help Them with their Research: Have an easy to read/copy list of Pagan media at your disposal. Links to Patheos, the Wild Hunt, and other Professional Pagan media is useful as well. Traditional works which explain the over all Pagan community would be " Earthly Bodies Magical Selves", "Witching Culture" , and "Drawing Down the Moon". Hae copies on hand.
-Plan, Prepare, Present: Develop a media packet and plan. Make sure those at your events know that the media is present and elect a Specific member/s who will intercept them. We all know and love at least one person who will start up a wild rambling conversation with a reporter dressed somewhere between mystic and tornado victim. This is not the person who should be speaking to the media, make sure your media representative is ready and able to intercept reporters before they have a chance to find thee "special" people.
- Be Availble: Be there for reporters when they attempt to contact you.
- If You Send Out A Press Release Follow Up.
- Get To Know Your Local Media: Find out who is who in the area. Identify what media outlets are receptive to you. Most news agencies have "gatekeepers" who are on the look out for novelty. Stories which are novel and can generate interst are what these folks are after. Develop a relationship with the "gatekeeper" , reporters, and thier bosses if possible.
This is harldy an exhaustive list and if I've missed anything let me know. As I said this is simply material drawn from my own expereinces. It is hardly the end all guide. Suggestions are welcome.
This is my six hundred and sixty sixth post. I dedicate it to Iron Maiden, one of the great forefather metal bands, nothing like "good old devil rock."
Also Aleister Crowley, The Beast of the Magi, and of course Lucifer/Satan the Devil himself. The Devil stars in the mystic Tarot, but God does not. He'll always have a soft spot for all the heretic, heathens, and pagans, and those who object to the Church, even if they don't believe in him.
Crowley truly was The Beast, and we are all living now in the Apocolypse. Enjoy the Devil ruling the world, it's much more fun than when Gawd, was in controll. :)
So a couple of times I've been asked to be on television talk shows. Now, I have to say that these inquiries seemed legit, I mean the producers gave me numbers and addresses and faxes and everything. Although I didn't really check them out so I'm assuming but they seemed legit, even down to the crappy compensation for flying halfway across the country. The last one was because I opened my mouth about my relationship online. (naughty, naughty);)
I turned them both down though. Nationwide day time talk show is....yeah no thanks. (no, it wasn't jerry springer lol)
This got me to thinking, I know a lot of people want to be recognized for their ideas/beliefs/work and etc. And some people even think they want to be famous via television and etc. But, if approached by someone wanting to put you on a daytime talk show, for any reason...magical type discussion or not...would you?
If you would appear on television what type of show would it be? Are you prepared for you life to be drug out in front of everyone?
Today is a super special day! Our dear Echoes was born today. Yes....Echoes! (I know you want to make me your private pet!)
I hope you have had a very special day today and at least got one thing you desired. If not.... come see me and I will give you a birthday present you will not soon forget!
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark the movie. Has anyone else here seen it? Do you like the original better?
My friend invited me to go see this remake of the classic 1973 made-for-TV movie of the same name with him about a month ago so we went this past Sunday night. First I should mention that I have been a fan of the original since I was a kid and first saw it back in the 1970's, usually shown as a late night movie along with something like Trilogy of Terror. Both of these scared the hell out of me back then.:cool:
My friend has still not seen the original but because I used to always tell him about it with such nostalgia he thought we should go see this new one. Normally I wouldn't bother posting something about a movie like this here but there are a couple of things about the remake worth mentioning. It had its moments but overall I did not really like it. Like most of these remakes of the last several years... what was the point? Footloose? Even Straw Dogs now, how can they even begin to do justice to that one?
Now before I saw it I did think something could actually be done with this particular movie to make it something new and interesting in its own right, especially with someone like Guillermo del Toro involved, but it didn't happen.
The original never bothered explaining itself leaving the viewer to kind of create one's own reasoning behind why Sally was being terrorized by little fuzzy conehead demons or whatever they were and it was just a lot of fun; done really well for a movie made in 1973 for television. The new one diverged from this with a kind of tooth fairy theme, these creatures (called fairies or gnomes at one point) eat children's teeth, explaining how they had been known in the past to leave coins under pillows for these tooth offerings implying that they are the basis for the tooth fairy myth. The original only had maybe six little demons altogether. The new one had countless amounts of them. Now what I thought was interesting to mention here were the nods to Algernon Blackwood and Arthur Machen. There was a character, a painter, at the beginning named Blackwood and later mentioned throughout. I just have to assume that this was a nod to the author because later in the film when Katie Holmes' character is investigating the history of the house she discovers that Blackwood was obsessed with Arthur Machen's stories of the little people. Now, besides maybe some better acting, here is where this movie could have been really interesting. Had they actually stuck closer to the original and built that story around some of Machen's themes a little more faithfully they might have had a film worth watching. Might have been darker and more twisted like I actually expected it to be going into it. By the way, other than hearing that it had gotten some really bad reviews I knew absolutely nothing about this remake before going into it; hadn't even seen a preview for it.
First, I would like to give a basic definition what I mean by fanaticism within the context of this post. Feel free to ask me to clarify further on this, but I rather not dwell too long on it, for that is not the main focus, and I much rather get quickly to the point.
To me (and to be said briefly), fanaticism is the overwhelming desire to wanting to change the world in accordance to one's ideals and the overwhelming desire to do so by any means necessary, mostly through force and by acquiring coercive political power, in one way or another.
Now, before today, I've always wanted to exactly that. Take as much political power and force other people to accept my ideals, to change the world into what I think would make the world perfect. After, today I am no longer wishing to do this.
Why is this?
For about a week of so, I've been babysitting my brother's girlfriend's kids. This woman has known us since high school. So the warmth of one feels of knowing an old friend is there. The idea of all of us becoming one family, me playing father, helping each other out in any way, made that urge of wanting to change the world go away and accept it the way it is.
Now here is my main point and question.
It seems perhaps those who are willing to put every thing in their lives to realize some ideal (may it be religious or not) may be the urge of wanting to be part of a family, or start one. Has any one went through something similar? As in, when younger, were not part of any community or social group and had the attitude of "support your local revolution" went away when they became some part of a family, as least part of a group that made them feel as if they were family?
I'm quite physically small and slightly built. Since my teens I've tried working out and eating more, but had long periods of not eating much or working out when feeling down. And I often feel hopeless that I would never be truly tough, to deal with a scary person. (also, my parents are kind of unassertive so i never had a tough role model). Even at my most confident, high phase when I was strongest and toughest I felt fear at a big "tony soprano" type coming into the shop I worked to complain. And at that point my mind was always focused on self improvement/overcoming fear and I was reading self defense and defusing situations books as part of that.
And to be honest, when I work out now its not to be a fighter, just for more strength so I can do chores like DIY better. I like to focus on the positive not violence. Even when bodybuilding I never feel really able to deal with tough people.
I would like to know, is it possible for a guy like me, who often feels a bit weak and fearful of aggressive people, to use the occult to get to a point where I could deal with them if I had to. Even if "dealing with them" means feeling confident I could defuse a situation and make them leave.
now writing this thread I wonder if just writing this stuff and thinking on it will attract such bad things into my life? and I should just not think on it? I want peace and confidence, not violence. I also want to not be fearful however.
I know positive thinking and "manifesting" helps with exercise, but could I really get to a level which seems unrealistic to me now?
The following is based on my own personal observation and I'm just curious about what some of you have to say to it, especially if you feel that you may be one of those I'm referring to. This is not just based on what I see on Occult Corpus but various similar sites over the years.
I've noticed there are quite a number of members who post a LOT on the forums. Some of these members seems to have something to say about any topic regardless of whether it is actually an informed something or not. Some seem to spend so much time posting about these things that I wonder when they actually have time to do what they are posting about because when you're racking up post after post after post, you can't be doing much more than sitting at a computer all day. How do you have this much internet time? And when are you actually performing all of this amazing magick a lot of you seem to declare and have endless amounts of wisdom and experience to share? When are you actually doing anything else?
I know myself that if I choose to spend some time posting on the forums it can take up a lot of time and I end up not really doing anything else on those days when I do which is why I don't actually spend much time on the forums posting much.
I just noticed today that there are currently some members who have only been here for a few months and already have absurd post counts... more than my own in some cases and I've been here since January 2009. My own post count has actually gone up more since I've been a moderator because there is more time spent posting in that fashion than anything else.
I know this may sound a bit judgemental but I'm just curious about it.
