This rambling is going to be....

Interesting. Many divergent and intersecting possibilities as far as choice of topics go. I'll start with what's on the tip of my brain. Not surprisingly, it has to do with the book I just read a chapter from, The Truth About Witchcraft Today, by Scott Cunningham. Chapter 2. The Spell.

The book, as well as serving as an introduction to what Wicca is all about, was written to debunk pervasive misconceptions within our culture as to exactly what Witchcraft is and involves. As I read, I am finding places where my own ignorance has been much greater than I previously thought. Let's just say that if one has gotten virtually all his ideas about the notion of a "spell" from video games, movies, and collectable trading card games, he's going to be in for quite a surprise upon discovering reality.

In a way, what I have been reading validifies some ideas, sensations, vague theories -- perhaps hunches -- that I have recurred in my mind in one form or another for years. Or maybe it's just more like a way of looking at the world. The recognition of life, a driving energy behind all that is, elements of force beyond -- and in addition to -- what cold, hard science can currently explain. That whole chapter. I wish I could transcribe it here. (Well, I guess I could, if I really wanted to wear my fingers then, not have time to get to anything else in this rambling, and commit copyright infringement.)

A nice summary sentence to quote though: Magic is the movement of natural energies.

Hmmm... I'd like to try to convey more of the things I am learning. I fear that if I try to do so now, I may misrepresent ideas which are still based only on partial knowledge. I'll just say that I like what I'm reading, and... wow, if I had had this ten years ago... Would I have been ready for it? I don't know. The reason I say so is that these ideas echo thoughts which were forming in my mind at that much younger age, but with little outside validation or support, they did not flourish or have a chance to grow as much.

Now, the thirsty mind drinks. Feed me more. More knowledge! Bitscape likes these words. A good feast for the mind, offering the potential to better understand self, the outside world, nature, and create something of a cohesive framework for living, rather than the aimless spiritual void which has been mine for many seasons.

....

I'm trying to decide whether I want to post any response to the reaction Nemo wrote regarding yesterday's link. To do a point-by-point study, a brief summary of my reaction to his reaction, or just leave it alone for now? Since he took the time to read it, I think at least some kind of acknowledgement would be in order. Since there is another topic or two I'd like to cover today, and I don't want this rambling to consume my entire evening, I think I'll go for the brief version. (Given some times in the past when I've said I'd be "brief", that might be taken with a grain of salt. We'll see.)

Actually, I think I'll try responding to two points that were made. The first: That God's law is not an arbitrary set of do's and don'ts. On occassion, I have heard similar things stated by Christian teachers in the past. There are a plethora of ways I could answer this. I'll try this tact: Assuming strictly Biblical sources, I think it depends heavily on which version of God's Law one takes into account. The Ten Commandments? The Laws of Moses in Leviticus? The Proverbs of Solomon? The teachings of Jesus?

If the Ten Commandments is the case, that is a set of do's and don'ts, common sense as they may be. If one looks at Leviticus, there seems to be quite an extensive set of specific rules. Just picking one at random. (I do not profess to be familiar with the specifics of these books. I'm especially rusty on the Old Testament. This is just me opening the Bible, flipping through the pages a bit, and choosing one that looks interesting.)

Leviticus 19:20. NIV. "If a man sleeps with a woman who is a slave girl promised to another man but who has not been ransomed or given her freedom, there must be due punishment. Yet they are not to be put to death, because she had not been freed."

That's just one out of many pages full. Scanning over them, I'd say some look sensible (like statements against sexual relations with immediate family), others look strange, and still others look like they might have formed a basis for some traditions and rules of the Adventist church. "Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it." Leviticus 19:26. Isn't that part of the basis for vegetarianism? (I'm sure there are probably other places to support vegetarianism too.)

If The Law is based on the words of Jesus (some of which were quoted in the piece I am responding to), then I would say Nemo has a point. Jesus, as portrayed in the Gospels, did say a lot of wise things.

The other thing to point out about is was that even if God's Law is not a set of do's and don'ts, many things taught by the Adventist church are. (At least they were while I was around; I can't imagine much has changed since I left.) Arguments about whether or not it was okay to wear jewelry. (To those who did not grow up within it: You have no idea what a long-standing controversy this has been. No idea.) Is it wrong to go to a movie theatre? (Most now would say no.) As I recall from reading Jaeger's content, the institution at which he currently resides prohibits the playing of a popular trading card game on campus. Do's and don'ts.

Alright, I've gone on long enough about that. Plenty long. I was also planning to go into the consequences thing. At this point, though, I think I'll move on. I'm ending up spending my whole evening writing here, which is exactly what I was NOT planning to do. :)

Here's again to hoping that the content farming ground does not turn into a flamefest. Civility matters. I think Nemo's words were thoughtful and honest. We just see a lot of things differently. I don't think there's any way that I'm going to be convinced to share his beliefs, nor would I harbor any fantasy (or even want) him to adopt mine. Still, an exchange of ideas can be useful to all parties. Tis good for the intellect and the spirit.

----

This morning, I woke up, took my shower, and left the house early. The dense, murky fog which had enshrouded the beginning of the week was nowhere to be seen, and the sun shone clear and bright above the eastern horizon. New days. New beginnings.

Today at lunch (I knew it; I forgot the name of the place), myself and a couple coworkers went to the new brewery restaurant. Ya know. That new mall. All the new stuff around it. More coming. A huge theatre to be built. Yadda yadda.

Quite delicious was the food (although slightly pricier than average). J, in apparent recognition that the entire party consisted of the same bunch who had done time in Atlanta last month (with the exception of L, who was not present today), proposed ordering some nonexistent reptilian appetizers (nonexistent because they weren't on the menu here). Hah!

Since it was indeed a brewery as well as a restaurant, the waiter offered to bring free samples of the native beers. Four small glasses were brought for tasting. The three partook, comparing the subtle differences in flavor. (Okay, subtle to me. I suppose one who is more experienced at differentiating would find them as contrasting as I find Alanis Morissette's music when compared to that of Meredith Brooks.)

Now generally, alcohol during working hours is a no-no. (Well, okay. I guess that really depends which manager you talk to. ;) J, being the resident manager, did not order any alcohol, but made no objection when G and B did. A pilsner it was for me. (Another thing I am learning: Things which are important to a culture have many words to describe them. Eskimos have... what is it?... 40 or so different words for "snow". The tavern-happy world has ever so many to describe "beer".)

I ordered some utterly delicious fettuccini pasta with pesto sauce, chicken, and sundried tomatos, which I merrily washed down with my lighter bear. G and J ordered sandwiches, and the discussion ranged.... Well, I don't need to go into that much detail. We decided that we would have to recommend this place to the other members of the group.

Work today... well, lots of mundane stuff. Endless, it sometimes seems. But that's a talk for another day.

Okaaaayyy. Have we covered all our bases? Ready to terminate this? Really? Truly? So I can get on with my evening?

What, you mean I haven't used the word "mentor" yet? Not once?!?!? (I mean before this paragraph started.) Something must be terrible wrong! We wouldn't want to go a day without rambling another lament, would we? Perish the thought.

Seriously? I think the wounds are slowly healing. I know they are. Let time take its course. Let the forces of nature play out.

(Damn, that would be a movie to rent and watch again, wouldn't it? Forces of Nature. I recall rating it quite highly when first viewed over a year and a half ago. And ya know Bitscape's hypothetical axiom of movies: No movie, no matter how stupid it may otherwise be, CANNOT suck completely if Sandra Bullock is in the cast. Well, even were it not for SB, Forces of Nature was an awesome one. Yeah, it flopped. Yeah, the critics weren't into it. I loved it. So there.)

Okay, that was completely random. That's why it's called Random Ramblings. Goodday, everybody!