Pagan
by rogue on Mar.08, 2011
Many people like to argue over the meaning of the word pagan. The original meaning was country dweller and it has changed to mean a collection of untraditional religions although there are those who argue that it is actually a religion on its own and others who argue that it is a collection of nontraditional religions but is more specific to the details of what qualifies the religion to be called a pagan religion. No matter what one might believe the true definition of pagan is, the fact that the argument of its meaning is so widespread and passionately argued make only one thing apparent.
Pagan is no longer any better of a descriptor than thig-a-magig. The meaning carries so many meanings that its use is obsolete to communicate any type of idea and being the point of words is to communicate and preferably to do so clearly the use of pagan has become obsolete as a means of communication as it only confuses the subject. After all even when seen in a proper sentence the definition is still left up to the interpretor. Thus it should fall to the side and more well defined words should be used to describe and converse about the religions that fall under the umbrella of pagan.
There are words that have followed the same pattern i.e. what do you thing of when you see a sentence that says "John and his friend frolliced gayly" I'd bet your first thought is that john and hes friend are homosexuals, or does it mean they played happily. Only the writer of the sentence knows and it can paint a very unclear or inaccurate picture. For this reason the word gay has been dropped from literature for the most part.
In my opinion pagan should follow suite and be dropped and be replaced by a more suitable description, word or phrases that better describe what people believe in and to describe alternitive religions.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Sunday, January 24, 2010
The Secret of Hacking
The Secret of Hacking
Rogue
The secret of hacking revolves around a few simple steps. Although it may be simple to do the effort seems to be a waste of effort. The same profile of a good hacker is also the same of an IT tech and is very close to that of computer administrators, computer programmers, and most other computer professions. To embark on an illegal venture that is less prosperous than the honest application of a respected profession is beyond the scope of understanding. For those who didn't understand the previous statement:
Disclaimer Warning
Hacking is illegal, this blog in no way endorses the act of hacking. Furthermore advises that the act of hacking has serious implications on people’s lives, both of the hacker and those who the hackers actions affect. Even the simplest and most innocent hacks get the hacker 20 to 30 year sentences. On top of that the federal offense is a scar on the record of the perpetrator that prevents them from using their computer knowledge in the work sector.
The secret to being a good hacker is to know computers. There is a mechanical logic to computers that is easy to learn. Once that basic interest is the steps are simple.
• Step one choose your arsenal well. There is a necessity to be armed with knowledge of programming languages, web scripts and computer scripts. Also, one must have good research skills and a creative mind. As a hacker technology is both an ally and an enemy. The type of techno gizmos you arm yourself with are the insurance against detection. On the flip side computer security professionals are using technology to detect, trace and prosecute the hackers.
• Step 2 Armed with a arsenal of hacker tech, there is a purpose behind every hack, whether it be an innocent thrill of being somewhere that they weren't allowed, or to the more sinister of fraud or espionage. There needs to be a purpose or objective.
• Step 3. Know the system to be attacked. The knowledge of the system is an involved task, as information about the system users, the operating system and its issues, the developers of the system, the location of the system, and the location of the target within the system.
• Step four. Develop a plan of attack. Purpose multiple methods of the attack. While planning is sure to take into account everything knows about the system and the people involved with the system. Then there are other considerations to make are the ability to be detected by the system, traceability and how to address retrieving or accomplishing the goal.
• Step five. Develop the combination of software and hardware needed to complete the objective. People often think that a blanket program works for hacking. It may be true if you’re a second grade hacker that chooses to hack personal pc's then it is true that a blanket program par operating system. However the good hackers go after either more profitable systems or challenging system depending on the motivation.
On average a hacker writes a hundred programs a year keeping up with advances and new systems. Ya figure each program takes a month development in the professional world the hacker would be paid $30/hr and spend 240 hours in the month on the program that figures to be $7200 per program the hacker could earn professionally from one program multiply it by a hundred and its $720,000 a year.
The pursuit of being a hacker is a pretty pointless although the experience can help you in the professional world, so how do you pull it off?
A question that would be nice to get answered. A sort of hobby without actual follow through is the best I have come up with. Especially with the response the government has had with the pursuit of prosecuting hackers and the severity of the punishment of the crime.
Rogue
The secret of hacking revolves around a few simple steps. Although it may be simple to do the effort seems to be a waste of effort. The same profile of a good hacker is also the same of an IT tech and is very close to that of computer administrators, computer programmers, and most other computer professions. To embark on an illegal venture that is less prosperous than the honest application of a respected profession is beyond the scope of understanding. For those who didn't understand the previous statement:
Disclaimer Warning
Hacking is illegal, this blog in no way endorses the act of hacking. Furthermore advises that the act of hacking has serious implications on people’s lives, both of the hacker and those who the hackers actions affect. Even the simplest and most innocent hacks get the hacker 20 to 30 year sentences. On top of that the federal offense is a scar on the record of the perpetrator that prevents them from using their computer knowledge in the work sector.
The secret to being a good hacker is to know computers. There is a mechanical logic to computers that is easy to learn. Once that basic interest is the steps are simple.
• Step one choose your arsenal well. There is a necessity to be armed with knowledge of programming languages, web scripts and computer scripts. Also, one must have good research skills and a creative mind. As a hacker technology is both an ally and an enemy. The type of techno gizmos you arm yourself with are the insurance against detection. On the flip side computer security professionals are using technology to detect, trace and prosecute the hackers.
• Step 2 Armed with a arsenal of hacker tech, there is a purpose behind every hack, whether it be an innocent thrill of being somewhere that they weren't allowed, or to the more sinister of fraud or espionage. There needs to be a purpose or objective.
• Step 3. Know the system to be attacked. The knowledge of the system is an involved task, as information about the system users, the operating system and its issues, the developers of the system, the location of the system, and the location of the target within the system.
• Step four. Develop a plan of attack. Purpose multiple methods of the attack. While planning is sure to take into account everything knows about the system and the people involved with the system. Then there are other considerations to make are the ability to be detected by the system, traceability and how to address retrieving or accomplishing the goal.
• Step five. Develop the combination of software and hardware needed to complete the objective. People often think that a blanket program works for hacking. It may be true if you’re a second grade hacker that chooses to hack personal pc's then it is true that a blanket program par operating system. However the good hackers go after either more profitable systems or challenging system depending on the motivation.
On average a hacker writes a hundred programs a year keeping up with advances and new systems. Ya figure each program takes a month development in the professional world the hacker would be paid $30/hr and spend 240 hours in the month on the program that figures to be $7200 per program the hacker could earn professionally from one program multiply it by a hundred and its $720,000 a year.
The pursuit of being a hacker is a pretty pointless although the experience can help you in the professional world, so how do you pull it off?
A question that would be nice to get answered. A sort of hobby without actual follow through is the best I have come up with. Especially with the response the government has had with the pursuit of prosecuting hackers and the severity of the punishment of the crime.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Self-Evaluation Series pt2
This is the continuation of the self-evaluation series from an article on Kerosberos. This will be answering questions two and three. What is your view on deity/divinity? Does it exist? Is it singular or divided? What is its role in the world? for you personally?
Divinity is a force that encompasses the forces and that which drives the emotional and spiritual aspects of the world. Any god can be invoked for the traits that are needed. Are deities real or exist? Yes, when a set of the world’s energy and forces are worshipped that force is embodied in the name it is given. So, every deity that man has followed exists still. The purpose in the world is for spiritual growth and a means of giving spiritual guidance to fulfill the spiritual needs of humanity. Power is given to deities by the followers. For me particularly the divinity is a whole and is the guide for me through life. I choose to follow the forces of nature and in turn only care about the laws and morals taught by nature.
Gods/Goddesses: What is your relationship to the gods? How do they fit in your daily life? Which gods/goddesses do you feel closest to? furthest from? What are your thoughts on mixing pantheons? cultural/historical accuracy?
This one I’ll attack backwards, the cultural and historical accuracy of the pre-existing pagan religions is in my opinion silly to attempt to reenact. The culture of the people who followed the ancient religions contributed to them. To try to recreate them within a foreign culture is setting yourself up to fail. On the other hand mixing the pantheons is a legitimate means of building a faith on the same grounds hinted at in the previous question. Deities are created by associating forces of nature to a name or persona, therefore to honor Aries as a god of war and Thor as the thunder god is not defamation of what they stand for. This is how I justify the ability of mixing pantheons.
What gods am I close to or furthest from, hmm…let’s see, Chaos, darkness, war and fire are the forces I associate with most closely. As far as actual gods it generally depends upon the time and what I tend to be doing at any time. I invoke the god that suits what I want to do otherwise I just respect them all and walk my path happy with the existence of darkness, and chaos in nature. I am furthest from those gods that invoke the fluffy bunnies and judgmental attitudes in people.
Gods are birthed from belief; they grow and gain power through the belief in them. Each deity has a particular profile that tells what they have power over and can be invoked for that purpose. Gods of different pantheons can be followed by a person by which mixing pantheons as each god and all gods are created within a realm of power, and can be used to fulfill that realm within ones belief. Resurrecting or recreating a belief from history is a futile attempt as the cultures they come from no longer exist, they died for a reason and to reconstruct one is like attempting to revive a dead pet. Personally I follow Nature, Darkness, Fire and war this is the path I follow. I respect all gods and acknowledge their existence in fact generally call on them when needed. In daily life I acknowledge all gods with respect and honor them not to be confused with following or worshipping.
Divinity is a force that encompasses the forces and that which drives the emotional and spiritual aspects of the world. Any god can be invoked for the traits that are needed. Are deities real or exist? Yes, when a set of the world’s energy and forces are worshipped that force is embodied in the name it is given. So, every deity that man has followed exists still. The purpose in the world is for spiritual growth and a means of giving spiritual guidance to fulfill the spiritual needs of humanity. Power is given to deities by the followers. For me particularly the divinity is a whole and is the guide for me through life. I choose to follow the forces of nature and in turn only care about the laws and morals taught by nature.
Gods/Goddesses: What is your relationship to the gods? How do they fit in your daily life? Which gods/goddesses do you feel closest to? furthest from? What are your thoughts on mixing pantheons? cultural/historical accuracy?
This one I’ll attack backwards, the cultural and historical accuracy of the pre-existing pagan religions is in my opinion silly to attempt to reenact. The culture of the people who followed the ancient religions contributed to them. To try to recreate them within a foreign culture is setting yourself up to fail. On the other hand mixing the pantheons is a legitimate means of building a faith on the same grounds hinted at in the previous question. Deities are created by associating forces of nature to a name or persona, therefore to honor Aries as a god of war and Thor as the thunder god is not defamation of what they stand for. This is how I justify the ability of mixing pantheons.
What gods am I close to or furthest from, hmm…let’s see, Chaos, darkness, war and fire are the forces I associate with most closely. As far as actual gods it generally depends upon the time and what I tend to be doing at any time. I invoke the god that suits what I want to do otherwise I just respect them all and walk my path happy with the existence of darkness, and chaos in nature. I am furthest from those gods that invoke the fluffy bunnies and judgmental attitudes in people.
Gods are birthed from belief; they grow and gain power through the belief in them. Each deity has a particular profile that tells what they have power over and can be invoked for that purpose. Gods of different pantheons can be followed by a person by which mixing pantheons as each god and all gods are created within a realm of power, and can be used to fulfill that realm within ones belief. Resurrecting or recreating a belief from history is a futile attempt as the cultures they come from no longer exist, they died for a reason and to reconstruct one is like attempting to revive a dead pet. Personally I follow Nature, Darkness, Fire and war this is the path I follow. I respect all gods and acknowledge their existence in fact generally call on them when needed. In daily life I acknowledge all gods with respect and honor them not to be confused with following or worshipping.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Series on self evaluation pt. 1
How do you view the world and/or life? (Good, bad, learning experience, etc.)
My personal view on the world is life is to be lived and enjoyed not squandered on working, wealth and material things. Life is too short for chasing after material things and too valuable to be spent in pursuit of wealth. The wealthy person is one who has a family and cherished ones around them. He who has the world has the problem of feeding it. He who lives in the world faces few problems that cannot be overcome.
Life is learning and learning is life, he who has quit learning has quit living. An education is an important thing although the best lessons of life are not academic and are not learned through a teacher. Life is full of stimulus and inspiration, it has a lesson that can be learned from each day all one must do is be open to it and they will learn and grow.
Life is what you make of it. A person’s life is a piece of clay that only they can mold. The claims that someone, some thing, or some experience made them be a certain way or act in a certain manner. This is not true, the only one that can change a person is them self. The life of a person is in their own hands, they choose how to act, react and interact. Anyone who says their life is out of control does not know themselves. After all we all hold the power to change but change begins with ourselves. If anything else changes it is because others like the change within us and choose to change themselves.
What do you consider the major problems of the world/community around you are?
There are a few major problems in society and the world and they are:
The government has taken it up on itself to make decisions for us.
The government and society has created ways to take responsibility for the people.
The government is busy getting into other countries business as well as its citizens business where it doesn’t belong.
Society has come to rely on the government to take responsibility for them.
Government encouraged discrimination
What solutions do you have that you feel would improve your world-view?
If the government a society would make everyone accountable. Children should be responsible for raising their children. The only place the government has a part in this function is providing an academic program. The school system should only address academic teaching and avoid all other teaching.
Disband the practice of society raised children. The parents should be held accountable to raise their children and guide them in morality, religion, and ethics. The schools have no right to be attempting to sway children away from their parents’ beliefs or ethics.
Laws concerning that which should be a personal choice should be erased from the books. Laws against abortion, euthanasia and morals should be erased. There should be laws that hold people accountable for their actions that don’t carry the consequences of society providing them a life in prisons. The ones being punished are not the criminals.
This one is simple, stop the programs or make the qualifications stricter. Move society to where being on the programs is a bad thing and encourage working towards getting off such programs in a manner that would succeed not in the manner that keeps people on such programs.
Discrimination is still in full force even though it is illegal. The major contributor to this is the government. Discrimination will exist only as long as there is a separation of races, gender, religious, etc. There is only one race the human race the sooner everyone accepts this the sooner discrimination will be history.
How does governance, on both personal and societal levels, fit in with this view?
Governance needs to step out of the personal and social picture almost completely. The world’s problems in short are over governance. People thinking that there is one ideal for everyone. I agree that “what we believe to be right and true should be right and true for everyone else we are fools.” (first Knight) but those views should take a large scope that include the fact that we are all individuals and especially belief and religion will never be one size fits all. Governance should only strive to allow us to be free while providing a structure under which people can coincide, not to be a leader of moral and faith.
What do you feel your role is or that of humanity in the world?
My role in the world is to live and grow while respecting and caring for the world. There is no secret to life, one is to follow their own heart and go the direction their feet take them. Although, no matter the path humanity walks the world command the respect it deserve and the care of those who reside on it. Humanity is about individuals learning, living and coexisting with each other and their surroundings. A human has no more right to live than any other creature on the planet,
Saturday, November 28, 2009
A series on life
Life’s Questions
I follow a Blog Keresberos, and came across a blog on self-evaluation. The questions she brought up were of a complexity that each one is worth a blog. There for I am going to do a series on Life’s questions. Each blog in this series will address each question one by one. Here are the questions for you to ponder over and so you have an idea of what I am talking about in each one.
1. World Philosophy: How do you view the world and/or life? (good, bad, learning experience, etc.) What do you consider the major problems of the world/community around you are? What solutions do you have that you feel would improve your world-view? How does governance, on both personal and societal levels, fit in with this view? What do you feel your role is or that of humanity in the world?
2. Deity: What is your view on deity/divinity? Does it exist? Is it singular or divided? What is its role in the world? for you personally?
3. Gods/Goddesses: What is your relationship to the gods? How do they fit in your daily life? Which gods/goddesses do you feel closest to? furthest from? What are your thoughts on mixing pantheons? cultural/historical accuracy?
4. Your Path: How would you describe your current path? What are its goals/aims? Does your path have any inherent benefits or flaws you feel should be noted? How do these gains/losses affect you? How does its current direction compare with where you've been? What labels do you self-identify with and why? Do you have a particular self/magical name? What does it mean? Is it public or private?
5. Ethics: How do you determine "rightness" and "wrongness" in any given situation? Do you have a personal code of conduct/ethics you live by? What repercussions exist for perceived misconduct? What actions/behaviors are desirable for self-improvement? which are self-defeating? Any hard and fast “rules” you feel should never be broken? How did you determine these? Are they rigid or flexible? Under what circumstances? In what ways are you limited by this code? In what ways does it allow for freedom of expression? How do the moral/ethical codes of others affect you?
6. Other Personal Beliefs: Do you have any personal beliefs concerning life beyond this one? the nature of the spirit/soul? What is your basic view on the nature of humanity? (flawed, evolving, it's fine, etc.)
7. Traditions/Practices: What traditions do you hold? What purpose do they have for you? Do you have some traditions/practices that are no longer useful for you? What traditions/practices do you have that are new or you’d like to see continue? What are some issues you’ve had with past traditions? How did/can you deal with them?
8. Interactions: How do you deal with people who disagree with you? inaccuracies/misinformation? conflict/hostility? How do different groups of people respond to you? What are some situations that can be identified as emotional triggers? How do the behaviors/habits of other people affect you? Do you consider yourself liberal, moderate or conservative when assessing or accepting new ideas?
9. General Personality Questions: Do you feel insignificant or limited by your life situation in any way? How do your fears or those of others affect you? What would make you most happy right now? What are your views on responsibility and discipline and how do you relate them to your life? How does the past, and past hurts, figure into the present? Are you happiest when you are solitary, in a limited group, or surrounded by people and why? What is your place within the social order and how do you think you got there? How highly do you value the opinions of others?
If you feel inspired you may wish to answer them for yourself, and if you feel like sharing do so in the comment box or please leave a comment with a link to where you post it.
I follow a Blog Keresberos, and came across a blog on self-evaluation. The questions she brought up were of a complexity that each one is worth a blog. There for I am going to do a series on Life’s questions. Each blog in this series will address each question one by one. Here are the questions for you to ponder over and so you have an idea of what I am talking about in each one.
1. World Philosophy: How do you view the world and/or life? (good, bad, learning experience, etc.) What do you consider the major problems of the world/community around you are? What solutions do you have that you feel would improve your world-view? How does governance, on both personal and societal levels, fit in with this view? What do you feel your role is or that of humanity in the world?
2. Deity: What is your view on deity/divinity? Does it exist? Is it singular or divided? What is its role in the world? for you personally?
3. Gods/Goddesses: What is your relationship to the gods? How do they fit in your daily life? Which gods/goddesses do you feel closest to? furthest from? What are your thoughts on mixing pantheons? cultural/historical accuracy?
4. Your Path: How would you describe your current path? What are its goals/aims? Does your path have any inherent benefits or flaws you feel should be noted? How do these gains/losses affect you? How does its current direction compare with where you've been? What labels do you self-identify with and why? Do you have a particular self/magical name? What does it mean? Is it public or private?
5. Ethics: How do you determine "rightness" and "wrongness" in any given situation? Do you have a personal code of conduct/ethics you live by? What repercussions exist for perceived misconduct? What actions/behaviors are desirable for self-improvement? which are self-defeating? Any hard and fast “rules” you feel should never be broken? How did you determine these? Are they rigid or flexible? Under what circumstances? In what ways are you limited by this code? In what ways does it allow for freedom of expression? How do the moral/ethical codes of others affect you?
6. Other Personal Beliefs: Do you have any personal beliefs concerning life beyond this one? the nature of the spirit/soul? What is your basic view on the nature of humanity? (flawed, evolving, it's fine, etc.)
7. Traditions/Practices: What traditions do you hold? What purpose do they have for you? Do you have some traditions/practices that are no longer useful for you? What traditions/practices do you have that are new or you’d like to see continue? What are some issues you’ve had with past traditions? How did/can you deal with them?
8. Interactions: How do you deal with people who disagree with you? inaccuracies/misinformation? conflict/hostility? How do different groups of people respond to you? What are some situations that can be identified as emotional triggers? How do the behaviors/habits of other people affect you? Do you consider yourself liberal, moderate or conservative when assessing or accepting new ideas?
9. General Personality Questions: Do you feel insignificant or limited by your life situation in any way? How do your fears or those of others affect you? What would make you most happy right now? What are your views on responsibility and discipline and how do you relate them to your life? How does the past, and past hurts, figure into the present? Are you happiest when you are solitary, in a limited group, or surrounded by people and why? What is your place within the social order and how do you think you got there? How highly do you value the opinions of others?
If you feel inspired you may wish to answer them for yourself, and if you feel like sharing do so in the comment box or please leave a comment with a link to where you post it.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanks Giving All!
This is a time of being Thankful a holiday that everyone can celebrate together no matter religion or path we all have things we are thankful for and with an open mind and a little toleration we can all be thankful together. Respect that which each of us has faith in and enjoy the food.
Have a Happy and peaceful Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Chaos
Chaos
Chaos is a lack of order. When you open your eyes to it as an entity, you can see the truth of the nature of chaos. As an entity chaos can be a comfort, an inspiration, and a force worth following through life. As a source to draw from it removes pain, and the veil that society tries to pull over our heads. From the side of chaos The world can be seen in a perspective that sets the spirit free.
Chaos has very few rules to it and the closer to the rules you can live, the freer one can be. The rules of following Chaos;
Follow your own heart
Respect others
The only rules that are binding are those that one imposes on them.
Choose your path and be self governed
That is it; chaos is not about ordering one’s life, but more about living it. Within the folds of chaos is great power for everything else has come from chaos. Chaos is about the self and self-gratification, with awareness of those around you and their right to the same.
For those who seek power they will fail in seeking it from chaos. The power in chaos is one that grows within oneself by following chaos, as the creation of life and all other things that chaos is in there is nothing ordered about its actions. In Chaos, the power is strong but its power cannot be gained through instruction, it is individual and can depend on the purpose as to how to use the power.
Most assume that the power comes from outside of order, oddly enough, the power of chaos is within order, the amount of power, or energy a follower can get within the ordered chaos depends upon their individual self. Although all who follow chaos seek their own personal chaos but the ultimate, form of chaos is anarchy, which is chaos within order. Anarchy is a great energy that can inspire and propel those who embrace it to a level of power that few feel in their lifetime. This effect is proportional to the strength of the anarchy.
Within the personal symbols to one that follows Chaos is the one for chaos and the anarchy symbol.
The symbol for chaos is;
Anarchy symbol is;
The anarchy symbol in the middle is one of my favorites, but there are many different versions of these symbols but one of each generally falls within the symbolism used by a follower of chaos. Several followers of chaos also favor the Egyptian Ankh. The reason for this is generally the ankh holding an acceptable connection to order for the individual.
Chaos is a lack of order. When you open your eyes to it as an entity, you can see the truth of the nature of chaos. As an entity chaos can be a comfort, an inspiration, and a force worth following through life. As a source to draw from it removes pain, and the veil that society tries to pull over our heads. From the side of chaos The world can be seen in a perspective that sets the spirit free.
Chaos has very few rules to it and the closer to the rules you can live, the freer one can be. The rules of following Chaos;
Follow your own heart
Respect others
The only rules that are binding are those that one imposes on them.
Choose your path and be self governed
That is it; chaos is not about ordering one’s life, but more about living it. Within the folds of chaos is great power for everything else has come from chaos. Chaos is about the self and self-gratification, with awareness of those around you and their right to the same.
For those who seek power they will fail in seeking it from chaos. The power in chaos is one that grows within oneself by following chaos, as the creation of life and all other things that chaos is in there is nothing ordered about its actions. In Chaos, the power is strong but its power cannot be gained through instruction, it is individual and can depend on the purpose as to how to use the power.
Most assume that the power comes from outside of order, oddly enough, the power of chaos is within order, the amount of power, or energy a follower can get within the ordered chaos depends upon their individual self. Although all who follow chaos seek their own personal chaos but the ultimate, form of chaos is anarchy, which is chaos within order. Anarchy is a great energy that can inspire and propel those who embrace it to a level of power that few feel in their lifetime. This effect is proportional to the strength of the anarchy.
Within the personal symbols to one that follows Chaos is the one for chaos and the anarchy symbol.
The symbol for chaos is;
Anarchy symbol is;
The anarchy symbol in the middle is one of my favorites, but there are many different versions of these symbols but one of each generally falls within the symbolism used by a follower of chaos. Several followers of chaos also favor the Egyptian Ankh. The reason for this is generally the ankh holding an acceptable connection to order for the individual.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Magic
Magic is a part of paganism that several sects actually aproach magic in several ways. However I have not seen anyone attempt to approach it in a manner that is not a literal interpretation.
If magic is performed and looked at as a perspective. If taken literally magic would be the fantasy and fairy tale versio of wizards and witches that can instantly transform things from one thing to another. It doesn't take long to realize that it is not in this reality to expect that magic would work that way. That is not to say that magic doesn't exist as that would be turning our back on the truth.
The reality of magic is to use energies to influence ones life and things within it and connecting with it. Magic can change things affect them and even alter the true nature of things. Through spells, rituals rites and ceromonies energies can be used to change alter or otherwise change the nature of things. It is not an imediate change nor is it totally unexplainable.
Alot of what is explained vaguely if at all by science is generally an act of magic in a way. There are many things that have happened in the world that is unexplainable with logic however it makes more sense as an act of magic more so than adevine intervention, miricle or any other name that it is called by.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
The first Werewolf
The Greek Myth of Lycaon: The Original Werewolf
November 30, 2007 by
Charlotte Kuchinsky
Read it here
Few people are aware that even the legend of the werewolf can be tracked back to ancient Greek mythology. Werewolves are also often referred to as lycanthropes. Perhaps because the very first werewolf was a human by the name of Lycaon.
As the story goes, many humans believed that they owed their lives to Prometheus rather than to the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus. For that reason, many refused to worship them according to Zeus's rules.
A few chose to do more than refuse to worship the gods, however. They went so far as to challenge them out right. The worst of the bunch was a man named Lycaon. He constantly spoke out against the Olympians, cursing their names and uttering blasphemies.
Zeus grew tired of Lycaon's attitude and decided to teach him a lesson. He took mortal form and went into Lycaon's village, sharing his identity with many of the humans that he met along the way. Most humans, once they knew who he really was, began to worship the king of the gods according to his will.
Of course Lycaon was not about to do that. Still, he gave the appearance that he was going to listen to what Zeus had to say. He invited him to dinner to discuss what he needed to do in order to gain favor with the gods.
However, Lycaon never intended to keep his end of the bargain. Quite the opposite, in fact, he intended to commit the most grievous act of desecration of which he could conceive.
In his dungeon, Lycaon had many prisoners because he was a wealthy man who could get away with almost any act imaginable. His prisoners were all people that he had decided had dishonored him in some way or who had dared to try to take a morsel of bread from his table.
He took one of his prisoners and slit his throat. He then dismembered the poor soul, to use his body as meat for the stew that he planned to serve for dinner.
Once the meal was prepared and set on the table, Lycaon invited Zeus and his entourage into the dining area. But Zeus immediately smelled the meat and knew what Lycaon had done. Using his thunderbolts, he struck the table, sending the food flying and finally capturing the attention of his so-called host.
Suddenly Lycaon realized he had made a grave error and he began running for his life, with Zeus in hot pursuit. But as he ran, he realized that something was happening to him. His cries became snarls and growls. His body dropped to all fours and began to alter painfully. His nose became a snout and his ears became pointed. Hair sprung up all over his body and his teetch became sharp and pointed.
Zeus laughed, thinking that he had taught the human a valuable lesson; but the joke was on him. Lycaon discovered that he liked his new condition because it allowed him to continue his bloodthirsty ways. He
killed sheep, goats, and humans with reckless abandon until the villagers grew tired of his reign of terror and dispatched him to Tatarus.
Over the years, the concept behind the lycanthrope changed to that of someone who was human during the day and a wolf only at night, when the moon was full. How and why that change came about remains a mystery, although there are a number of theories espoused.
The first lycanthrope, it would seem, may have come to be because of his disrespect of the Greek gods. He wasn't the first to dishonor them and would not be the last. He may, however, have the been the one to pay the heaviest price of all.
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