Messages In This Digest (5 Messages)
- 1a.
- Facts and Figures From: scott_bisseker
- 1b.
- the Interview From: Nisaba Merrieweather
- 1c.
- Re: Facts and Figures From: adeintheshade@gmail.com
- 1d.
- Re: Facts and Figures From: Brock Ulfsen
- 2.
- Communicating With The Dead From: Tish
Messages
- 1a.
-
Facts and Figures
Posted by: "scott_bisseker" nu_scott@hotmail.com scott_bisseker
Sun May 15, 2011 5:23 pm (PDT)
Greetings All,
Given that it isn't really my field, does anyone know where there is a credible relatively recent breakdown (census or poll wise) of religious numbers in Australia or even better - a break down state by state?
Subsisto
Scott
- 1b.
-
the Interview
Posted by: "Nisaba Merrieweather" nisaba.merrieweather@hotmail.com nisaba_merrieweather
Sun May 15, 2011 5:27 pm (PDT)
G'dday.
Well, the interview that showed a couple of nights ago on The Collectors (www.abc.net.au/collectors) went down very well with quite a number of my friends. Already since Friday, I've received an offer of a free unpublished deck from somone, and a free gig as the in-house reader at an upcoming Winter Solstice Mediaeval Fair. How can I say no? <grin>
I guess I can now add "As seen on TV" to my stationery, if I want to join the legions of crappy people and products that do just that.
The crew spent around ten hours with me last year, and took five hours' film. The producer said she had enough "good" material to make a full-length documentary, but not the budget or brief to do it, sadly. There was a lot that we discussed to camera that I would have liked to have seen aired, but the time-constraints were just too stiff.
Soon I'll be receiving a DVD not of my segment but of the whole show - I'll try and youtube it for your endless amusement <laughter>.
Nisaba
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
- 1c.
-
Re: Facts and Figures
Posted by: "adeintheshade@gmail.com" adeintheshade@gmail.com pa_nsw
Sun May 15, 2011 6:55 pm (PDT)
Hi Scott - start with the ABS breakdowns - here's a sample from the 2006 yearbook:
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/ !OpenDocumentabs@.nsf/ 46d1bc47ac9d0c7b ca256c470025ff87 /bfdda1ca506d6cf aca2570de0014496 e
If you want more detailed analysis sometimes it's worth buying the data set and running some of your own analysis as the ABS doesn't produce reports on all data in as much detail as you always want.
Hope that helps
Adrianne
--- In WitchesWorkshop@yahoogroups. , "scott_bisseker" <nu_scott@..com .> wrote:
>
> Greetings All,
>
> Given that it isn't really my field, does anyone know where there is a credible relatively recent breakdown (census or poll wise) of religious numbers in Australia or even better - a break down state by state?
>
> Subsisto
>
> Scott
>
- 1d.
-
Re: Facts and Figures
Posted by: "Brock Ulfsen" brockulfsen@yahoo.com.au brockulfsen
Sun May 15, 2011 7:05 pm (PDT)
Maybe we should pass the hat around, last I looked the full data was a
few hundred dollars.
Would also enable checking some other things like just how many near-
miss entries are not being counted. Some groups have a half dozen of
their top mispellings also tallying. Pagans don't even have a half
dozen wiccan traditions listed.
...Brock.
(I'd be willing to toss in $10 or $20)
On 16/05/2011, at 11:54 AM, adeintheshade@gmail.com wrote:
> Hi Scott - start with the ABS breakdowns - here's a sample from the
> 2006 yearbook:
>
> http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/ !OpenDocumentabs@.nsf/ 46d1bc47ac9d0c7b ca256c470025ff87 /bfdda1ca506d6cf aca2570de0014496 e
>
> If you want more detailed analysis sometimes it's worth buying the
> data set and running some of your own analysis as the ABS doesn't
> produce reports on all data in as much detail as you always want.
>
> Hope that helps
> Adrianne
>
> --- In WitchesWorkshop@yahoogroups. , "scott_bisseker"com
> <nu_scott@...> wrote:
> >
> > Greetings All,
> >
> > Given that it isn't really my field, does anyone know where there
> is a credible relatively recent breakdown (census or poll wise) of
> religious numbers in Australia or even better - a break down state
> by state?
> >
> > Subsisto
> >
> > Scott
> >
>
>
>
- 2.
-
Communicating With The Dead
Posted by: "Tish" deborahs23@optusnet.com.au morticia_its_me
Mon May 16, 2011 3:52 am (PDT)
Communicating With
The Dead
There are numerous methods used when people try to communicate with spirits.
I'll cover some of the most common methods used in modern days, there are
many other forms used that I will not cover simply because of the length
required. In general, I'd have to say this... There are only a small amount
of people who should ever try any of these, people trained and experienced
in recognizing the good and the bad, with psychic abilities to enable them
to decipher what they're perceiving. You always hear of the other guy... it
s always the other guy... SOMEONE has to BE the other guy, don't let it be
you. Okay, here are some basics:
The Ouija Board
Quite a few sites have now posted write-ups concerning the Ouija Board and
due to the simple fact that they CAN be dangerous to use when the right
circumstances take place, I thought it would only be right to talk about it
here, with a twist to what you would commonly hear. As like the photo shown
above, all ouija boards have some minimum requirements; the words "Yes", "No
, and "Goodbye", as well as the letters A-Z and numbers 0-9. Some variants
of the boards may have additional writings or symbols but in general most
ouija boards are the same. It truly is a shame that these boards can be
purchased in many toy stores but even if they were not sold in toys stores,
a ouija board can be made using almost any material, even paper, and any
type of pointing device and still have the same potential as those one would
purchase.
If you noticed in the previous paragraph, I stressed the word CAN be
dangerous... because ouija boards are not always dangerous and like
everything else in the paranormal world, there are many factors involved
with it that need consideration. One question I have to ask is "How many
people have NOT used the ouija board at one point in time or another?"
Probably relatively few. How many people have experienced paranormal
activity solely due to the use of the ouija board? Also probably very few.
There are, I believe, key factors involved when haunting activity occurs due
to ouija board use, factors I'll talk about shortly but for now let me
discuss the most common reasons people use the board: Party tricks. Face it,
because of the reputation surrounding the ouija board and its links to the
spirit world", many people use it for the thrill, or on a dare. In most
cases, no harm is ever done. In this type of situation, if and when the
planchette, or pointer, moves, it can be attributed to the people holding
the planchette, either consciously or unconsciously... in most cases. I've
known many, many people using the ouija board and never experience any
paranormal problem, I attribute that directly due to their INTENT, but I
still do not condone the use of the ouija board strictly because of the
possibilities involved.
As I mentioned earlier, I believe the key in what happens from ouija board
usage is the intent of the user. If the people using the board are doing so
for petty amusement, usually that's what they get... something to laugh
about. On the other hand, if someone using the board is very serious about
what they're attempting, that makes a world of difference. There are three
main reasons why I would think people seriously use the board. The first,
and probably most common is in an attempt to contact a loved one who has
passed over. The second and much more scary reason, is to purposefully call
in ANY spirit for no other reason than to "see what happens". The last
reason is for a small percent of users who some would consider social
outcasts, those people who don't have many friends and try to find a "friend
through the use of the board, wanting to feel welcome and a part of
something special. Each one of these can be potentially dangerous in outcome
but, of course, not always. Even when someone uses the board for serious
reasons, a high percentage of the sessions do little harm to anyone. The
problem is the small percentage of problems that DO arise from these uses.
Most people know this but I want to state a point here. The movie "The
Exorcist" was, in fact, based on a true story. The victim though, was a
Jesuit boy who, back in the late 40's (if memory serves correctly) began
playing with the Ouija Board. He was duped into thinking that who or what he
was talking to was a "playmate" and when his invisible friend asked of he
could come in and join him, the boy agreed... the invitation the spirit
needed to manifest. Over time, the boy became possessed by this spirit and
went through numerous exorcisms by the Roman Catholics before finally being
freed. Supposedly, the possessing spirit was a devil by the name of
Beelzebub who, in theology, is one of the most powerful devils under Lucifer
All this, on historical record, because of a "game".
Does this mean that everyone is in danger of demonic or diabolical attack
every time they use the board? No... but how would you know when it's your
time? A very common tactic used by negative forces concerning ouija board
usage is false identity. This is where the main problem lies. How do you
know for sure that you're talking to sweet Aunt Jane? You ask the secret
code word... she answers correctly... it must be her. Diabolical and demonic
spirits know your thoughts, they know they answers you're looking for. They
also know your desires and needs and try everything they can to be a perfect
match for those in an attempt to get you to invite them in further... once
the invitation has been extended to them, they have no further need to talk
to you... or be nice to you... they're in, and now the infestation and
oppression stages start.
Again, I don't believe anyone should use the ouija board for any reason. If
anyone close to you has died, accept my condolences, but let them go. Miss
them, love them, but move on. Of course, though, there will always be people
who will continue to use the board and for them, let me offer a few words of
advice. If you are EVER asked to let a spirit come into the house, into your
life, or anything similar, STOP using the board. A human spirit would never
ask that, only an inhuman spirit would and for only one purpose: to make
your life a living hell. Another thing, I've found that inhuman spirits can
t spell to save their lives (pardon the pun). If you are communicating with
something, watch the spelling. If something knows the answers to all your
questions, appears to be a perfect match to your needs or you start to feel
empty" without the company of this invisible "friend", be VERY cautious,
stop using the board. You could be dealing with something that you can't
control.
The Pendulum
To be brief here, the pendulum is, for intent and purpose, the same as the
Ouija Board. It's sole function is spirit communication but is far less
common nowadays than the ouija board. Like the name suggests, the only major
difference between the two is the pointing device used. While the ouija
board uses a planchette, normally a triangular shaped device with a crystal,
glass, or plastic windows to display the letter to be annotated, the
pendulum uses a pointed weight at the end of a line, acting as a pendulum
would, to point to the letter of interest. The letters and numbers are often
configured differently than a ouija board but in functionality, it's all the
same. As with the ouija board, the outcome varies according to the actual
intent of the user.
Automatic Writing and Channeling
Of all the various forms of spirit communication, I would consider automatic
writing and "channeling" the most potentially dangerous forms. What is
channeling? Channeling is, in effect, possession. It's possession with a
purpose. Channeling in performed by a person who typically, has good natural
psychic abilities. The goal behind channeling is to allow a foreign spirit
to actually possess, or take over, the receptor for the purpose of direct
verbal or written communication and on rare occasions, in demonology aspects
to enable a direct exorcism of the foreign spirit. What is Automatic
Writing? "True" automatic writing is, in most aspects, the same as
channeling. The receptor allows a foreign spirit to enter him or her to
enable it to directly write out its thoughts or comments. Neither channeling
or automatic writing should ever take place without experienced supervision,
because it is actually a form of possession, someone should always be
available to help should anything go wrong. At times however, either of
these can happen spontaneously to an inexperienced psychic who has not
learned how to "shut down" when their gifts are not needed.
Channeling and automatic writing can be extremely dangerous to the
individual because when they are "under", they no longer have control of
themselves, they are now being controlled by the possessing spirit and I've
seen others get attacked by the channeler while they were under. If, even
for the purpose of channeling or automatic writing, a person were to be
possessed by an inhuman spirit either by choice or because the inhuman
spirit posed as something it's not and no one caught on to that fact, the
channeler is in grave danger if it cannot be removed promptly. Even human
spirits channeled in can become stubborn and decide it doesn't want to leave
when you want it to.
If conducted properly and experienced people are available to assist,
channeling and automatic writing can provide a wealth of information
surrounding a haunting or investigation. I've seen people, through these
means, obtain information that, first off, they could have never known, and
secondly have proved invaluable to getting to the root of a problem,
enabling a resolution to take place. It can be a great tool if ALL
precautions are taken, it can be disastrous is done fly-by-wire or with no
preparation or assistance. I believe that very few people should even
consider to attempt anything of this nature due to the inherent risks of
inviting a possession.
Séances
In my opinion, séances rarely work to the desired result. A typical séance
involves two or more people, usually more, gathered around a table littered
with candles and incense with soft, mystical music to set the proper mood
and mindset. In most cases, the purpose of a séance is to call on a known
person who has passed over to come back to this realm and give a sign of
their presence. To be done to the best results, the group of people serious
in attempting this will often have one person to act as a channeler in the
event that something does appear.
Like the ouija board, séances can be dangerous, sometimes more dangerous if
the people involved do not understand anything about the supernatural.
There is one huge difference between the ouija board and a séance... a
séance is designed around one basic fact... the invitation. A person using a
ouija board does not necessarily invite anything initially, they typically
ask if "anyone" is present. The séance's purpose is to invite a spirit. That
can prove to be very dangerous. I highly recommend to anyone who insists on
conducting séances, that they have a good psychic in the group, who will be
able to determine the TRUE nature of the spirit, if one actually manifests.
If the group were to invite, either knowingly or not, a negative, inhuman
spirit, they may have started a process they would have never dreamed
possible, the infestation, haunting, and torment of one or all of the people
involved. What I find most often is, sadly, most people conducting séances
do not take their action seriously enough, expecting to have a good time and
go home when their done. Most of the time that IS the case but unfortunately
not always.
Again, luckily during a séance, very little, if anything actually happens
but let's look at something else briefly. Very seldom would a human spirit
who has crossed over, come BACK because of a séance. An EARTHBOUND human
spirit is a different story though. The people conducting the séance should
know the background of who they're trying to contact. If a friend or loved
one died unexpectedly due to an accident of one form or another, or
committed suicide, there is a possibility that their spirit may remain
earthbound. Therefore there IS a chance that a séance may work to the
desired results. If a friend or loved one has died in a "normal" way, old
age or illness, most likely they have passed over. Young children that have
died almost always pass over. Again, know the background of who you're
trying to contact. An inhuman spirit would always LOVE to join the party,
and that's why having a good psychic in the group is necessary.
Your efforts in contacting sweet Aunt Jane on the ouija board didn't work,
so why not try a séance. A non-psychic may not know the difference where a
good psychic will know that something is wrong (at minimum). Watch for signs
if something does actually manifest. Use the rules I listed in the Spirit
Classifications page as a guide. "What type of spirit can cause this type of
manifestation?" The "psychic cold", the unnatural coldness of the atmosphere
is a good indication of a spirits presence but both good and evil spirits
can produce a psychic cold. Extreme feelings of HEAT on the other hand, are
almost always caused by inhuman spirits.
When people tell me they've conducted a séance, or they are thinking of
doing so, I always ask two simple questions. "Why?" and "What do you expect
to get out of it?" I ask those two questions because séances generally don't
do anyone any good at all, except put people at risk. If it's answers you're
looking for, a true psychic can provide those answers without the need for a
séance.
Crystallomancy
Crystallomancy is the staring into a glass window, pool of water, mirror, or
any other shiny, transparent, or reflective object to induce self-hypnosis
(staring into the fire of a fireplace or candle has the same effect). The
famous scenes of the gypsy staring into her crystal ball for the answers to
all your questions and telling you your future. Many people believe that by
inducing self-hypnosis by any means of crystallomancy, they are putting
themselves on the same level as the spirits and are able to communicate or
receive information directly to or from them. Another form of this is called
the psychomanthium, where the person enters a dark room or closet (or the
like) lit only by dim red lights and sits directly in from of a mirror. This
method often is used to summon or contact darker forms of spirits.
On the opposite side of the coin, instead of a person staring into a window
or the like, you will often find pictures on the internet or on television
where a ghost or apparition is seen in a window, as if looking out of it.
This is the same type of effect, in reverse. "Mirror, mirror on the wall..."
remember that?
This can be a very intriguing method of communication for some people,
mainly because, if nothing else, of the mental state it puts the person in
while attempting communication in this way. I find, though, that
crystallomancy has very few practical uses, or should I say provides very
little concrete anything, as compared to the other methods I've discussed.
When it comes down to it, I can conclude this page fairly simply... there
are many different methods of spirit communication, many of which I didn't
even discuss, but regardless of everything else, spirit communication can be
considered fun, interesting, informational, and inspiring to those who have
tried it but it can also be dangerous. Many websites speak solely about the
ouija board because it's the most popular but what they are really talking
about is ALL forms of spirit communication. I feel, for the most part, the
same as them concerning this particular issue. Most of the time, most
communication attempts don't work, or may be faked, but there is ALWAYS the
possibility of contacting or inviting something you could never, in your
wildest imagination, be prepared for, the inhuman spirit. Is it really worth
it? I would never condone the use or practice of any form of spirit
communication but unfortunately, the reality is that people do it, every day
and when things go wrong, and they DO go wrong, I'm here to help.
Mike Roberge
www.demonologist.com
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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___________________________________________________________
The WitchesWorkshop egroup holds the expectation that a
tolerant and respectful dialogue be strived for in our
communication with other pagans, witches magicians, et al.
Members are encouraged to challenge anyone not adhering
to these principles & to notify owner.
info@witchesworkshop.com
___________________________________________________________
Witches Workshop hold regular workshops see
http://www.witchesworkshop.com/Circle/circle_workshop.html
Keep up to date via our WitchesWorshop Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sydney-Australia/WitchesWorkshop/135651219624
WitchesWorkshop and Witch Camp Australia also run camps
several times a year - check out our websites for updates.
http://www.witchcampaustralia.org.au
http://www.witchesworkshop.com
___________________________________________________________
The WitchesWorkshop egroup holds the expectation that a
tolerant and respectful dialogue be strived for in our
communication with other pagans, witches magicians, et al.
Members are encouraged to challenge anyone not adhering
to these principles & to notify owner.
info@witchesworkshop.com
___________________________________________________________
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