Culture of Turkey

The culture of Turkey is diverse, combining elements derived from Ottoman, Europe'an and Middle East traditions.

The nation was modernized primarily by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. As he transformed a religion-driven former Ottoman Empire into a modern nation-state with strong separation of state and religion, a corresponding increase in the methods of artistic expression arose. During the first years of the republic, the government invested a large amount of resources into fine arts such as paintings, sculpture and architecture. This was done as both a process of modernisation and of creating a cultural identity.

Because of the different historical factors defining the Turkish identity, the culture of Turkey combines clear efforts to be "modern" and Western, with a desire to maintain traditional religious and historical values.

The question "Who are the Turks?" does not have an easy answer. At the turn of the 20th century the Ottoman Empire was a multinational state extending over three continents. This page limits its discussion to the borders of the Republic of Turkey (founded in 1923). The location of the pictures are given with the name of the city or as a region, in case the source does not mention it.

Turkish culture has undergone profound changes over the last century. Today, Turkey may be the only country that contains every extreme of Eastern and Western culture (along with many compromises and fusions between the two). The Ottoman system was a multi-ethnic state that enabled people within it not to mix with each other and thereby retain separate ethnic and religious identities within the empire (albeit with a dominant Turkish and Southern European ruling class). Upon the fall of the empire after World War I the Turkish Republic adapted a unitary approach, which forced all the different cultures within its borders to mix with each other with the aim of producing "Turkish" national and cultural identity. This mixing, instead of producing cultural homogenization, instead resulted in many shades of grey as the traditional Muslim cultures of Anatolia collided with (or had imposed upon them) the cosmopolitan modernity of Istanbul and the wider West. Thus, Turkish culture in many ways represents a continuum that bridges past and present, East and West.

Life Style Of Marina Iceland

Within an hours travel from The Marina Hindmarsh Island is an exceptional range of recreational activities. Here is a taste of the options at hand:

Cruises: Try the Spirit of the Coorong for a magical taste of the Coorong, or investigate the Murray on one of the historic riverboats like the RS Baker.

Boating: Definitely some the best inland sailing in Australia! Charter a boat from us and have a go!

Whale Watching: Great lookouts and viewing platforms along the coastline to view these majestic mammals during the winter season.

Horse Riding: Horse riding for young and old.

Farms visits: try strawberry farms, trout farms, deer parks, floral farms, beef cattle station or olive groves for a start.

National Parks and Reserves: A number nearby in which to hike, picnic or camp. These include the Coorong National Park, Deep Creek Conservation Park and Newland Head Conservation Park.

Or visit nearby coastal towns - Middleton, Port Elliot, Victor Harbor and Goolwa

Dining Whether for lunch or dinner and at any level of formality, the options are countless. Try Rankine's Landing on Hindmarsh Island, the Whistlestop Café, Hectors on the Wharf, The Corio Hotel, Cafelicious, the Flying Fish Café or Blues to tantalise your tastebuds.

Bird Watching: An on-going event - the region is an important breeding ground for a variety of native birds and migratory birds which can be viewed at different times of the year.

Adventure parks: Greenhills Adventure Park is great for families.

Adventure Sports: Skirmish, parasailing, parachuting & hang gliding: For the young at heart

Culture of French Food

French cuisine is extremely diverse, with only the Chinese having similar variety in their food. This variety is supported by the French passion for good food in all its forms, France's extraordinary range of different geographies and climates which support the local production of all types of ingredients, and France's long and varied history. In many ways, an understanding of the culture of french food is an understanding of France itself.

Meals range from the very basic, such as the traditional baguette plus cheese plus inexpensive wine, to very elaborate affairs than can involve a dozen courses and different wines consumed over several hours. Obviously, the latter type of dining is exceptional for most people. However, it is this more sophisticated dining which is typically found in "French restaurants" outside France, giving many foreigners the mistaken impression that French food is heavy and complicated. In fact, much of the French cuisine is fairly simple, relying on high quality fresh ingredients and loving preparation rather than complex recipes.

It is common in much of France to take a two hour break for lunch, with many working parents (particularly in villages and smaller towns) returning home for lunch. In some areas, mainly in the south of France, even longer lunch breaks are taken. Due to the long lunch break, businesses which close for this period typically reopen around 2PM or so and then stay open until about 7PM.

Almost all the famous French dishes are regional specialities, some of which have become popular throughout France (such as Coq au Vin and Foie Gras) while others are mainly enjoyed in the regions in which they originate. Although regional specialities are often offered throughout France, the quality of ingredients and preparation is often superior in their region of origin.

How Does Religion And Spirituality Affect The Teenage Population

Over 85 percent of teenagers are affiliated with an organized religion. In addition, it is estimated that 80 percent of these individuals pray and 40 percent pray daily. More than half of this population attends religious services at least monthly.

If I were to ask high school seniors how important religion is to them, the majority would most likely report some type of religious belief or belief in a higher power is an important part of their lives.

The National Institute of Health was named as the participating organization. The NIH would like to learn whether and how these beliefs influence early sexual behaviors, alcohol or other drug use that may facilitate the transmission of HIV in children and adolescents. The focus is on positive and negative effects of religiosity and spirituality.

The realization that so many teenagers are interested in religion and incorporate religion into their lives in some way or another prompts our government agencies and others to take a closer look at how this affects the teenage population, their behaviors and our society.

I hope more and more human service agencies learn how to intertwine religion, spirituality and scientific research into their programs of care. I feel scientific methods of treating social, mental and emotional problems are not enough for anyone.

God And Love

When it comes to God And love, God’s love toward us is that of a father toward his children. “That you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” He spares nothing that is for our good, no matter what the price is. God gave His only - begotten Son, Jesus Christ who died for our sins that we may be saved. God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. This was an exercise of the Divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself.

Jesus commanded: “Love your enemies.” God Himself established the principle, as the apostle Paul states: “God recommends His own love to us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us… For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life“. A wonderful instance of God and love is God’s dealing with Saul of Tarsus who became the apostle Paul. Loving our enemies, therefore, should be governed by the principle established by God and be exercised in obedience to His commandments, whether or not such love is accompanied by any warmth or affection.

As to God and Love we can be sure that love is of God. The apostle Paul writes: “God is love.” says: “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” He also has other attributes, among them justice, power and wisdom. says: He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He. says: “Behold, God is exalted by His power; Who teaches like Him?” says “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

As for God and love, God also has the capacity to hate, a quality the very opposite of love. His love of righteousness requires his hatred of wickedness. says: “You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.” says: “These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him.”

How to love God is the ability to come to know God as oneself. Love can come only by seeking and following God’s spirit and the knowledge that comes from His Word. Love must be first to God, above all others. Otherwise, it will become misdirected. Knowing God’s purposes is essential, because one knows then what is best for his own welfare and that of others and will know how to express love in the proper way. This love to God is described in the Bible as loving Him with one’s whole heart, mind, soul and strength.’.

Love is primarily a quality of the heart. says: “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.” We must know God and his qualities, and his purposes, and how he expresses them. says: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

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Islam

The idea of Islam being spread by the sword is one of the most common misconceptions among both the Muslims and non-Muslims. Many non-Muslims have written untold volumes of anti-Islamic literature propagating the fallacy of Muslims holding swords above the heads of Christians and forcing them to convert to Islam. This is total nonsense. On the other hand we have some Muslim apologists who, in their great fervor to defend Islam and portray it as the peaceful religion it is, seem reluctant to admit that Muslims did indeed fight wars to expand their territories. So what is the truth of the situation? I would like to begin our quest for the truth on this matter by quoting the Qur’an, the literal word of God and the primary source for Islam: “Say the truth from your Lord, then let whomsoever wills believe and let whomsoever wills reject.” 18:29

Let’s start with the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and look at his example. He did preach Islam peacefully in Mecca for 13 years without once raising a finger against his enemies even though he and his followers were harshly persecuted, tortured, mocked and sometimes murdered. The first wars with Mecca did not occur until after the hijra to Medina, and those battles were defensive against Abu Sufyan and his amassed troops. After the Treaty of Hudaybiyya, the peace treaty between the Muslims and the Meccans, was unilaterally broken by the Meccans, the Muslims conquered Mecca without any bloodshed. Tribal customs would dictate that the Meccans should then be slaughtered for their transgressions against the victorious Muslims, and indeed the Meccans anticipated this, but Muhammad (PBUH) granted them amnesty on the condition that they cease fighting the Muslims. This was a beautiful act of mercy which led to the majority of Meccans choosing to convert to Islam, though no person was ever forced to do so.

What is conversion to Islam? Converting to Islam is something that has to be done by choice, it is something that you believe in your heart, that there is only one God and that Muhammad is His prophet and messenger. Words without belief are meaningless. Of course God alone knows what is in each and every person’s heart, so you won’t be able to fool God by meaningless lip service to Islam, and religion is solely for God and the benefit of the individual. So, forced conversion is impossible. The Qur’an attests to this fact in 2:256 where it states: “There is no compulsion in religion.”

So how did Islam spread so rapidly across North Africa to the Iberian Peninsula and east across India and Central Asia all the way to Southeast Asia? Primarily it spread by trade. Very often while Muslim merchants were traveling abroad they would impress the people they did business with by their honesty and integrity, so much so that those people would ask questions, learn about Islam, and eventually choose to convert.

What Is Spirituality

Many people spend a lifetime looking for spirituality and they never find it; you cannot find what is not lost or already is. What they are really looking for is spiritual awareness, an awareness of that which gives us life and mobility; an awareness of self.
Many people confuse religion for spirituality, but religion is man's attempt to explain spirituality and is a part of being spiritual as all things are. You will hear people say, "This or that person is very spiritual" but that is not really accurate. There are people who are more spiritually aware than others. But you are also spiritual, so there is no need to feel left out or less spiritual. Your spirituality can be developed consciously as awareness, but your spirit is already complete as is.

You will not find your spirituality in Tibet or high on the mountain or in the hut of some spiritual guru. There is no place to look for it, because you are already there. The awareness of spirituality comes with the desire to be spiritually aware. Once you have decided that it is what you want, the opportunities will come to you automatically. The people who will best serve you will be drawn to you, and you will begin to notice them. You will begin to notice subtle changes in your environment and your life's circumstances.

You more than likely will begin to move away from your current friends and even relationships as they no longer serve your purpose. As cold as that may seem, it is because you have begun to learn a new language and they can no longer understand or relate to you. Many will try and discourage you because they don't want to be left behind. As you begin to develop this other part of self, you will start to notice things around you that eluded you before.

Your senses will become more acute, you will begin to care more about your body and your health. You will understand and have great empathy for how your ego struggles to survive in what sometimes seems to be a harsh world. You will also draw like minded people to you, to replace the ones left behind who are there to support you in your creations.

Fasting Without Prayer is Not Vailid

True biblical fasting requires prayer. You can pray without fasting but you can’t fast -God’s way prayer. If you’ve decided to fast, here are a couple things to keep in mind:

1. Numerous times in the New Testament, Jesus talked about fasting. He always said “when,” not “if” you fast. It is something Jesus expects from Christians. Although fasting should come from your heart’s desire, at first it may seem like a chore. That’s okay. Tithing isn’t always easy, either. But your obedience means more to God than your sacrifice. Like anything else, the more you do it, the easier it will become.

Fasting is not manipulation. You may be fasting to hear God more clearly or to receive an answer to a specific prayer, but you cannot fast God into doing something for you. God is always concerned about the condition of our hearts more than He is about giving us what we want.

Unless you hear differently from God on this issue, don’t think you need to be on your knees for the full fasting period. God understands that you have a family, a job and daily activities. Fasting and prayer can be done around these things. Again, it is an issue of the heart.

Twenty-Four Hour Fast – This is the most normal and convenient fast today. It takes place from sun-down to sun-set the following evening. Jewish tradition was to eat a full meal in the late afternoon and then fast until dinnertime the next day. You may want to eat a large early dinner and spend an hour with God after dinner, asking Him to bless your fasting time. Waking up the next morning knowing you will be able to eat that evening makes dealing with the hunger pains a little easier to bear.

Deffrent World religions

In the inherent account of every person. Humans are aces of respect, support, and caring artlessly because they are human. Unfortunately, we accept not accomplished a accord on if animal life, in the anatomy of an ovum and spermatozoon, becomes a animal person. On this matter, our abridgement of acceding mirrors that of affiliation at large.

bullet In alive appear a ability that is almost chargeless of bigotry on the base of gender, race, animal orientation, gender identity, religion, civic origin, concrete disability, age, etc.

bullet In the adherence of the animal person. We argue the use of ache and atrocious or abnormal abuse including the afterlife penalty.

bullet In the accent of capitalism aural religious, political and added structures.

bullet In the break of abbey and state; and the freedoms of speech, association, and expression.

bullet That the systems of accuracy that we accept advised on the capacity of morals, ethics, and religious acceptance are not absolute: they alter by culture, by religion, and over time.

bullet In the about absolute access that a lot of religions accept had on their followers and on society.

bullet In the accent of alone believers free angry influences and behavior aural their called acceptance group, and acerb apostle for their correction.

bullet In the accent of education. We accept that humans are not absolutely accomplished unless they accept advised the world's above religions and ethical systems. They charge to apprentice of the acceptable and bad impacts they accept had on society

Vedic Math Ancient Sutras - Basic Mental Math

The latest research in Vedic Math suggests that there are sixteen ancient Vedic Sutras which have been expanded upon by an additional thirteen sub-Sutras or math corollaries.

A brief discussion on each of these is in order.

The 16 Vedic Math Sutras as applicable to mathematics:

1. "Ekadhikena Purvena" (By one more than the previous one) The working of the Sutra is quite simple. In the case of the vulgar fraction 1/19 whose denominator ends with 9, in the normal method 18 steps are required. But with this Sutra it can be accomplished in only one step. The actual calculations and steps are beyond the scope of this writing. This is just to show the ease with which we can apply Vedic mathematics to everyday calculations as well as for solving complex equations.

2. "Nikhilam Navatascaramam Dasatah" (All from 9 and the last from 10) This is a cryptic Sutra for multiplying numbers. According to Vedic Math multiplication tables are not required beyond the 5 multiplied by 5. It is claimed that with this sutra multiplication becomes a Childs play.

3. "The Urdhva Tiryaghyam Sutra" (Vertically and crosswise multiplications) This is another short Sutra for multiplication

4. "Paravartya Yojayet" (Transpose and apply) This Sutra is used to solve simple equations

5. "Sunyam Samyasamuccaye" i.e. If the Samuccaya is the same (on both sides of the equation, then) that Samuccaya is (equal to) zero This Sutra is used to solve special type of equations. "Samuccaya" is a technical term which has several meanings in different contexts. In fact, a single word taking on different meanings is the beauty of Sanskrit text. At the same time it is also confusing and confounding to those who have not mastered the language. If looked at it from different angles, Sanskrit is a boon as well as a bane. Misunderstanding and misinterpreting is quite common among scholars. In as much as the scriptures are concerned, the meaning of words becomes all the more important.

6. "(Anurupye ) Sunyamanyat" ( If one is in ratio the other one is zero) There are some simultaneous equations which may involve large numbers and may therefore seem hard to solve, but owing to certain ratios between the coefficients can be readily and easily solved using this Sutra.

7. "Sankalana-vyavakalanabhyam"

8. "Puranapuranabhyam"

9. "Calana-kalanabhyam"

The above three Sutras are used in solving different types of quadratic equations.

10. "Yavadunam" This Sutra is used for squaring and cubing.

11. "Vyastisamastih"

12. "Sesanyankena Caramena"

13. "Sopantyadvayamantyam"

14. "Ekanyunena Purvena"

15. "Gunitasamuccayah"

16. "Gunakasamuccayah"

Spiritual Logic

Atheists point to these events to indicate how religion does not work in fairness to the very people it claims to serve. Yet, religionists look upon the same events to expose the blasphemies of those who were removed from the ranks of the believers. The same event produces radically opposing interpretations. One is the unfairness of the institutions.

The other is the unfairness of the dissidents. At this juncture is where the true religious moderates are needed to bridge the gap between the war holler to destroy religious institutions, and the equally abrasive shriek of religious fundamentalists with their "Our way or the high-way" banner raised up from on high. Religious Moderation is not a code for apathy, extreme relativism, new-age, or anything of the sort. It simply refers to people of all religious and spiritually based systems who don't throw away their convictions every time they are tempted by their egos, and likewise it indicates those who don't shun the rest of the world because they practice the wrong religion.

Skeptics may say, "This is all very well in theory, but fundamentalists learn this attitude from their own books and scriptures. They don't get this from thin-air." They are correct in saying that, without a doubt. All of the religious scriptures of the world contain attitudes of extremism, intolerance, absolutist, and everything under the sun that religious fundamentalists cling to. There is also evidence to the contrary in those self-same books.

This is the point of contention among religionists with non-believers, and with each other as well. Each "group" is selecting choice passages and phrases that bolsters their own point of view, and they begin throwing these at each other to see who wins the competition. It reminds one of a theological snowball fight. One could say that even religious moderates are guilty of this, and they would be correct. Thus, the human experience exposes its imperfection for eternity.

Introducing children to religion

These are questions that many parents grapple with. We want to instill our values in our children, without scaring them or turning them off altogether. But what’s the best way to accomplish this?

Here are some suggestions, gathered from parents of several different faiths, of how they successfully shared their personal beliefs about God, religion and their church (or place of worship) with their children.

1. Start early. Begin sharing some basic principles with your children at an early age in an age appropriate way.

2. Make religion fun. Don’t make religious discussions boring. Use arts & crafts, signing, stories and even baking to share your story. One family said that they bake a cake each year together on Christmas Eve. Before bed, they light a candle and sing Happy Birthday to the baby Jesus. This lets them tell the story of Jesus’ birth in a way that the children can relate to, and look forward to more than just Santa’s visit!

3. Use child-friendly examples. Many religious concepts and stories can be overly complicated for children. Bring the concepts down to a very basic level – love, sharing, helping, and forgiveness are all ideas that even very young children can grasp.

4. Set an example. Your children watch you as a role model. Your language and behavior will carry as much weight as the lessons you teach.

5. Make attending church (or your place of worship) a social activity. Study after study has shown that children who are actively involved with their church are far less likely to be involved with negative activities like drugs, sex and gangs. And of course it doesn’t take a study to tell us that a child – even a preschooler – who has fun with his friends at church will enjoy it more.

6. Let children help with rituals. Even very young children can assist with certain parts of rituals, from lighting candles to giving thanks for their blessings.

The Active Christian

Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

One of our responsibilities as Christians is telling other people about the saving power of the blood of Jesus Christ. It is a commandment of Christ to go and tell others about salvation; it is our responsibility to witness everywhere we go, to have a good testimony. But it is something that many people fail at, take a look at the first verse…to know that because of us a person was saved form eternal damnation, that one day we will see that person in heaven is really something! It might just be a person that you are sitting next to on the bus or an airplane, but that person needs to hear about the fact that Jesus Christ died for him, he needs to hear about the fact that there is a place in heaven for him also.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."

To be able to be a good witness and to be able to submit ourselves to Christ, we have to watch out for that old serpent, the Devil, because when he sees that you are getting serious about your faith, he will start to send everything that he has your way, it is then that we have to make sure that we are strong in the Lord and able to fight against all the temptations and arrows that will be coming our way. The Devil does not mind a Christian that just goes to church on Sunday, but when that Christian starts to trust in the Lord and starts to witness and win people to the Lord that is when the Devil gets interested in you and starts to attack you, many times he will try to get to you through your family, a lot of the time it will be a stab in the back.

How To Get What You Desire

This format of "looking at lack" is most prevalent in financial categories. People see a lack of finances and really believe that lack of money is the problem. They say things like, "If I had more money; if I was out of debt; if I could just earn more money..." They then conclude, "Not having enough money is the problem in my life."

If you put a chicken in the oven to bake, when it's time to take it out of the oven, what do you have? A nice plump golden brown turkey? A delicious juicy ham? No. If you put a chicken in the oven to bake, then that's what you are going to take out, a chicken.

Now I know these may sound like really silly illustrations, but I use them to make a very serious point. What is on the outside is a very good reflection of what's going on inside.

I recently saw part of a program on TV about real estate. The man speaking is extremely successful in the real estate business. Perhaps you've heard of him. His name is Robert Kiyosaki.

One of the statements that Mr. Kiyosaki made was really terrific. He told his audience about the most valuable piece of real estate on earth. Do you know where it is?

He said that this particular piece of real estate is more valuable than any other property you could own. It's not a very big piece of real estate either. Where is it? Mr. Kiyosaki said it is the piece of real estate just above your nose.

This successful man knows that what's going on inside your mind is vitally important to what's going to happen on the outside.

But sadly, most people look at the lack in their lives as being the problem. Lack in your life is never the problem. Stop looking at the lack and take a good honest look at what's going on inside your own mind. What is your mindset?

You can focus on all your limitations and excuses and just accept that. That is also a mindset. You have free will to that if you want to.

A better choice is to focus your mental attention on your desires and destinations in life. You can picture in your mind who you really desire to be and where you really desire to go. That too is a mind set. You have the free will to think that way if you choose to.

What you focus your mind on is what you will bring into your life. It is a tried and true principle of life that works just like the law of gravity. If there is lack in your life, then refuse to focus on that lack and refuse to accept that lack. Instead, make a conscious decision to start focusing on your desired destination.

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Bad Religion Baby Clothes

If you have any appreciation for the original art of punk rock music then you have heard of a band called Bad Religion. This 80's presence are legendary for their act of breathing new life into an erstwhile dying punk rock genre near the end of their origin era. Beyond that, the group played a major role in the style of what punk rock has become today. Bad Religion has thus gathered a great following.

If you are one of those original Bad Religion fans, you like are also a parent by now. Your love for this group and their original rail grinding style of music has become a part of the past, though their influence is still felt in the beat of every good punk rock song today. Nevertheless, it doesn't have to be this way. A group lives on as long as the fan makes it so. With this in mind, you can lead your children into the past where the Bad Religion group was popular and, in turn, take the group and the genre into the future.

These ends can be reached through several techniques, but mostly by making Bad Religion a prominent presence in your child's life. Get some posters. If you don't have any leftover from your youth, they are still highly available today. Decorate your child's room in Bad religion memorabilia. Next, shop around for some Bad Religion baby clothes. You would be surprised how popular those are becoming of late. Actually finding them is quite simple due to the growing interest in parents who want to pass their punk passion onto their children.

Inevitably, the past is in your hands. Will you pass your passion on to your child or will you merely let it sit in the past?

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Saying Goodbye To The Past

It often happens in the course of a life, and especially when inner movement causes the heart to seek new horizons or relationships in order to further its own growth, that the past must be let go of. Sometimes this involves a physical change of circumstance and a physical separation from what one has formerly loved. Sometimes, the separation is only inner. However it occurs, what is needed in order that forward movement take place, is a saying goodbye to what has been so that a chapter in life can be closed out and a new one begun.

Where letting go appears to be relatively simple, in that a circumstance or relationship is no longer as valued as it once was, while another appears to offer great promise, even then, it is rarely as simple as one might think to say goodbye. For where love has been involved previously, the part of the heart that has loved – whether a person, place, activity, or goal in life – has invested a part of itself and its identity in that thing.

It has reached out with its inner being and given of itself so that to whatever degree, what has been loved is now part of oneself. For this reason, detaching from what has been is rarely as simple as it appears or as one might thinks it ought to be. The part of the self that has lived and grown in the company of a particular person or situation exists in a timeless way. For love itself is timeless, and so at the moment of departure, all that has been is still real to the heart, even if it does not exist as a present desire to remain. As a result, each soul needs to be both gentle and respectful of the process of saying goodbye to something that was once cared for, not out of fear of letting go or out of guilt about moving on, but out of a sense of respect for truth which, emerging from the heart, lets one know that a chapter in life that has contained 'life' is closing so that a new one can begin. Often, a process that is explicit which allows one to formally take leave of something can be helpful so that the heart feels a sense of closure and can know that everything that is possible to feel in the present has been felt, and what has needed to be said has been said.

Where this is not possible due to circumstance, taking leave in one's mind and heart with a sense of prayerfulness and gratitude for what has been will serve equally well, especially when God's love is called upon to assist with the process. Those who are afraid of sadness in saying goodbye and who choose denial or avoidance instead, will miss something valuable by avoiding the process of deliberate closure and deliberate letting go. What will be missed will be the sense of fully choosing the future with one's whole self, including the part that feels pain or sadness or doubt. This integrity of choice and of consciousness is one benefit to be gained by the process of saying goodbye. Another is that sadness about leaving something often simultaneously evoke the presence of love for what has been, and this, too, can be a blessing. For in life, wherever love is, there, too, gratitude may be for the gifts that have been given to the life of the heart. And no matter what limitations or restrictions may have been placed around that love due to one's own choices or those of others, the small portion that existed beyond the restrictions needs to be honored for what it was. The lifeblood of the heart flows from season to season, sometimes changing external circumstances in the process, sometimes changing only the inner landscape of hopes, wishes, and dreams to conform to the process of inner growth. Where one is already embarked upon a conscious spiritual path, these changes will happen with greater awareness, for they are part of the richness of having an inner life that has acquired depth. At the same time, feelings involved in letting go will also be felt more deeply, for in the presence of greater inner clarity, all that exists as emotion becomes more fully revealed.

The Most Powerful Person In The Universe

This is the story of a young boy who had a dream to serve the most powerful person in the world. He lived in a small village and so one day he went to the head of the village and said " Sir, from today, i am going to serve you for the rest of my life. My dream is to serve the most powerful person and you are the greatest....." One year passed by and the young boy deligintly carried out all his duties. One fine day the head of the village told the young boy " Today the Governor(head of the state) is coming to visit us. Serve him properly..." The Governor arrived to a pompous reception. The head of the village did everything to please him and took great care of the Governor. The young boy was watching everything. He said to himself " How stupid of me ! I thought that the head of the village is the most powerful person. But this Governor is more powerful than him..." Later during the day he went to the Governor and told him of his dream to serve the most powerful person in the universe and the young body said to the Governor " From today i am going to serve you for the rest of my life....." So the young boy went away with the Governor..... Six months passed by and the young boy was happy to serve the Governor.... " Today I am going to meet the king to discuss certain issues of the state" said the Governor . " If you wish you can come along with me" . The young boy had nothing much to do that day and so he accompanied the Governor to the king's palace. When the young boy entered the palace he was ecstatic . He couldn't believe his own eyes...The majestic elephants outside the palace, the rich clothes the king's men were wearing , the silver plates on which the food was served, the royal gold throne, the chandeliers, the artistically carved pillars.... The young boy was thrilled.... The Governor walked up to the king's throne and saluted him and bowed before him.... The young boy was watching all this..... Later during the day he went to the king and told him of his dream to serve most powerful person in the universe and the young boy said to the king " From today. i am going to serve you for the rest of my life....." So the young boy stayed at the king's palace..... Two years passed by and the young boy noticed something peculiar about the king. Every day at 6.30 pm in the evening the king used to go alone for a long walk.... That day the young boy followed the king.... The king entered a small hut in the nearby forest . A great yogi was sitting inside the hut in deep meditation. The king bowed before the great yogi and prostrated before him.... The young boy was watching all this..... After the king left the young boy entered the small hut and told the yogi of his dream to serve most powerful person in the universe and the young body said to the great yogi " From today. i am going to serve you for the rest of my life....." So the young boy stayed at the small hut..... The yogi was a very disciplined and strict person. He was always in deep meditation and never ventured out of his hut. However, on the seventh day of every month at 3.30 am in the morning the yogi used to step out of his hut and came back only after an hour. The young boy was curious to know the movements of his master. But he was afraid of venturing out in the dark in the deep forest. However, that day mustering sufficient courage he followed his master... The yogi walked briskly for twenty minutes chanting a prayer silently till he entered a small but beautiful Krishna temple located deep in the forest. With tears in his eyes the great yogi calling out for Lord Krishna prostrated before the magnificent idol of Lord Krishna.... The young boy was watching all this..... After the yogi left the young boy entered the temple and prostrated before the Lord. " Where were you my child. I was all along waiting for you" echoed a powerful voice from within the temple. The young boy looked at all directions but he could not find anyone. The powerful voice echoed again... " Where were you my child. I was all along waiting for you.." This time, the young boy listened more intensely to the voice.. He did not look at all directions. He closed his eyes and said " Lord i have a dream to serve most powerful person in the universe...." The powerful voice came again" I have a plan for you my dear child. I will reveal it to you as we meet more often..." The young boy smiled. He had never experienced the tenderness,sweetness and the love he got in those few moments in the temple. The hero within him had taken him to the right place. He lived there happily for the rest of his life and became the most powerful person in the universe.......

Spirituality or Religion?

The folks on Pagan Space. net are in the midst of a spirited discussion on the question of whether Paganism or "The Craft," is spirituality, faith, or religion. As you might guess, there a numerous posts on the entomology and definitions of spirituality, faith, and religion. There are contributions that point out that Wicca is the only "official" Pagan religion in the United States and and ardent protests against Paganism ever becoming a church or religion . Many contributors work very hard not to call their Pagan or Wiccan practices a faith or religion; spirituality is about as far as they will go.

Why so do many Pagans and Wiccans dance around the topics of faith and religion? Their reactions give the impression that calling Paganism a religion would water it down or turn it into just another pallid mainstream religion. Perhaps some object on the grounds that turning Paganism into a religion would erase our reputation as the "bad boy" of faith practices. Some folks do enjoy the shock value of calling themselves Wiccan or Pagan. I'd rather lose that stigma.

My reply, as always, went against the prevailing opinions. I posted: "I am a Pagan and Paganism is my spirituality, my faith, my religion, and my lifestyle.(I will leave the definitions and meaning qualifications to others. ) I have always been a spiritual person and was once a devout Catholic. After leaving that faith background behind, my seeking lead me to the Pagan path, and here I have found my home."