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Signs
May 12, 2009 8:25:57 GMT -5
Post by blackrose on May 12, 2009 8:25:57 GMT -5
I wasn't really sure where to put this. I wasn't really sure if I was going to put it anyway, actually... but there was a little experience thing I wanted to share... so, anyway... Here's a place to share little signs you've gotten from your deities or the Universe... little moments of synchronicity... clue-by-fours... what have you. I don't mean those inately and deeply personal mystical experiences which I often don't discuss, even on those threads designed for such I mean just things that stood out for you that made you think maybe you were on the right, or wrong, path... or whatever... Anyway - preamble over... So, a week or so ago I'd read this book called The Everything Book of Celtic Wisdom and there were some things in it/about it that annoyed me and which I felt were wrong, or at least not entirely right, and, as I often do in this position, I went a-researching... (As way of an example, one of the things it said which was clearly wrong was that the Celts celebrated the 8-spoke Wheel of the Year... which, as we all know, there's no evidence for. There's no evidence that any culture in history celebrated the 8-spoke Wheel of the Year as we understand it now... but I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir 'cause we all know that...) Anyway, one of the things that bugged me was the way it sort of implied the whole "gods are just aspects" thing. It didn't come out and say it, but it definitely had that vibe, calling various goddesses faces of the goddess Sovereignty, whatever that's supposed to mean. And, whatever modern opinions may be, historical evidence shows that the Celts, like most European pagan groups, were very polytheistic and no two ways about it. So one of these goddesses of Sovereignty they mentioned was the Morrighan. Now, it's debatable that she is, amongst other things, a goddess of sovereignty and fertility. Personally I don't buy it (except, as an icon I saw suggests, but the fact that blood makes an excellent fertilizer). But I felt that they were totally glossing over the war, death, destruction and mayhem aspects of the Morrighan for the more "fertility and sovereignty" stuff... and they talked about her associated with cattle, connecting her to soveriegnty, and I couldn't really remember associating her with cattle... so that's when the hunting started, to which I found some stories in which she stole cattle, or in which she warned a bull that it would be stolen - both events which started or would've started battles - but, anyway, I digress... While I was a-hunting I ran across several posts from the rather infamous Wade MacMorrigan who is reknowned on the net for being one of the "the Morrighan is really a goddess of love" types... and this just started pissing me off... I mean - what's wrong with a primal goddess? What's wrong with a goddess of raw emotions and passions? Why do we have to nice it up? So I started a-ranting... (something which often goes hand-in-hand with going a-hunting... *grins*) And then I quipped the Darkk "ya know, maybe I'm totally wrong and they're actually right and she's gonna be really pissed off at me". Later that day we were driving around, doing some errands, and while we were stopped at a street corner I saw in a tree three ravens lingering close to each other. When the ligt turned green, and we started driving, they took off from their perches and seemed to be following us for awhile. I said to Darkk "Well, either they're letting me know that I'm right... or we're in big trouble" - I bowed my head briefly and said hi to the ladies... and after a short while we went our separate ways. Being as there was no damage done, I've decided to take it as a sign that I was right - at least for a given value of right - so I think I'll continue on my merry way honoring the ladies in the way that I see fit, thankyouverymuch. *grins*
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Signs
May 12, 2009 11:20:44 GMT -5
Post by Denethor on May 12, 2009 11:20:44 GMT -5
You appear to have run across an awful lot of excellent fertilizer while researching that area. I don't suppose I should be surprised. Though couldn't war, death, destruction, and mayhem be part of "sovereignty"? Considering how most sovereigns got that way... Oh well, you're probably right, I'd bet that the tone in that book didn't touch on those aspects at all. Probably all light and fluffy, with "sovereignty" another nice pretty crown-shaped flower, growing in the same field where the Morrighan ambles about as she advertises feminine hygiene products. Everything has to be "niced up", as you say. Not that I've read it or anything. Just having another cynic attack. Signs. Not sure I believe in those any more, though I did have an odd encounter with a one-eyed older man on the bus shortly before my last blast of Wodenist sentiment. But, the door could open right now and Woden himself could walk in, and I'd probably still think it an odd coincidence and wonder how this guy got the key from the Realtor. Oh well.
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Signs
May 12, 2009 14:30:29 GMT -5
Post by blackrose on May 12, 2009 14:30:29 GMT -5
Ba dum bum Yeah - the focus of the book was more on the "Goddess of Land giving the King permission to rule... without her consent, the land would not be fertile... " type of stuff. Definitely merging the Sovereignty and Fertility stuff more than any of the various battle aspects. On top of the gloss that the Morrighan got, he didn't even list in any realm of prominence the Tuatha Queens of Ireland - Eriu, Fodhla and Banbha, one of which being for whom the damn island is named after! (Then again, they did lose to the Milesians... so there is that...) Anyway, I could go into a whole rant about how women are more than a womb - but I don't want to hijack my own thread
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Signs
May 13, 2009 1:48:13 GMT -5
Post by E on May 13, 2009 1:48:13 GMT -5
Well! BR, I am impressed. Tell me, did you feel total in tune with what was going on around you while you watched the birds watch you, or did everything else cease to be while you focused on them? Do you remember or think of it? I am very impressed. I absolutely think that they were showing themselves to a purpose. And I think you are right about that purpose. Now, had they flown down and shit on your windsheild that would'a been different. ;D As to the Morrighan... Here are some snippets I think are the best example of.. well, Her. This one breaks down translation of her name, Quote: "Morrighan" is Irish, and is rooted in words that are associated with "terror" or "greatness"- About.com Here is one that mentions sovereignty, Quote: "Her name means "Phantom Queen" or "Great Queen". She is often viewed as being a patron goddess of war, warriors, battle and strife, as well as sovereignty, fertility, prosperity and magick."-Elessacar.com This one gives a little linkage to her sisters, Quote: "the Morrighan is one of the daughters of Ernmas, sometimes referred to as the "three" daughters of Ernmas though in number they are often greater than that. This list can include Ériu, Banba, Fotla, Fea, Nemain, Anu/Danu, Badb, Macha and Morrighan"-Elssacar.com Quote: "In this case we are left with the three most common Irish goddesses associated with war: Badb, Macha and Morrighan" -Epstein, pg. 48 - 68, 1998 Here just check out this site.. Tell me what you think. It is just the guy's opinion but it made a good read. www.elessacar.com/the_morrighan.php
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Signs
May 13, 2009 12:03:43 GMT -5
Post by blackrose on May 13, 2009 12:03:43 GMT -5
Nothing to be impressed by, really... it wasn't a moment of deep spiritual insight or connection or anything - more just a confluence of events which, considering the timing and my relationship with Her, I chose to take as a sign... I'm going to start another thread about the other stuff when I get a chance...
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Signs
May 14, 2009 10:56:58 GMT -5
Post by Shannon on May 14, 2009 10:56:58 GMT -5
Hmm... I notice signs often, but I haven't quite figured out if it's what I want to see or if I'm actually seeing it. There's a lot of trivial, obnoxious things going on with me right now and the spiritual side of me says that's its all happening for a reason, while the more logical part of me thinks I'm looking for signs because I already know I'm unhappy with certain aspects of life. I suppose it doesn't matter either way because both inspire me to examine my current conditions. Then there are times when I think I'm just plain insane or bored out of my skull.Awhile ago I was sitting out on the patio at sunset and could swear I saw the likeness of Kokopeli in the pattern of the tree leaves.This made me wonder if tales of him traveling from village to village originated in this way.Not an actual physical presence of a deity, but that an image of It was observed and the seer announced It's properties as being present. And then lately, with all the annoying crap going on, I sat out on the patio at sunrise ane noticed the image of what looks like a bent moppet in the leaves, opposite the Koko tree. And it bugs the crap out of me and I want someone to prune it off. But mainly I'm sane and aware that I'm looking to lay blame and find control over the situation. Because it does make me feel like I'm getting some signs that I'm way off track and I want to remedy that. But again, if its what I'm seeing or what I want to see, either way is fine. (I feel like I totally rambled. I just wanted to post something!)
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Signs
May 14, 2009 15:51:51 GMT -5
Post by blackrose on May 14, 2009 15:51:51 GMT -5
Most of the time, if I just see an image or something, I tend to dismiss it as my imagination. Humans are rather apt for creating patterns where none necessarily exist. (For example, this woman at the train station this morning had a shirt with blots and fuzzies and stuff... and I totally saw a faerie outline in the shirt, though it's not really there...) It's the general basis for how inkblots and stuff work, I think... It's also why I'm, personally leary of scrying or other forms of "looking for patterns" type of divination. The human mind is far too likely to create something to see... I tend to pay more attention to "confluences of events" type things... synchronicities... and, even then, only if it's repetitive enough. That said, last night the radio station I listen to on the way home from work had the theme of "war" for the after work 12-pack. I thought that was kinda funny - though I'm not taking it for a sign, as such... just a funny little coinky-dink
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Signs
May 14, 2009 20:54:48 GMT -5
Post by Denethor on May 14, 2009 20:54:48 GMT -5
Most of the time, if I just see an image or something, I tend to dismiss it as my imagination. Humans are rather apt for creating patterns where none necessarily exist. (For example, this woman at the train station this morning had a shirt with blots and fuzzies and stuff... and I totally saw a faerie outline in the shirt, though it's not really there...) It's the general basis for how inkblots and stuff work, I think... Oh man my grandmother does that all the time! Drives me crazy! No, Grandma, I don't see a "clever little man" (it's always a clever little man), I see leaves. I see clouds. I see a print on someone's shirt. I'm much more concerned with observations like "I smell gas", "I see smoke", "What's that guy over there up to?", or "Gun!" than I am with elves, faeries, or clever little men. I have to go into a meditative state or something to be any wise different. I realize most Pagan types would assume my grandmother was on to something, and I'll admit there's nothing wrong with her enjoying her imagination. But with my mindset, it always feels like she's trying to make me psychotic.
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Signs
May 15, 2009 7:28:03 GMT -5
Post by MsAriel on May 15, 2009 7:28:03 GMT -5
I used to see shapes in the clouds, but that was back when I wasnt' as cynical as I tend to be today. My issue with signs is I tend to doubt that I'm really seeing them or that they're really a sign and they're probably just there anyway, if that makes sense.
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simplykali
New Member
Mid-Coast Maine REPRESENT!
Posts: 47
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Signs
May 15, 2009 10:07:41 GMT -5
Post by simplykali on May 15, 2009 10:07:41 GMT -5
I saw a cloud the other day looked like a flying panda bear. Do you think it means anything? (tee hee!)
Anyway, I think that most people know when they actually see a sign or when they are just kidding themselves. It feels different. I was having a bad day a couple of weeks ago and I was feeling very discouraged about my schoolwork and my school career in general. When I got into my car and turned on the radio I heard 5 songs in a row all about how you shouldn't care what other people think and about how it's not about getting to where you are going but what matters most is how you got there. There was also a song about how you shouldn't sell yourself short with a "you can do it!" kind of mentality. I knew that I was supposed to hear them. And it made me feel better, which I believe was the point.
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Signs
May 15, 2009 11:25:32 GMT -5
Post by blackrose on May 15, 2009 11:25:32 GMT -5
Anyway, I think that most people know when they actually see a sign or when they are just kidding themselves. It feels different. Agreed. Darkk just reminded me of something from the Dark Tower series which I always felt was very apt. In the book they were talking about dreams and meanings, and Roland, the main character, says that dreams are "mud pies of the mind" - the either mean nothing, or everything... and you can usually tell the difference. Not every dream has deep meaning, whether psychological or metaphysical... most of them are just "mud pies". But sometimes, just sometimes, they're not... Ditto for signs and every other sort of vaguely metaphysical conduit. Part of me thinks if you have to wonder whether or not it really was a sign, then it probably wasn't. Then again, some people think everything is a sign, and they're probably not, either
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bear
Full Member
Posts: 104
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Signs
May 15, 2009 12:41:55 GMT -5
Post by bear on May 15, 2009 12:41:55 GMT -5
I'm with you BR. Both on your view of the Morrighan and the mud pies.
Some signs and dreams, I've learned over time, always mean particular things. Others I'm kind of iffy on. But most I'm sure are just anxiety or imagination.
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Signs
May 15, 2009 15:36:34 GMT -5
Post by E on May 15, 2009 15:36:34 GMT -5
I think this is kinda where I was going with "how did things around you feel". I absolutely agree that something important or meant to be seen, felt or heard feels different.
When I feel it is some sort of "telling", I tend to lose focus on what is around me. I don't hear the birds chirping or kids arguing or dishwasher running. I am tuned in to what I should see.
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Signs
May 15, 2009 19:59:54 GMT -5
Post by Shannon on May 15, 2009 19:59:54 GMT -5
I feel like I said something stupid. To clarify, I spend more energy examining why my mind would chose to see a certain pattern, than I do on if the pattern is a figment. More like examining why I saw a goat and not on wondering if the blotter intended a goat to be seen. As to signs in the way the OP originally intended; I once sat outside questioning deity and their awareness of me, when a shooting star went by. It was pretty distracting so unfortunately I missed out on any signs.
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bear
Full Member
Posts: 104
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Signs
May 16, 2009 12:43:34 GMT -5
Post by bear on May 16, 2009 12:43:34 GMT -5
Last night I had three deals about fire. In two of them I was escaping a hotel or apartment building that was on fire. In the third, I lived in a mansion with two or three other families. The mansion burned down and we lost everything.
I might but more thought into it, but I was sick. I almost always have nightmares when I'm sick. But usually they are about being tied up or otherwise restrained. Fire is kind of a new one.
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