andi's perspective

MYTHS OF LIVE

Niina has a super post on the role that stories have  in shaping our minds, hearts, longings and lives.  Veteran apologist John Montgomery strongly confirmed this in the Basel consultation, and highlighted the specific mind-capturing power which especially myths carry: "Myths bear the power to speak to us on a deep, holistic, imaginative, subconscious dimension. They can communicate things which are inexpressible for human language."
This is obviously true for the myth of the Lord of the Rings. I just cannot escape its imaginative power, but keep recognizing cosmic truth and Gospel power in it. And though its myth is "not meant to be religious or Christian", Tolkien himself admitted that "every great literary work mirrows the deeply held values of the author". Tolkien being a committed Christian, it should come as no surprise to find the whole Gospel in its plot. (No, it is NOT an allegory...) Here is a great resource for mythical LOTR fans :)

TAROT TAROT

Who am I? What is the meaning of My life? Where am I heading? Ever used Tarot cards as an opening to talk about the deep things in life?
If not, it might surprise you to hear that they are actually depicting well known images from the book of Revelation (like the Tower, Judgement, Death, Devil and God). It was only in 19th century France that these medieval illustrations (the oldest extant are dating back to the 1400's) became to be used in divination and other occult practices.

Tarot Card #1 pictures the Magician as what can be interpreted as "The Eternal One (sign of infinity) who brings us Grace (white wand upheld to heaven, other hand pointing to earth) and controls all of nature (symbols of the 4 elements on the table)." Here are some of the other cards!

More about the deeper Christian meaning of Tarot in "Beyond Prediction: The Tarot and Your Spirituality" by trendsetter John Drane.
Just in case your Christian socialisation (= conscience) makes you feel awkward with this subject, be assured that John Drane's Tarot approach is officially endorsed even by the strongly evangelical Lausanne Movement ;-)

Christians are starting to expand their horizons - I LOVE IT!!!

EXPLORING PAGANISM

What would YOU be if you were NOT a sold-out Jesus-disciple, an irreplaceable part of the global Body of Christ, an intimate friend of Yahwe Almighty, bound to THE ONE by  an irrevocable blood covenant?? What would you be THEN??
Me, I would most probably be a magician, a modern day witch master, deep into one of the softer spiritual pathways today's neopaganism (check the link!) has to offer. I am just bound to spirituality, one way or the other. Maybe this explains my sympathy for committed witches, shamans and wicca adherents.
Anyway I long to dig out the "real magic" of the coming Messianic Kingdom which Yeshua proclaimed. And to explore language which forcefully conveys this "good news" to contemporary un-Christianized minds.
Consequently you find me in Basel these days (staying with great friends) for the first European Consultation on precisely this issue. 
I will continue this thread. For now, explore the heathen mindset or have a look at one of the better forums where Neo-Pagans and Christians engage in authentic, humble and positive! interaction. Would be interested to hear from others here.

becoming the most you can be

"it's all about your place in the world and your development as a spiritual being. it's all about moving forward on your personal spiritual journey - about learning, growing, and becoming the most you can be.

it's a way of understanding and interacting with God and the universe. it's a life-affirming path of growth and expansion.

it's about great reverence for God who has both a mother and a father aspect. it's alll about the relationship between a person and God  - highly individual and personal.

you want to be alive? to be alive is to move at one with God.

to be alive is to honor nature and all that is in her, to acknowledge the life in all things, and be in harmony with it.

to be alive is to work with the seen and the unseen. to be alive is to use every tool available to grow, to learn, to become the best that you can be.

to overcome all limitations, all fears, all imperfections, and to move always in harmony with God, always to the good, always in accordance with your highest self.

this is what it is to be alive."

like this tract? check out the source for this remarkable overlap of concepts and experiences between the Christian and the neo-pagan community (ok, i altered some wording, but not much..)

in any case i am convinced we need to re-discover the power of the good-news behind Christianity and churchiness and learn to communicate it more appropriately as many of those into witchcraft or esoteritcs today have a better understanding of what the Good News should be than we have of what it is...

Jesus - the perfect Shaman

ever used the image of the Perfect Shaman to describe the priestly role of Jesus? no? think about it..

which animistic shaman of whatever spiritual path did ever aquire so fully a status of briding the two worlds, fully native in both this and the otherworld, as the incarnate ONE? who was ever so fully dominated by the otherworldly inner spirit than the ONE who even passed that spirit to others without limitation, not mentioning the triumph over the powers of death in others AND himself?

would enjoy a symbols-discussion of the holy deer with some neo-pagan friends...