A Dragons Journal

Tiger Lily

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:56:16 GMT

Okay, so a few nights ago, someone in my mothers household left the door to the house unlocked. And because of this, the wind knocked the door open. In the process both of our cats got outside. Fortunately my sister and her friend were able to get one of the two cats back indoors safely. Unfortunately, the other cat is now missing entirely. So we have to deal with this somehow.

My mother has been to the animal shelter to report our missing cat and to look to see if Tiger Lily is at the Animal Shelter. Unfortunately no luck as of the moment. She also is leaving food out for Tiger Lily in hopes that it might lure her back to the house at some point. Additionally we are hoping for Rain, because Tiger Lily does not like to be wet. However so far no such luck.

So life goes on, unfortunately it is without one of the families favorite cats. I was afraid something like this was going to happen ; ;

Testimony Update

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 06:51:06 GMT

I have posted an update to my Testimony as to why I am a Celtic Reconstructionist This can be found at the following URL:

http://leabharliom.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-testimony-as-to-why-i-am-celtic.html

I hope to see your comments on this blog =D

My Blogs

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 01:55:42 GMT

Okay, well I thought I would update those who are viewing this as to my various blogs.... so far I have 4 primary blogs:

myspace blog

Live Journal Blog

Blogspot Blog

Facebook Blog

The last of which is linked to my livejournal blog... I will be reposting this in each of the three unlinked blogs so people can find me :D

An Interesting Nightmare

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:36:50 GMT

Geez, did the Gods have it out for me or something. I am not sure but they may want me to lose all connections to Christianity, or they may also want me to bridge the gap between my CR and Christianity... who knows? Either way the dream I had was really weird:

I dreamt I was me, except I was at home calling into a televangelist to give him a piece of my mind during one of his sermons. Except everything I tried to say to this Televangelist, the guy turned around. He basically said "So the reason you have no hope is because you are without God" to which I replied "I have hope, just not with your God!" It was at that point that I woke up. But I did get the blueprint of the Televangelists church, there was a John 3:16 Courtyard, as well as a huge stage from which he did his services. It was possibly the biggest Church I had seen.

Suffice to say, I have a feeling this is a message from the Gods that I need to bridge the gap between CR and Christianity, or something along those lines. But I am not sure, any input would be appreciated.

My Research Paper

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 03:18:45 GMT

This Paper is published by Mathew John Borckardt, it is a rough draft of a paper for his English 1302 class

In Ancient Times as well as modern times, a majority of the cultures around the world have always hoped for an afterlife. A belief in the afterlife (or lack there of) is one of the crucial founding principles of a particular culture. It helps define who people are, and it helps define how those people will behave in critical situations.

The Greeks had an interesting afterlife belief. They believed in three primary places a person could go in the afterlife. In many ways these three places are very similar to the three that Christians believe in today. However, there are some key differences. The first and primary place that the Greeks believed they could go to in the afterlife was Erebus, or more commonly known as Hades. The upper level of the region of Erebus was known as “The Plain of Asphodel.” In the “Plain of Asphodel” people would cease to have any consciousness. They would still exist as individuals, but they would not experience any joy, pain, suffering, or time.

“Most Mortals who died will find their final resting place in the Plain of Asphodel, which was part of the Erubus region. The shades that dwelled here have no memories of their former lives. The place was gray and gloomy, but the shades who populated this region will experience neither joy nor sorrow.” (timelessmyths.com, 3)

This is The Plain of Asphodel often mistaken for as the Greek version of Christianity’s Hell. But that is not the case. The Plain of Asphodel are closer to the Catholic idea of Purgatory.

The lower level of the Greek afterlife is known as Tartarus. This is the level that would most accurately be described as a Hell for in this level the souls of those who have committed the most vile of crimes against the Gods (namely the Titans) are punished. Among the mortals who were punished in Tartarus was Sisyphus, who betrayed the secrets of the Gods. He chained up the God of Death so that the deceased could not enter the underworld. He was forced to roll a rock up a hill for eternity, only to have it roll back down the hill every time he reached the peak. Another mortal was Tantalus, who was invited to be the guest of the Gods and share their food… however he betrayed the Guest-host relationship and thus is tantalized with hunger for eternity.

The third place a soul could go to in the Greek afterlife is the Elysian Fields. This place is also called the Isle of the Blessed, where the chosen heroes, servants, prophets, and other blessed followers of the Gods resided for eternity in communion with the Greek Gods. This place could easily be recognized as similar to the Christian concept of Heaven. However, it was not necessarily perfect in the Elysian Fields for one still had rivalries between the various Gods with which to contend. Among the people who resided in the Elysian Fields were Helen of Troy, the woman who inspired the Great Trojan War, Achiles, the Greek hero of the Trojan War, Medea, guardianess of the Golden Fleece, Ajax, the second greatest hero of the Greeks in the Trojan War, and Aeneas one of the heroes of Troy during the Trojan War.

“Radbod of Frisia had one foot in the baptismal font, and was ready to be baptized when he asked, ‘Where are my dead ancestors at present?’ Wolfram the Christian Missionary answered, ‘In Hell, with all the other unbelievers.’ Upon hearing this, Radbod removed his foot from the font and responded, ‘Then I would rather live there with my honorable ancestors than go to Heaven with a parcel of beggars.’” (ealdriht.org, 1)

The above demonstrates the belief that many Asatru (modern Heathens, which encompassed all of the Pre-Christian Religions of the Germanic speaking peoples) have about the Christian afterlife. It also demonstrates the stubbornness of the Heathen people when faced with Christian missionaries who were trying to convert them to Christianity. Though the Heathens did not believe in the Christian Hell, they did believe in a “Hell.” In the Heathen religion, the punishments in the Afterlife for those who committed serious crimes were very severe:

“I saw there wading through the rivers wild
Treacherous men and murderous too,
And workers of ill with the wives of men;
There Nithhogg sucked the blood of the slain,
And the wolf tore men; would you know yet more?
(Voluspa 39 Bellows Translation)” (ealdriht.org, 1)

“On Nástrandir [corpse strands] there is a large and horrible hall whose doors face north; it is made of the backs of serpents woven together like wattle-work, with all their heads turning in to the house and spewing poison so that rivers of it run through the hall. Perjurers and murderers wade these rivers as it says here.
(The Deluding of Gylfi, Prose Edda, Young Translation)” (ealdriht.org, 1)

For a Heathen who followed the Heathen religion, one was supposed to live a good, heroic, and virtuous life. However, many Heathens were little more than pirates, and murderous ones at that. Christianity seemed to be an easy way for them to get a prosperous Afterlife. Unfortunately, what they did not seem to understand is that in addition to asking forgiveness, one is supposed to live as virtuous a life as possible within Christianity. Many of these Heathens believed that so long as they asked forgiveness every time they committed a sin, they essentially could do whatever they pleased.

Some modern academics seem to be under the impression that because some of the texts seem to indicate that nothing more is necessary than living a virtuous life so that one’s name will live on forever, there was in fact no concept of a Norse afterlife. An example of one of the texts these scholars use as their evidence is the following

“Cattle die, and kinsmen die,
Thyself eke soon wilt die;
But fair fame will fade never
I will ween, for him who wins it.”
(Hollander translation, verse 76) (ealdriht.org, 2)

In other words, these scholars are saying that because some of the texts say that the best a warrior can hope for is fame after his death, then Heathens did not believe in an Afterlife. However, contrary to what these scholars claim, there are other texts that clearly indicate the Heathens believed in an Afterlife and that there are thousands of examples of people being buried with grave goods (perishable and non-perishable goods being buried with the person at the time of their death). Only cultures that believe in an afterlife would bury a person with grave goods.
          The Old English term Heofon, from which the modern English word Heaven is derived, does not generally apply to a Heathen Afterlife location. However in some ancient Heathen records, it does appear to refer to the Afterlife paradise. So there is some correlation between the terms Heaven and Heofon.
           The word Hell is apparently derived in part from the Norse word Hel which is the name of the Goddess Hel, daughter of the Trickster God Loki, and his wife Angrboda. However when referring to an Afterlife location, the Norse talk about Helheim, the “House of Hel.” The third quote provided in this section actually describes this particular location to some extent. Helheim was supposed to be a dank and dreary place to which the souls of those who did not die a glorious death went to. It was also the location where those who were to be punished for crimes of one sort or another would go to reside until the time of Ragnarok, which is referred to as “The Twilight of the Gods” or the “End of the World as we know it.”
            In the Icelandic and possibly the Anglo-Saxon segments of the Heathen religions there was a belief that the dead would live on inside of their burial mounds. This can be demonstrated by the shear number of burial mounds found in both Iceland and England. The descriptions of this particular belief were also found in the Icelandic Saga’s, which are the major pre-Christian myths of the Icelandic peoples.
            Apparently in the Saga’s known as Landnámabók and Brennu-Njál, a particular family believed that upon dying their souls would go to reside inside of the mountain named Helgafell. Additionally, it is believed that the Wizard Svanrm was received into the mountain named Kaldbak after he drowned on a fishing trip. So there is some decent tradition that when Heathens die, their souls go on to reside inside of a sacred mountain.
            Valhalla is the hall of Odin where half of the Einharjar go upon their death! Half of the heroes who died on the fields of battle belong to Odin and went to the hall of Valhalla. The other half go to Freya, Odin’s wife, and reside in the Palace of Folkvang, which holds the hall of Sessrumnir, both of which are desirable places to go in the afterlife. However, it is Freya who gets first pick of the Einherjar - heroes who fall in battle - followed by Odin. In Odin’s realm there are Valkyries, beautiful women who are skilled at combat, and various indecent sexual practices. In Folkvang, love songs are constantly being played. Which of these two realms is preferable? Remember, only an elect few actually get to see these realms!
           Finally, there does appear to be some evidence that the Heathens did believe in some form of reincarnation. However, the evidence for this is not present in the case of the Anglo-Saxons. Apparently the Norse believed in two primary forms of reincarnation. The first was when a person was named after the deceased relative. If this happened, the dead relative’s Hamingja - a part of the soul - would be inherited by the person who inherits the name. The second form of reincarnation was when the entirety of the soul is reincarnated. An example of this is when King Olaf (aka Saint Olaf) - who was the first Christian King of Norway - is named the reincarnation of Óláfr Geirstaðaálfr (one of Saint Olaf’s ancestors, and a previous King of Norway) by Wodan, the Norse name for the God Odin. The most popular idea that the Heathens go to Valhalla or Folkvang if they die an honorable death in battle is why so many of the Heathens sought battle. They felt that the more opportunities they had to die a glorious death, the more opportunities they had to get into Valhalla or Folkvang. Unfortunately, this belief eventually led many of them down the road to what was in essence piracy, which would ultimately leave the door open for Christian conversions.
           Throughout Celtic Europe, which spanned from approximately 600 BCE to approximately 1600 CE, there were at least three primary beliefs about the Afterlife. The first and most important yet difficult to understand, was the concept of Transmigration of the Soul. The second was the Afterlife in the Land of the Dead. And the third was the Afterlife in the Land of the Gods.
          Transmigration of the Soul is a relatively complex concept. Though it is similar to Reincarnation, Transmigration of the Soul is severely different from Reincarnation on a few very key points. Where as in Reincarnation a person dies and his soul will pass on to another form after death (usually occurring anywhere from instantaneously to a lifetime after death), Transmigration of the Soul can occur at the time of a persons death, a few minutes before that person’s death, and even temporarily during the life time of a person. Another name for Transmigration of the Soul is “Shape-Shifting.” The most famous person who has ever performed Shape-shifting (Transmigration of the Soul) while still being alive, and was able to return to his original form to talk about it, was the Druid Myrddin (aka Merlin), King Arthur’s chief advisor to the Crown. Another less well known, but no less important figure who was able to perform Transmigration of the Soul (though he didn’t return to his original form afterwards), was the Bard Taliesin, Chief Minstrel in King Arthur’s Court. There are some who believe King Arthur and his court are mere legends. However, there are also some who believe that King Arthur and his court are legends squarely based on real life figures. The author of this paper is squarely based in the latter group of people.
            Alongside of Transmigration of the Soul, the Celts also believed that when a person truly died, their soul would most likely go to the Land of the Dead. This was a place where both the good and the evil would eventually end up. In Irish lore, this land was referred to as Tech Duinn (or the House of Donn).

“This world comprises of good and evil, as souls who die from this world, good or evil, find themselves in the realm of the dead. Likewise, those who die in Tech Duinn find themselves in our world once more.”
(ancientworlds.net, 1)

If a person were to die in the mortal world (i.e. Earth) he would usually end up either Transmigrating or in the Land of Tech Duinn. If he ended up in Tech Duinn, he would spend a life time there. After he lived out his lifetime in Tech Duinn, he would die in Tech Duinn, only to be reborn here on Earth. Tech Duinn, like the Elysian Fields, is said to be a real world location, as well as a spiritual realm. In the case of its real world location, it is supposed to be a rocky islet off the coast of Dursey Island in County Cork, Ireland. In addition, Munster Ireland is said to be linked to Donn, and the Land of the Dead, because Donn was said to once have resided there.
The third possibility, is the most controversial one. According to some people, if a person is pleasing to the Gods of the Celts, the Gods will whisk that person away at the time of his death (spirit form primarily), and take him to one of the various Celtic Otherworlds (lands of the Sidhe). The best known example of these places is Avalon, which is primarily so well known thanks to the popularity of King Arthur. Another well known example is Tir Na n’Og, which is associated with the Leprachauns.

The Celts believed that a person would be reborn in one way or another when he died, which led them to be some of the most powerful warriors in history. This belief gave them a complete lack of the fear of death. This utterly scared the fighting spirit out of their opposition most of the time. However when a peaceful conqueror came to the Celtic Lands, the Celts didn’t know how to deal with him. The Celts ultimately fell to this peaceful conqueror, and became Christians for better or for worse. One of these peaceful conqueror’s was the man named Naomh Pádraig, or Saint Patrick, who was famous for finishing the work of converting the Irish to Catholicism. Many of the traditions and beliefs of the Celts still survive in modern times, including some of the beliefs about what happens upon death.
Sheol is an interesting place to discuss. According to most people, it refers to “The Grave” or “The Pit.” It is a place where people reside until the day of Judgement at the end of times. It is not a place of happiness, nor is it a place of sorrow. It is a place of simple existence. In fact the best verb to describe what goes on in Sheol is “sleep” because according to everything that is written about the place, the people who are in it are essentially asleep until the end of time.

“In summary, from the above scriptures the description is basically a place, beneath the earth, where the dead go to, a place of the gathering of the dead. People went sorrowfully to Sheol and it contained sorrows; therefore, it was viewed as gloomy. It was thought both the good and evil went there; some could be taken there alive. The Hebrews often described it as a grave or pit. The Lord could send people down to Sheol, or he could bring them up from it. A person can send another person to Sheol. Sheol is seen as a dark place where everyone rests in dust; and it appears to have been thought to have levels because the lowest and belly of Sheol is referred to.”

(themystica.com, 1)

In fact, the closest similarity it has with any of the other places previously described would be one with the Plains of Asphodel. As in both places there is a severe lack of consciousness.
According to Christian theology, specifically Catholic theology, there are three primary locations that a person can go to when he dies. The first and most pleasant is Heaven. The second and primary location where a soul goes to upon death is Purgatory. The third, and least pleasant (due to eternal torment) is Hell. The most famous work describing these locations is Dante’s Divine Comedy.

According to Dante, Hell has 9 circles. The first circle was devoted to those who died before the birth of Christ, or without being baptized. It is not a place of Punishment, but rather a place where they can spend eternity in peace, but outside the presence of the Godhead.

In the second Circle, you encounter Minos, the Bull Judge.

“There Minos sits, grinning, grotesque, and hale. He examines each lost soul as it arrives and delivers his verdict with his coiling tail. That is to say, when the ill-fated soul appears before him it confesses all, and that grim sorter of the dark and the foul Decides which place in Hell shall be its end, then wraps his twitching tail about himself one coil for each degree it must descend.”

(Dante, 57 - 58)

Interestingly Minos was once a Minor Judge God in Greek mythology. Notable figures who resided in the second circle were Paola and Francesca, who were historical contemporaries of Dante. Francesca was destined to marry Paola’s older brother, but the older brother was deformed, and it was believed that if Francesca saw him before the marriage she would never go through with it. So Paola was sent to marry Francesca in his brother’s name. Unfortunately for both of them, Francesca fell instantly in love with Paola. After the marriage deception, Paola and Francesca deceived Paola’s older brother, becoming intimate with each other in his absence. Unfortunately they were found out by the older brother’s man-servant. For their sin of lust, they are destined to have sex for eternity, without ever reaching a climax.

The third level of Hell is for those who have committed the sin of gluttony. In this level the formerly magnificent hound named Cerberus, who is the three headed watch-dog of the House of Hades in Greek mythology, has been transformed into little more than an ill-mannered mutt.

The forth level is the level where those who committed monetary sins are based. The two types of sinners (spendthrifts and hoarders) roll stones in opposite directions at all times, usually resulting in head on collisions.

The fifth circle of Hell is where the wrathful dwell in the River Styx, and are always filled with rage. They cannot help but bite down on themselves and each other for eternity.

The sixth circle is where the Arch-Heretics reside, those people who lead people falsely in the name of religion (specifically the Christian religion). Among the people in the sixth circle is Calvacante de’Calvacante, a prominent money lender during the Crusades. Although he was aligned with a family that supported the Vatican, he was eventually denounced as a heretic.

The seventh circle is dedicated to those who have committed sins of violence.

“The first below are the violent, but as violence sins in three persons, so is that circle formed of three descending rounds of crueler torments. Against God, self, and neighbor is the violence shown, against their persons and their goods, I say, as you shall hear set forth with open reason.”

(Dante, 104)

Those who have committed violence towards others spend eternity in the first round of the seventh circle.

“Murder and mayhem are the violation of the person of one’s neighbor: and of his goods; harassment, plunder, arson, and extortion. Therefore, homicides, and those who strike in malice – destroyers and plunderers – all lie in that first round, and like suffer with like.”

(Dante, 104)

Those who have committed violence towards themselves spend eternity in the second round of the seventh circle.

“A man may lay violent hands upon his own person and substance; so in that second round eternally in vain repentance moan The suicides and all who gamble away and waste the good substance of their lives and weep in that sweet time when they should be gay.”

(Dante, 105)

And those who committed violence towards God, spend eternity in the third round of the seventh circle:

“Violence may be offered the Deity in the heart that blasphemes and refuses him and scorns the gifts of nature, her beauty and bounty. Therefore, the smallest round brands with its mark both Sodom and cahors, and all who rail at God and His commands in their hearts’ dark.”

(Dante, 105)

The eighth circle is where a huge population of sinners gathers. It is divided into ten sub categories: 1. Seducers and Panderers, 2. Flatterers, 3. Simoniacs, 4. Fortune Tellers and Diviners, 5. Grafters, 6. Hypocrites, 7. Thieves, 8. Evil Counselors, 9. Sowers of Discord, 10. Counterfeiters and Alchemists.

The ninth circle is the circle designated solely for those who are guilty of being traitors. This circle is divided into four sub categories: 1. Treachery against kin, 2. Treachery against country, 3. Treachery against guests and hosts, and finally 4. Treachery against Lords and Benefactors. The most notable person to dwell in this particular section of Hell is Satan himself. Satan is not considered the Master of Hell, but rather a prisoner of Hell. According to Christian mythology Satan is the biggest traitor. Satan was a traitor to his God! In Dante’s version of Hell, Satan has three faces, each chews a different famous traitor for eternity: Judas Iscariot, the man who betrayed Jesus of Nazareth, Gaius Cassius Longinus, the prime force behind the stabbing of Julius Caesar, and Marcus Junius Brutus, the best friend of Julius Caesar and the most famous of Julius Caesar’s assassins.
Purgatory, in the Catholic sense, is very similar to the old Hebrew tradition of bathing before entering the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. It is a form of final purification before one can finally enter Heaven.

“The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines Purgatory as a ‘Purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of Heaven’”

(catholic.com, 1)

It is believed by the Catholics that upon death a person has a personal judgment by God, where by he is told what his personal Afterlife is going to be. Before he can achieve this Afterlife, however, he must undergo a period of purification. This occurs between the time he dies and the time of Jesus’ second coming. This all occurs in Purgatory.

Heaven is a word derived from the Old English word Heofon, which is in turn derived from the older word Himil, which is in turn derived from the even older word Himin. Heaven appears to exist outside of the realm of Earth. According to some theologians, it seems to have a definite limit to its spatial dimensions (in other words, it is not infinitely huge). In order to reach Heaven (according to many Christians) one must do the following: he must accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior, he must repent of his sins and ask for forgiveness for those sins, and he must regularly work to avoid future sinning. As previously mentioned, numerous people seem to think that if they do the first two, they have a free pass to do whatever they please for the rest of their life, and that they will still go to Heaven. This simply is not the case. The nature of Heaven itself is a little harder to pin down. Unlike Hell which people are more capable of imagining, paradise is a more illusive term for people to understand. A paradise for one person is not

necessarily going to be a paradise for another person. Trying to describe Heaven would be self defeating.

The fear of going to Hell, often leads many Christians to live lives of varying types, but usually peaceful and kind. For some reason, however, when threatened, the Christians are just as willing to defend a cause they feel strongly about as any other culture in the world, especially if they feel it is a cause supported by their God!

I have discussed various forms of the Afterlife. However, so far I have tried to give no indication which of these Afterlives I personally would prefer. Some of you might have guessed that based on my descriptions of the Heathen Afterlife, that I might prefer the Heathen Afterlife. Some of you might have guessed that just because Christianity is the most popular Religion in the world, that I might prefer the Christian Heaven. Actually, the Afterlife I would prefer, is the Celtic Afterlife. I am specifically hoping to be taken by one of my Matron Goddesses, An Cailleach, to the land of eternity known as Tir Na m’Beo. Though it is not paradise as described by the Christians, or even the Greeks, Tir Na m’Beo is very much a paradise to me. It is a land where time ceases to exist, and where life is in abundance. It is a land free from all disease. In my opinion it is the best Afterlife a mortal person who struggles with a disability could ask.

The North Texas Irish Festival

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 00:48:47 GMT

I went to the North Texas Irish Festival. I got to see Celtic Spirit perform, they were a magnificent group ^.^

I also obtained a lovely Porcelin Necklace with Brigid (Brigantia is what they said her name was), on it. Suffice to say I plan on wearing it at all times that I am awake. I also obtained a beginner's Tin Whistle and practice book. The Whistle is made out of Brass, and is in the "key of C" I do believe. However I fully intend to make an effort at learning how to play it.

Additionally I registered to recieve an email from a group of people in my area who are working on teaching each other the Gaelic Language. So I should be able to attend these classes fairly soon and learn Gaelic fairly soon ^.^

seems like

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 04:28:43 GMT

At least 2 of my new friends through CR_R are having pet troubles.... my own Dog and one of my cats is getting up there in years... I hope that I have a few more years with the two of them.... I know I have a few more years with the other cat as she is at least two years younger than the older cat. Hopefully however things won't take a turn for a worst with the dog for at least another year or two.

YAY

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:30:49 GMT

Okay well so for my birthday (February 6th), my parents got me and themselves tickets to go to the North Texas Irish Festival ^.^

I am not sure what all is going to be going on at the festival, but I just looked it up, and apparently it is going to be held at Fair Park, and it is going to feature several bands performing on 8 different stages (including Altan (never heard of them) an Irish folk band). I am really looking forward to this event....

My Irish Ancestors

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 04:22:39 GMT

Okay, so my Father has done some research. He has tracked our family almost all the way back to the 13th Generation from present! In all that he has found the following people:

Matilda Mottram, born in County Cork, Ireland in around 1832.... she is my 4xGreat-Grandmother. The family history does not specify if her father was also born in Ireland or not. This is something I will have to inquire about to learn more about.

Jane Forster (or Forester), born in Ireland on April 13th, 1746.... she is my 6xGreat-Grandmother. Like Matilda, the Family History does not specify where her father was born.

Mary (unknown Surname) (married to William Forster), born in Ireland in 1731... she is my 7xGreat-Grandmother. Because I don't know this womans last name, it is impossible to track whether her family came from Ireland originally or not.

Hugh McCrary (married to Susannah Whitaker), most likely Born in Ireland (unknown date)... he is my 7xGreat-Grandfather. I would assume since McCrary is a clan name, that Hugh and his family originally hale from one of the British Islands, and it would seem Ireland or Scottland would be the most likely candidates.

William Whitaker, Born in Dublin, Ireland (unknown Date)... he is my 8xGreat-Grandfather... This is about where the family history begins to die off. I do not know anything about William Whitaker's parents. So it would be impossible to say whether his family is from the Islands or not.

So it would appear that I do have some history in the land of Ireland. More research is definitely needed before I can say for a certainty that my family traces back a long ways in Ireland. And there is no way I am willing to make any ascurtians (and yes I know I mispelled that) about the family history at this point. I am just glad to know there is some history in Ireland!

MTG: Haves List

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 04:58:20 GMT

I am going to list the cards I need according to the decks that I need them for:

Legacy Burn Deck
4 Chain Lightning

Legacy Dragon Stompy Deck
To be announced....

Extended Affinity Deck
4 Pyrite Spellbomb
4 Pyrostatic Pillar
4 Trickbind (see also Rogue Deck)

Standard Rogue deck
2 Earwig Squad
2 Stinkdrinker Bandit
1 Oona's Blackguard
3 Pestermite
4 Spellstutter Sprite
3 Bad Moon
3 Nameless Inversion
1 Bitterblossom
4 Sudden Death
4 Trickbind (See also Affinity Deck)
4 Thorn of Amethyst

MTG: Haves List

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 04:29:48 GMT

The Following is my List of Haves.....

Promo Cards
1 Firebolt - FNM
1 Earwig Squad - Morningtide Release

Foil Cards
1 Marit Lage Token
1 Nettlevine Blight
1 Merrow Reejery
1 Blades of Velis Vel
1 Needle Drop

Token Cards
1 Wasp Token
2 Goblin Rogue Tokens
1 Zombie Token
1 Merfolk Token
1 Elemental Token
1 Elf Warrior Token
2 Elemental Shaman Tokens
3 Kithkin Soldier Tokens

RARES:
Artifacts
1 Rings of Brighthearth
1 Whetwheel

Gold
1 Genju of the Realm
1 Horde of Notions
3 Vorosh, the Hunter

Lands
......

Black
1 Aether Snap
1 Boggart Mob
1 Head Games
1 Nettlevine Blight
1 Sengir Vampire
1 Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker

Blue
1 Clone
1 Deep-Sea Kraken
1 Magus of the Jar

Green
1 Abundance
4 Cytoplast Root-Kin
1 Immaculate Magistrate
1 Primal Command
1 Pulse of the Tangle
1 Spitting Slug

Red
1 Dragon Roost
1 Goblin King
1 Hamletback Goliath
1 Orcish Librarian
1 Pardic Dragon
1 Sensation Gorger
1 Sunrise Sovereign
1 Volcanic Dragon
2 Wild Ricochet

White
Evangelize
Feudkiller's Verdict

Uncommons:
Artifacts
1 Auriok Siege Sled
1 Clockwork Hydra
1 Demon Horn
1 Genesis Chamber
1 Icy Manipulator
1 Jeweled Amulet
1 Locket of Yesterdays
1 Phyrexian Vault
1 Soultether Golem
1 Surestrike Trident
1 Voltaic Construct
1 Whispersilk Cloak
1 Wirefly Hive

Gold
1 Opaline Sliver
1 Schismotivate

Land
2 Dakmor Salvage
1 Dreadship Reef
1 Dryad Arbor
1 Forbidding Watchtower
2 Fungal Reaches
2 Ghitu Encampment
1 Mirrodin's Core
1 Quicksand
1 Spawning Pool

Black
1 Faceless Devourer
1 Genju of the Fens
3 Hoarder's Greed
1 Haunting Hymn
1 Lys Alana Scarblade
1 Nectar Faerie
1 Nightshade Screamers
1 Noggin Whack
1 Squeaking Pie Sneak
1 Vampiric Sliver
2 Thorntooth Witch

Blue
1 Benthicore
1 Captivating Glance
1 Carry Away
1 Cryptic Annelid
1 Drowner of Secrets
1 Faerie Harbinger
3 Fallowsage
1 Genju of the Falls
1 Glen Elandra Pranksters
1 Fog Elemental
3 Merrow Commerce
2 Merrow Harbinger
1 Minamo Sightbender
1 Mystic Speculation
3 Paradox Haze
2 Scattering Stroke
1 Spellburst
1 Spiketail Hatchling
1 Stormcloud Djinn
2 Telling Time
1 Truth or Tale

Green
2 Blanchwood Armor
1 Cyclical Evolution
1 Elvish Promenade
1 Enormous Baloth
2 Hunted Wumpus
3 Jagged-Scar Archers
1 Imperiosaur
1 Incremental Growth
4 Kavu Predator
1 Kithkin Mourncaller
1 Lamastride Weave
1 Lure
1 Regeneration
1 Sporesower Thallid
4 Sylvan Scrying
1 Tangle Spider
1 Tromp the Domains
1 Verdant Embrace
1 Walker of the Grove
1 Woodland Guidance
1 Yavimaya Dryad

Red
1 Ceaseless Searblades
1 Changeling Berserker
1 Conflagrate
2 Crush Underfoot
1 Dismantle
1 Earth Elemental
1 Flamewave Invoker
1 Flamekin Bladewhirl
2 Flamekin Spitfire
1 Furnace Whelp
3 Giant Harbinger
1 Glareweilder
1 Goatnapper
1 Hearthcage Giant
1 Inner-Flame Ignitter
1 Ogre Recluse
1 Orcish Artillery
1 Rebellion of the Flamekin
1 Release the Ants
1 Shatterstorm
2 Sowing Salt
1 Sudden Impact
2 Tarpitcher
1 Tectonic Fiend
1 Thick-Skinned Goblin
2 Threaten
1 Undying Rage

White
1 Angel of Mercy
1 Burrenton Forge-Tender
1 Celestial Crusader
1 Daily Regimen
2 Faithful Squire
1 Goldmeadow Lookout
1 Graceful Reprieve
1 Hail of Arrows
1 Harpoon Sniper
1 Icatian Priest
1 Leonin Battlemage
1 Lost Auramancer
1 Mistmeadow Skulk
1 Summon the School
1 Tallowisp
2 Tempest of Light
1 Wizened Cenn

The Elf Decks that went 5-1 at Worlds

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 23:49:44 GMT

Yoshitaka Nakano

2007 Worlds Top 8

Main Deck

60 cards

5 Forest
4 Gilt-Leaf Palace
4 Llanowar Wastes
1 Pendelhaven
4 Swamp
4 Treetop Village
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

23 lands

1 Boreal Druid
2 Civic Wayfinder
3 Imperious Perfect
4 Llanowar Elves
3 Masked Admirers
4 Tarmogoyf
3 Troll Ascetic
4 Wren's Run Vanquisher

24 creatures

3 Eyeblight's Ending
2 Garruk Wildspeaker
1 Nameless Inversion
4 Profane Command
3 Thoughtseize

13 other spells

Katsuhiro Mori

2007 Worlds Top 8

Main Deck

60 cards

5 Forest
4 Gilt-Leaf Palace
4 Llanowar Wastes
1 Pendelhaven
4 Swamp
4 Treetop Village
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

23 lands

1 Boreal Druid
1 Civic Wayfinder
4 Imperious Perfect
4 Llanowar Elves
2 Masked Admirers
1 Mirri the Cursed
3 Tarmogoyf
3 Troll Ascetic
4 Wren's Run Vanquisher

23 creatures

2 Eyeblight's Ending
2 Garruk Wildspeaker
1 Loxodon Warhammer
1 Nameless Inversion
4 Profane Command
4 Thoughtseize

14 other spells

Turkey Week report

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:47:23 GMT

This past week was an interesting one. I spent most of it over at my Mothers house. The first few days were rife with me playing Final Fantasy 7 for my younger sister. Then I spent a great deal of time on the Computer and Myspace. Later on, when my other sister got home we went to Blockbuster and purchased the Transformers movie and watched that after having watched the new Ben 10 Movie. Both movies were incredible.

For Thanksgiving Dinner we had a great many things. On the menu was Turkey, Stuffing, Squash, Corn, Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce, and I made Bannocks as well to add a touch of Ireland to the meal ^.^ For desert we had Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie, and Apple Pie. During Thanksgiving Dinner my Grandmother visited.

Unfortunately during the course of the evening of thanksgiving evening my youngest sister and I had a bit of an argument. So I ended up having that be the last evening I spent at the house. I went back to my Apartment the following day as the better part of Valor.

Then on Saturday we got new phones for my second youngest sister and myself. I love my new phone, once I get the USB Cable for it, and a memory card, it can double as a MP3 player ^.^ I just need to get a USB adaptor for my computer as 2 of my 4 USB ports on my Computer are a bit broken, and one of the 2 remaining USB ports is being used by my printer.

On Sunday we drove my Sisters back to College. During the drive my youngest sister was still mad at me for the incident on Thanksgiving Dinner, and for a few other things (such as me spending most of the week on the computer). So when I made requests for music she made really mean faces and some comments under her breath. But I let it pass more or less unnoticed, until dinner where I asked her if she was mad at me... and she said she was. I then made as heartfelt an apology as I can possibly give (I am not good at emotional things). I don't think she appreciated my apology. However I have promised to let her use the Computer as much as she wants to the next time she is up visiting the family for Christmas.

My Irish Ancestors

Sun, 04 Nov 2007 19:03:58 GMT

On my Mothers side of the family we have some Irish Ancestors. However as my mother was adopted out of that family, we don't know very much. So far we have only a family name to go on. That family name is "Hoback." We also have some Scottish Ancestors on that same side of the family, and their family name is "McCann"

If anyone knows anything about these family names that they could share with me, I would love to hear what they have to share. As it stands now, my father is working on Geneological records for all sides of the family, and he is going to share what he finds out about these ancestors with me as soon as he finds anything out. So I look forward to what he learns.

Hopefully one day I can get in touch with my living Celtic Relatives! That would be so cool ^.^

33. Coisrig Cadail / Sleep Consecration

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 01:25:08 GMT

I lie down to-night
With fair Boann and with her Son,
With gentile Aengus,
And with comfort beneath her mantle;

I lie down with Dagda,
And Dagda will lie down with me,
I will not lie down with Bres,
Nor shall Bres lie down with me.

O Good Father of the poor,
Help me this night,
Omit me not entirely
From Thy feasting hall.

For the great feast
That you enjoy,
I cannot this night
Enumerate it’s size.

Thou Father of the Tuatha De Danann,
Do not forget me in Thy dwelling-place,
Do not omit me in Thine ingathering.

In Thine ingathering.

Yesterday

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 14:26:11 GMT

Yesterday was an amazing day.

At 2:00 my time I went to a Halloween / Samhain Party at the Local Unitarian Universalist Church. While there I had my fortune read, and had a satchel for luck made for me. Towards the end of the Halloween party we had a Costume Contest, I didn't participate, but I did watch. The cool thing is, in order to make every kid feel happy and not left out, every kid received a prize for coming in a special costume. At the end of the party there was a Samhain Ritual. Unfortunately this Ritual was a Wiccan Ritual. It was not the Stand With Tara Ritual that I asked to have done, so I am going to have to do that Ritual all on my lonesome on Halloween night.

Later (at 5:30 to 6:00) I went to my Mothers Church's Fall Festival. While there I was able to carve a Pumpkin for the season. I carved a quite spectacular one if I do say so myself. Unfortunately I do not think I won the competition, because my Mother and I had to leave early before the contest was held.

When we got back home my Mother and I took her dog for a walk. After that I spent some time watching T.V. with the folks. And then I went upstairs to use the Computer. Finally I went to bed. So all in all it was a pretty filled up day. I don't get many of those anymore. So I was pretty excited to have one for a change.

The History International Channel

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 05:04:13 GMT

Okay, it is my long standing opinion that the History Channel and the History International Channels are my 2 favorite channels. However tonight that all changed. History International Channel has tarnished itself beyond all repair.

It has aired a Documentary under the Series of Histories Mysteries named "Witches and Witchcraft". This Documentary had as its primary thesis on the History of Witches, that they date back to the Neolithic period of History, and have origins in every culture under the banner of one Great Goddess. It also presented that the Witch figure was never seen as a Malevolent figure in any Culture except the Patriarchal one of Judaism and later periods.

Suffice to say, I wonder when the History Channel is going to resend its claim that Witches are as ancient and benevolent as they claimed and return the Witch to her position as the Evil one who in some stories seduces men to their dooms. Such as is the case with Kallisto in the Odessy(sp?).

Celtic Folk Magic

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 01:45:24 GMT

The following is a link to a book with Irish Folk Magic:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/ali/index.htm

Basically everything between the entries:

The Properties of Herbs and Their Use in Medicine

and

Relics

is a spell, charm, or talisman of some sort.

As far as Tomas and I know, the Folk Magic in this book is not frowned upon at all in Ireland. But this may not be the case. Further Research is required.

Long time no see

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:01:14 GMT

Well its been several weeks since I lost put something up on my Live Journal. So I thought I would post something explaining where I have been and what I have been up to.

For the past several Weeks I have been spending most of my time playing the video game Final Fantasy XI, This game is one of my favorites. It takes up most of my time. However I am thinking I am going to relegate more time to my off-game life and come back to Live Journal and myspace at least for 1 or 2 hours every day.

I also am working on getting a Job. The reason is that at the current time I don't have an occupation and I need some income. So hopefully this will help me when it comes to my financial issues.

I also need to spend more time doing Religious things so I am hoping to get back into the practice of that over the course of the next month or two. Sooo wish me luck on that front.

And finally I am waiting for the next full semester of College to start so I can apply and get that under way. I plan at the current time to take the Composition and Rhetoric 102 class.

Well I just got back

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 02:56:48 GMT

from my first real experience with Christian Fundamentalist wack jobs. It was fun, they prayed over my head that I be converted back to Christianity by the power of God. Some of them even spoke in tongues. It was really kind of scary now that I think about it. But I was a good sport, I did not scream or yell or try to convert a single one of them to my way of thinking. Maybe I should have, but my sister had asked me not to, and if I am anything it is respectful of my families wishes.

And somehow I do not feel in anyway moved to convert to Christianity. In fact I feel that if I were moved to convert to Christianity, I would be betraying An Cailleach and that would not be a wise move to make on my part.

Shoping List for the Gods.

Sat, 14 Jul 2007 00:24:32 GMT

Just so I remember for future reference... I am getting Lugh Bread and Ale, Brighid Juniper and Milk, and An Cailleach Homemade Chili and Hot Cocoa.

Which Candidate for 2008 will I vote for?

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:33:02 GMT

John Edwards - nyynnyynynny - 20
Barack Obama - nyynyyynynny - 18
Hillary Clinton - nyynyyynynny - 18
Bill Richardson - nyynnyynnnny - 14
Dennis Kucinich - nyynnynyynyn - 12
Ron Paul - nynnnnnynnyy - 8
Rudy Giuliani - ynnnyyyynyny - -2
John McCain - yynyyyynnyny - -4
Mike Huckabee - yynyynynnyny - -6
Mitt Romney - yynyynynnyny - -6

http://www.positivepress.com/president/

I guess I am voting for John Edwards in the primary, and then for whoever manages to get the democratic nomination in the final presidential elections. But it seems that the Democrats truely do represent my particular views on this presidential election.

Eschatology

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 11:48:12 GMT

As we all should know, the Mayan Callendar predicts the end of the world on the date Dec. 21, 2012. In addition to the Mayan Callendar it is believed by the majority of Christians that the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelations predicts the end of the world as well. But unfortunately the Bible does not give an exact date. In addition to these 2 sources there are some lesser known sources of Eschatology (end of the world predictions) that are quite interesting to learn about. All of these come from around the world and accross time.

The Sybil Oracle She predicted Hannibal, and his eventual defeat, 700 years before the invasion of hannibal. She predicted Constantine 800 years before his birth. She predicted a Golden Age brought forth by a child 20 years before the birth of Jesus. She predicts there are 9 generations of 800 years. She also predicts that the 10th generation will begin in the year 2,000. So we are according to the Sybil Oracle in the last 800 years of the existance of the planet Earth.

The I-Ching Using a method of calculating the years based on the I-Ching. The end of the world arrives on the exact date of Dec. 21, 2012. It was only after developing this particular method of calculating the years that the person who devised this method of calculating learned about the Mayan Callendar.

Myrddin, the Real Merlin His Prophecies were published in 1130 Common Era, based on prophecies of the 5th century. However this is not unusual as most of the Celtic Lore we have was recorded in written form at a later date from the time it was actually used by the Druids who believed in it originally. He predicted the first American Colony by name, 1000 years before anyone in the old world knew there was an America (excepting the Vikings). He predicted the British Victory over Napoleon. He predicted the NAZI Holocaust. He predicted Speaking Stones (Cell Phones). He predicts that the Sea shall discharge itself from the River Burn for 7 Months. That Fish shall die from Heat, and grow multiple tails. This would seem to indicate a Nuclear Meltdown as the Severn (River Burn) is where the Nuclear Reactors of Britain are housed. He also predicts that London shall mourn the deaths of 20,000 and that the River Thames will turn to blood (Terrorist Attack, or War). He predicts the Sea's rising (Global Warming). And lastly he predicts that the planets will run out of their appointed paths (Polar Shift).

Mother Shipton Predicted the death of Henry the 8th, the defeat of the Spanish Armada, WWI, WWII, and Queen Victoria by name. She predicted that half the worlds population would die in an event that is around now.

The Hopi Nation Believe the world has been created and destroyed 4 times and that we are currently awaiting the 5th world destruction. The signs will be the rising of the seas, great earth quakes, and the sun getting much hotter. All of which are occuring.

Fireworks

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:19:11 GMT

Yesterday my sisters and I went out for lunch at the Mall. We then hung out at the mall for a little while. Doing some shopping. We then went over to Barnes and Noble. My sister purchased Dr. Who (10th Doctor, Season 1). After we finished at Barnes and Nobles we went to Wendies for some Frosties. On the way home we stopped at my apartment to pick up the season with the 9th Doctor.

Then we went over to a friends house to let their dogs out. The friends are out of town and my mother and sisters are watching their dogs. One of the Dogs isn't looking so well. While we were over there we watched some Dr. Who (The Empty Child, & The Doctor Dances).

We then went to my Parents home. While there my sister watched an episode of the Dukes of Hazzards, while my other sister messed around with her new I-Pod Nano. I sat down and watched the episode of the Dukes of Hazards with my youngest sister. After the episode of the Dukes of Hazard, my sister and I contemplated watching a movie "On Demand" but ultimately I went shopping with my mother.

When I got back I did some reading in the Tain Bo Couligne(sp?). I am still waiting on my copy of Finn MacCumhall's legend to come in the mail.

After a while we all left for Dinner at the Lucas United Methodist Church. This is the church that my Mother and Sisters attend at. I occasionally accompany them to this church. I find it very welcoming and accepting of my personal beliefs. They are all willing to let me believe what I believe so long as I let them believe what they believe. So we really don't have many conflicts.

After Dinner the older of my two sisters and I went to the Fireworks at around 8:30. On the way we stopped at the Marble Slab Creamery for some Ice Cream. The Marble Slab is impressive because they have a huge Marble Slab on their counter that they mix the ice cream with the toppings right in front of you. We then tried to see the fireworks from a good distance away, but I guess we couldn't see them because they hadn't started. So instead we decided to drive closer. In the process we got lodged in the Fourth of July Traffic. So we spent a good part of the night sitting in traffic. Not as bad as it could have been but it was bad.

bleh

Sat, 30 Jun 2007 00:44:28 GMT

I have been feeling terrible today. Most of the day I have spent asleep. When I woke up it was like 5:00, and I had lunch. Only to be fed dinner (spagheti (sp?) ) at 6:30... I was unable to finish dinner because I felt rather ill. and usually I love spagheti.

I think the majority of my problem today stems from the fact that I stayed awake till 6:00 am to watch the very first episode of Dr. Who with the Daleks in it. That Dr. Who episode was an 8 parter, with each part being between 30 minutes to 60 minutes long. So it was a very long night. I also watched a few other episodes of Dr. Who (namely the first ever episode of Dr. Who, which was a 3 parter), and the third episode (which was a 2 parter). Simply put I was up rather late, and all for my favorite T.V. Show in the universe.

I just hope I am able to get some sleep tonight. It is going to be a very long night if I am not able to.