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On Storm

Storm

ThrUU the Looking Glass
I guess it's about time I started one of these things... I'll try to answer all serious inquiries (please, no bacon or underwear), and I'll also condense & update my old theology thread in a bit.

Ask away!
 

Storm

ThrUU the Looking Glass
Rhys:
Rhymes with hiss when whispered. Plural, rhys. If you can say it loudly, you're saying it wrong.
1)The divine consciousness
2)The divine seed of mortal consciousness, not seeming (my rhys; our rhys)

Seeming:
Life is a spectrum, the infinitely complex interaction of rhys and divine matter. The seeming is that interaction, the incarnation.

This is vastly oversimplified, but it might help: matter -> biochemistry -> cells -> organs -> brain -> psyche -> spirit -> rhys. It can also be described as a wheel, with God joining matter and rhys.

Everything from biochemical processes to spirit is the seeming, and ultimately mortal. Only matter and rhys continue after death.

Spirit vs. psyche:
The psyche is intimately connected to the brain. Our emotions, memories, speech patterns, and unconscious habits. It's only slightly less biological than spiritual. Drugs can affect it, as can injury. Likewise, it can affect the body: emotional trauma translating as physical symptoms, or the placebo effect.

The spirit, however, is something else. Our ideals, reason, willpower, personality traits. You can't give someone a pill to make them a Democrat, or change their sexual orientation. The spirit is still part of the seeming, and therefore mortal and connected to biology, but much less so than the psyche.

Universe, cosmos, and roth
:
The cosmos is the simplest: the physical reality explored by modern science. Cosmos is what an atheist would consider to be the universe.
Roth (short O.) is the true reality of God. The 3 elements of roth are arn, rhys, and divine matter. Roth, to my estimation, includes many things that are commonly considered 'supernatural,' but these are simply things we do not yet understand.
The universe is everything. It is entirely possible, even likely, that God is one of many. If that is the case, the other divine beings have/ are their own roth, which are part of the universe.

The Becoming:
Existence (as we know it) as the process of the divine being approaching maturity.

Arn (ahrn):
The life force. Chi, magic, the element which binds rhys to matter to create life. Arn supersaturates the roth, and I believe it's intimately linked to electromagnetism. Sadly, I lack the scientific acumen to pursue that hypothesis.

Kaleria (kah-LEE-ree-ah):
A moment of overwhelming awe and wonder at the glory of life. You can find it in a sunset, a child, atrocity, compassion. To me, the definition of enlightenment is to attain a state of constant kaleria.

The bright shadow:
The awareness of divinity and the interconnectedness of all things, also the state of kaleria. Used as a blessing: May you walk in bright shadow.

Elders:
Those individual rhys who have fully Become. Guides and teachers for their younger siblings (us). Somewhat akin to the bodhisattvas of some Buddhist sects.

Avatars/Elders incarnate:
Elders can incarnate to teach important lessons directly; these incarnations are Avatars. Avatar refers specifically to the mortal vessel, whereas Elder incarnate refers to the rhys. The hallmark of Avatars is that their lives illustrate the message they taught. This isn't a definitive trait, but it is a very reliable clue. Examples of Avatars include the Buddha, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Hitler (not all lessons are pleasant), and Jonathan Larson (the author of the musical RENT).

I believe that Jesus was also an Avatar, and Judas as well that they were working together. For this reason, I sometimes refer to Judas Christ.

Sidhe (shee)/Others:
Beings that we don't understand. Earth spirits, angels, demons... I believe they exist, because the diversity of life seems to demand it.

Put it this way: I believe that there is advanced alien life 'somewhere out there, ' because the idea of humanity being the only intelligent species in the cosmos is ridiculous to me. The cosmos is just too big. Likewise, I don't think that biological life is the only form of life, because the roth is even bigger.

That doesn't mean that I believe aliens are sodomizing our cattle, or that your average medium or TV psychic is anything but a charlatan.

But I do believe that the sidhe exist, and share our planet. Most likely some of them have interacted with humans from time to time, and may even have inspired some of the deities of ancient days.


World Mother:
The sidhe-deity whose body is our planet. Highly revered, but not worshiped. Referred to in the feminine only as a nod to my neopagan background.


Os (OHSS):
There is no duality of morality. No Good, no Evil - there is only God.
However, anyone who isn't completely naive knows that there are things in this world for which English has no word but 'evil.' Genocide, child abuse, torture, terrorism.... so much atrocity. These things are os.

Droichan (droy-KHAHN):
Os seemings. Serial killers, despotic dictators, Osama bin Laden.... droichan.

Droichan, however, are NOT to be regarded as damned, or despised on a spiritual level. They are not even 'unenlightened.' To be droichan is the most difficult stage of the Becoming, one we will all go through sooner or later: the true understanding of os.

They are a crucial part of life. They give us something to struggle against and become strong. Something to horrify us, that we seek a better way. They are the goad to evolution, and the bringers of balance.

Revile and denounce their actions, stop them if you can, but remember that they are necessary, and respect them as such. Hate the seeming, but pity the rhys, and remember that you, too must face this lesson eventually.
 

dawny0826

Mother Heathen
Is there any form of worship in your walk?

What are your most treasured aspects of your faith?

In general, what inspires you most?
 

hola!

Member
no underwear questions? well, you're no fun. :rolleyes:

:p

do you still have some faith left in the world?
 

Storm

ThrUU the Looking Glass
Why are you so sure about your beliefs?
I'm actually not. Second only to my belief in God is my belief that no one knows what that means, myself included. I have no problem at all throwing something out if it stops making sense.
 

hola!

Member
What do you mean "in the world?"

sorry, you're right, that didn't make sense. basically, do you have faith in humanity? do you believe that in the end, the good of humanity will prevail? in your opinion, does world peace stand a chance? or are we just doomed, doomed, doomed?
 

Storm

ThrUU the Looking Glass
sorry, you're right, that didn't make sense. basically, do you have faith in humanity? do you believe that in the end, the good of humanity will prevail? in your opinion, does world peace stand a chance? or are we just doomed, doomed, doomed?
Depends on the day. Usually, yes.
 

dawny0826

Mother Heathen
I haven't paid attention to panentheism, but, I felt like I needed to read your OP. I found a sort of comfort in your post as I can relate to much of it in an unexpected way - particularly kaleria, the bright shadow and the interconnectedness of things.

It's always been challenging to explain to my mother that I feel closer to God when I'm alone, on my front porch and just listen...there's something amazing about the way people are connected, in unsaid ways. I've experienced this first hand in profound ways and its challenging to discuss with other people sometimes.

To be inspired by what you've posted is lovely.

If you were to recommend a book or a resource on panentheism, which would it be?

Fun Questions (sans underwear and bacon)

1. If you could anywhere in the world that you haven't been before, where would it be and why?

2. What is the most beautiful place you've ever seen?

3. What is the one song that just makes you want to get up and get crazy with it? (We all have one of those. :) )

4. What song evokes so much emotion when you hear it, it breaks your heart every time, not because you relate to it personally, but because it's just that beautiful?

5. Aside from your child, what else inspires you and makes your heart happy?
 

Storm

ThrUU the Looking Glass
I haven't paid attention to panentheism, but, I felt like I needed to read your OP. I found a sort of comfort in your post as I can relate to much of it in an unexpected way - particularly kaleria, the bright shadow and the interconnectedness of things.

It's always been challenging to explain to my mother that I feel closer to God when I'm alone, on my front porch and just listen...there's something amazing about the way people are connected, in unsaid ways. I've experienced this first hand in profound ways and its challenging to discuss with other people sometimes.

To be inspired by what you've posted is lovely.
Thank you!

If you were to recommend a book or a resource on panentheism, which would it be?
There isn't really one I can point to. It's not a religion, but a base theological concept, and there are many, many interpretations.

1. If you could anywhere in the world that you haven't been before, where would it be and why?
There are so many places I'd like to see.... right now, I'd go with Japan.

2. What is the most beautiful place you've ever seen?
The mesa ranges in central Texas, especially at sunset.

3. What is the one song that just makes you want to get up and get crazy with it? (We all have one of those. :) )
Too many to list.

4. What song evokes so much emotion when you hear it, it breaks your heart every time, not because you relate to it personally, but because it's just that beautiful?
[youtube]Vt2CEfrAonw[/youtube]
[youtube]WSYPYq9D_No[/youtube]
[youtube]x8zsE5zdlsQ[/youtube]

5. Aside from your child, what else inspires you and makes your heart happy?
Nature, family, music, academia.
 
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