Right back at you...

Bedtime.

Sweet dreams.

nitenite

Shamanism is a range of traditional beliefs and practices concerned with communication with the spirit world. A practitioner of shamanism is known as a shaman. There are many variations of shamanism throughout the world; following are beliefs shared by all forms of shamanism:[1]

Spirits exist and they play important roles both in individual lives and in human society.

The shaman can communicate with the spirit world.

Spirits can be good or evil.

The shaman can treat sickness caused by evil spirits.

The shaman can employ trance inducing techniques to incite visionary ecstacy.

The shaman's spirit can leave the body to enter the supernatural world to search for answers.

The shaman evokes animal images as spirit guides, omens, and message-bearers.

Disclaimer:

I post a variety of topics related to Wicca, Witchcraft and the occult in general. I find the information on the internet. Sometimes I agree with it 100% and sometimes I do not. I do not claim to be any kind of authority on anything - I post to keep this thread going, to learn more everyday, and to spur conversation if anyone is interested.

Feel free to comment on anything and question everything.

I've got some evil spirits in me that need removal. Do you do house calls?

Yes, but I warn you...it's a long, intense process.

Cool do me.

Hey Beach, does the Roman Catholic church still perform exorcisms or is that kind of been relegated to the broom closet only to be brought up at inappropriate moments to embarrass the clergy?

I was a very devout Catholic for several years before studying my way back to Paganism. The Catholic Church does still have exorcists and will perform exorcisms. However, they require much scrutiny of the cases (medical, psychological exams, etc) before they will come to a decision about whether or not they are dealing with possession or something else.

They still have a group to do exorcisms. Of course they are rarely done by the church because most aren't really possessed

I have never researched the topic but Im sure it would be interesting. I dont think reading William Peter Blatty's novel "The Exorcist" which was later adapted into a classic horror film counts as serious investigation of the topic. However, this author was raised by a deeply devoted Catholic mother so his experience from which he drew is quite profound.

I think I would be interested in the actual historical roots and beginnings of exorcism and how and why they were performed exactly.

Mercury, the planet of communication, goes retrograde -- for the last time this year -- in the sign of Libra on September 24, until it turns direct again on October 15.

Mercury typically turns retrograde three times a year, but the effects of each period differ depending on the sign in which it happens.

Mercury rules thinking and perception, processing and disseminating information and all means of communication, commerce, education and transportation.

Mercury retrograde periods gives rise to personal misunderstandings, as well as flawed, disrupted, or delayed communications, negotiations and trade glitches and breakdowns with phones, computers, cars, buses and trains.

This retrograde, like any cosmic event, affects each of us differently depending on how it's positioned in our personal birth charts. A Mercury retrograde period may be very prosperous for those who have retrograde Mercury, or a well-aspected Mercury in their birth charts.

While a retrograde period may be an introspective time for all of us, if Libra is prominent in your chart, you will have more than your usual share of introspection.

If other Cardinal signs like Aries, Cancer or Capricorn are prominent in your chart, you will also experience a period of intense self-examination.


Mercury retrograde in Libra can disturb mental balance, making you more indecisive than usual.
In addition, attempts to maintain objectivity and an unbiased approach are likely to be difficult and can colored with emotion.

Jealousy and possessiveness may enter relationships. Sharing ideas, especially those connected with moneymaking and other tangible rewards may present a higher risk. Gossip about public figures may run rampant and should be taken with a grain of salt. All areas of communication, especially matters related to law, partnerships and marriage, may also be affected

I believe the "exorcism technique" (if that's what you can call it) was a fairly accurate representation of what they really do in an exorcism. At least that's what Fr. Mark told me.

Do you mean what they depicted in "The Exorcist" was pretty close to what is actually done in an exorcism? Wow, thats pretty intense. What I found to be a very interesting idea in that film was the connection they made between the emotion of guilt and the ability for the devil to be able to enter and take control. Both the little girl who became possessed and the Catholic priest were both having horrible battles with guilt in their personal lives. The girl because her parents were divorcing and the Father because he needed to put his aging mother into a care facility. I guess guilt can make a person vulnerable to such possession was the basic idea being presented.

No, please don't misunderstand. The part that was accurate was what the priest did to exorcise the demon. Holy water, prayers (specific prayers...I believe the Rite of Exorcism), the stuff he did. The verbal exchange between the demon and the priest was fictional.

Oh yeah I know. But even so, just the actual exorcism process itself seems like it could be quite difficult and stressful, especially if someone is deranged or manic. Potentially dangerous also I would presume.

I would guess that an exorcism would be very intense and dangerous to the priest as well as the possessed person. Did you ever see The Exorcism of Emily Rose?