Dear Vikar,

I read your article on Living with a witch.

That article could have been written by my husband. That sounds exactly like us. Do you have cats too?

It was great!

Best regards,
Kat

Kat,

I'm happy you enjoyed the article. I'll try to come up with a reply button at the bottom of my rants without going through a blogger format. It shouldn't be too difficult to create.

I'm sorry to say that we do not have any cats. My wife has been bugging me forever for us to get one or at least take my mother-in-law's off of her hands. However, I'm allergic and I enjoy our cat-free existence at the moment. If I ever have my back against the wall (ie - if my mother-in-law passes away before her cats), I'll take the necessary shots, but not before. I have nothing against kittys personally, I just like an itch free lifestyle and free breathing better.

What I can tell you is that we have Guinness (our black pomeranian) and he's just like a cat in many ways. Plus Hecate has a soft spot for little black dogs and enjoys having him around the house. (I haven't mentioned the active spirit activity in the house for a reason. Needless to say, this house is fully charged with "guests".)

Since writing the article I've gotten used to the goings on and have found some comfort in the nature religions. As this article has gained some amount of attention, I should be writing a follow up article to this sometime in the future.

Regards,
Vikar

To the Vikar and his wife

It was very interesting to read your explanation on witches.

I'm Australian and have recently spent time up in the Northern Territory working on a three month job with the aboriginies. It was a fascinating experience and what I came away with was - when did we lose IT?

Their spirituality, powers of healing, knowledge of the land and the complexity of their culture was mind boggling. They think in a completely different way as most indigenous cultures do. And I began to question as I say, when did we lose those powers of connectedness because we must have had them.

The witch hunt to me seems the logical answer, would you agree?

And I'm wondering if you know of any books I could read on what the Celts used to practice - their methods of healing, when all that began to die out etc.

Another huge thing I noticed with the aboriginies, they don't let anything rush them or pressure them, so that alone keeps them in tune. They don't wallow in sadness, they grieve and wail and do ceremony out bush for a period and then its "finished business" and never spoken about again. They believe that in hanging to grief you get sick. I could go on and on. I was actually working on a Stolen Generation Event, which is something they have held onto, but this particular group - NO MORE.

Anyway Í'd be interested to hear your views and any other material you can point me to. Again I really appreciate what you had to say.

Regards
Beth

Beth,

When did we lose it? Probably right around when the Christian Missionaries came, I think that's a good guess.

But let me tone that down a bit because it sounds a bit too hostile.

Take this analogy: Think of the most beautiful church you've ever seen in your life. Think of all of the gold, mahogany, stone, stained glass and architecture. Picture that in your head. Now picture in your head the majesty of a mountain against a sunset. The church is a pale comparison of what nature has already given us. That's the best way I can sum it up.

Okay, back to the Celts. My wife has graciously informed me that the majority of the Celtic ways were lost as they chose to spread their teachings by word of mouth. What has been written down has been heavily influenced by Christian teachings.

HOWEVER, there are some wonderful books on Celtic Druidry and Celtic Spirituality that may interest you. Try checking Amazon for anything by John or Caitlin Mathews on the subject, and also The Celtic Encyclopedia of Wisdom are very good starts (also by the same authors). The Celts by Jean Markale and The Druids: A Brief History by Peter B. Ellis may also interest you if you wish to read more on the historic views. Phillip Carr-Gomm writes many books on Modern Druidry - some of these are out of print, once again, check Amazon. Please also don't ignore A Fire In The Head by Tom Cowan and also the works of Frank MacEowen for Celtic Shamanism (which seems to be what you are really interested in).

My wife and I find that periodic trips back to natural settings keep us in touch with that special connectedness you speak of. Things start to really get flying as the weather gets warmer in New Jersey. Of course, as it is August here and the end of summer, you will be just getting to that time now as spring is beginning for you now. The most practical way is just to sit by a tree where it is nice and quiet and just relax and enjoy. Remember, Isaac Newton put everything together that way. Relax and meditate.

My wife has also informed me that had I existed when the Buddha was putting everything together with his meditations, it never would have happened. I'm pretty sure it would have something to do with me saying, "HEY! WHATCHA DOING!!!"

Thanks for writing.

Regards,
Vikar

Dear Vikar,

Read your QA rant, and wow ...quite bitter.

I have my own complaints working QA, and mainly that is that the company I work for, everyone treats QA like crap, no respect, etc. Were not even employees of the company. I actually still like my job.

- Esoteric

Esoteric,

QA. What to do about QA?

QA is not my calling in life but, for now, it is my livelihood. If you'll notice, there hasn't been a good rant on my site for quite a bit now. Why?

QA.

The project that I've been involved with has taken most of my time and waking hours. I've had to make certain that all of the possible issues have been resolved with a very high profile cost transparency application which for lack of a better term has been a huge pain in the butt. I've pretty much been balancing this project with other critical QA responsibilites and my mind and body have been paying the price.

If I sound bitter, it's probably because I have not hated a job more... and I've done management reporting where death threats were not uncommon. This is a job that has very little reward, other than a paycheck and rarely does the QA tester wind up being the good guy. If you find a bug, developers hate you. If you miss a bug, the client hates you. You just can't win.

Plus, QA has the added benefit of high stress and low appreciation. Let me tell you, I had a job once of steam cleaning the bottoms of every trash can in Six Flag Great Adventure in New Jersey. This work took place late October / early November outdoors. I was wet, cold, and smelly for a matter of two weeks. The job only paid minimum wage. Sometimes when I do one of these QA projects, I long for a great job like that one.

If there is one person on this planet that should not be doing QA work... it is me.

Where I work, no one seeks out this position. I think it's given out as punishment.

Thanks for writing in.

Regards,
Vikar

Dear Vikar,

Whoa Dude! I am perhaps delving into areas that I do not belong. Yet the allure of a good conspiracy is too hard for me to resist. I have never been a conspiracist, but the Knights Templar are a slick bunch. I have for many years appreciated the fact that the RC church is about men and power, with a little God thrown in, but these guys seem to have had it all over the church. They had the church in their back pocket, and blew it through their own arrogance. I am still developing opinions about their pagan practices, but the fact the Rome was afraid of them makes me wonder what they knew.

Mary Magdelane, the prostitute I was taught, yet I was also told that she was the first to see the resurrected Christ. Why her and not Peter? The gnostics may have a good point here too.

My research continues, thought I would send this blurb your way for a reaction.

- Michael

Michael,

And another pagan is born....

I see you've just finished the Da Vinci code. Mary Magdelene was not a prostitute. If you read the gospel according to Thomas or the Gnostic Gospel... it says quite a different story.

Focus on the humanity... not the divinity.

Dear Vikar,

I have to say how much i enoyed your story of your parents 40th Anniversary, I was similarily blessed in much the same way. You have managed to put it into words more eloquently than I could.

Thank you, Geoff (England )

Age appears best in four things -
Old wood to burn
Old wine to drink
Old friends to trust
Old authors to read
Francis Bacon

Thanks Geoff.

Ironically, I wrote that two hours before the speech. It came out as a massive vowell movement.

I truly hope your parents are enjoying their golden years as much as mine are.

Regards,
Vikar

Dear Vikar,

I'm glad I found your site.

Some days I just am compelled to punch in those soothing words "I hate george bush" into any search engine and see what pops up. I have a brother in law who will vote for Bush "because he's good for business."

I have condensed and synopsized Molly Ivins "Bushwhacked," Michael Moore's "Dude Where's my Country", and Jim Hightower's (??) "Give My Country Back" and he poo poos the media as being the liars (well, he's not
too far off)...but.

One of the important items, in my opinion, left out of your rant is the fact that our dear Martha Stewart who will be serving or appealing a minor prison sentence has nonetheless a very tarnished reputation and has been all over the news, a la Clinton's Lewinsky scandal. Now why is it that everyone has ignored the details of George W. Bush's Harken Energy stock sale which was equally illegal and for which he NEVER reported it to the SEC? Not that it
hasn't gotten some coverage, but I tell you, I got so sick of hearing about Monica Lewinsky and the blue dress, that I am appalled at the lack of reporting of serious "crimes and misdemeanors" by this President.

Everybody was up in arms (there's a pun somewhere there) about Clinton's sex life and adulterous lies to the point of impeachment for sexcapades. Where is the rage against the machine of Empire Bush? Is he a true pathological liar or has that narcicism syndrome? I scan the papers every day for Bush allegations on the front pages, but alas, am relegated to the internet to feed my need to find the truth. How can anybody believe this man? How much of America is either stupid or blind? And why didn't anyone blow up (enlarge) his record as Governor of Texas for everyone to see as he apparently is running the U.S. as well (read poorly) as he ran Texas--financially into the ground, ecologically into the sewer, and favoritism to the highest bidder. Or as he liked to say "well I won't be around to have to deal with that." (paraphrased)
I don't know the details of his drunk driving offense. I've heard he's not a recovering alcoholic, but a dry drunk (meaning he never took responsibility).

Intelligent, no? Shrewd, clever and idiot savant, well...

Regards,
Linda

Linda,

Well, all I can really say is that I aim to please on this one.

I have tried... REALLY TRIED... to be objective about this entire Bush mess. BUT HE IS JUST SUCH A FREAKING IDIOT!!!

Currently, I'm having a very long standing debate with a conservative friend of mine about the Bush Administration and, once again, I'm trying to be objective and hear all sides of an issue. Now, he formerly part of the military under the Bush I administration, and has been spoon fed Hannity and Limbaugh for about a dozen years, it's going to be a hard battle. What liberals (I hate using that term. It's like a stigmata) have to bear in mind is that the right does occasionally have a point. Not often, but occasionally.

But here are a few points that most conservatives can't reconcile.

1. Why were we told that there was an Iraq / Al Qaida alliance?
   
2. Why was the term "Weapons of Mass Destruction" shortened to WMD when they couldn't find them? (I mean it's not a cool thing like renaming Kentucky Fried Chicken to KFC, right?)
   
3. Why did we go to war with Iraq and why do the reasons keep changing? (It began as hunt for the Al Qaida, then as threats of WMD, and now it is a preemptive strike. What next? The search for better chocolate?)
   
4. Why do the terror alerts go up when Bush's approval ratings go down?
   
5. If we are in a "War on Terror" why haven't we attacked Pol Pot's regime (being run by Nuon Chea) in Cambodia for crimes against humanity or (even better) Saudi Arabia for what they've done?
   And I agree with you and your brother-in-law - you can't trust the media.
   

You have to accumulate data, hard data. I suggest you go to the ACLU page to read the U.S. P.A.T.R.I.O.T. ACT (Yes, "Patriot" in this case is an acronym and has nothing to do with being patriotic.)

This is part of observance and deduction and always asking "Why?" Make your own acid tests. When you hear about hard evidence and then you see an attack on the character of the reporter, ask "Why?" For example, shortly after the release of "Fahrenheit 9-11" and "Dude, Where's My Country?", did you notice the publication of a book called "Michael Moore Is A Big Fat Stupid White Man"?

Also, have you noticed that the right media has started a smear campaign against Richard Clarke after he put out his book, "Against All Enemies"? Here is a man who coordinated the effort of bringing down every plane on 9-11 and prevented a terrorist attack during Y2k. Yet the right accuses him of being a "chicken little" and a bully. What is more likely? That Clarke is right and Bush did not listen OR that Clarke had a personal gripe against Bush that he waited months to execute revenge which resulted in 3,000 dying?

Only you can make up your mind.

Is Bush a pathological liar? Well, I just think he's not a good pathological liar. If you are going to lie... STAY CONSISTENT.

My point in all of this is that he's just not a good president and the situation as it stands is just WAAAYYYY to complex for his C student mind to fix. (My friend has made the argument that Bush's high school, college, and MBA grades should not be an issue. But I somehow can't lay my hands on the book called "Clintonisms" or "Reaganisms" or "Nixonisms". However when you can publish an entire book on "Bushisms", that just keeps on growing, that's a statement.)

I am not a huge supporter of Kerry, but what I can say is that Bush's reign must end.. now... and quickly. So, given the choice, I'd rather have Kerry, who will try to fix this colossal mess than go on this "war on terror" with Iraq.

Hey, thanks for writing in. I'm happy you enjoy the site.

Regards,
Vikar

Dear Vikar,

Rant on. The problem is that some of us aren't going to run up the white flag. I'd rather see us fight the terrorists in their backyard using professional soldiers. It's what they signed up to do.

I also don't owe Blacks anything; I don't owe the lazy anything and I sure don't owe the rest of the world anything. We're always the ones the world looks to for help and the last to be thanked. Frankly, the rest of the world, and our liberals, can f%#$ off.

Michael Moore is a liar and a con artist. Fooling people is his goal. His movie is pure propaganda which equals bullsh%t.

Wrote this just to let you know that your opinion is just that - yours. The liberals are losing because they can no longer fool the American public by lying and cheating and buying votes with my tax money.

- Don

Don,

Thanks for writing in. I appreciate your candor.

I am not a "run of the mill" liberal. At least, I'd like to think that anyway. If the republicans ever decided to be pro choice and not have such a pro Christian Fundementalist front, I'd be there right with you.

I support the bravery of the soldiers, I really do. What I don't like is the fact that they were really given a raw deal and the consequence may be their home, families and jobs while they are away. I'd feel a lot better about this administration if their vetran benefits weren't cut. The task they support is beyond dollars.

Will Rogers put it best as they are not being paid enough to "catch bullets".

I want us to fight the people who attacked us. I was in downtown New York during 9-11 and I want to see bin Laden DEAD... by baseball bat preferably. I also believe that we are spreading ourselves a bit too thin... but that is now something we just can't walk away from at this point. I'm certain there is a resolution... I just don't know what it is yet.

The blacks? Slavery is over. I highly recommend the book Uncivil Wars: The Controversy of Reparations for Slavery by David Horowitz (link on my site to Amazon). I don't believe that affirmative action was ever the answer (or if it was - that time is over) and that a man should be hired a job because he's qualified to do it. Race be damned.

Michael Moore is liberal propaganda. Certainly. I've read two of his books. I agree with you completely. I'm not with him on every issue. But there is propaganda on both sides. I've now come to a resolution to read nothing except the Economist, th BBC and AP News. I'd just rather hear the facts and make up my own mind.

If the Republicans come up with a better canidate - I'd vote for him. I just can't vote for Bush. I believe that the situation in the world is just too complex for him to handle.

And just to let you know, normally, I try to keep out of the political arena. I try to rant about things that are just closer to home. There are those who wish me to keep silent on some of these issues.

I just won't do that.

Once again, thanks for writing.

Regards,
Vikar

Dear Vikar,

Hello there, I tried to sign your guestbook, but it was full. I was just going to send a quick note about the childfree rant.. I love it. I am happy to find more and more people who share the wonderful option of childfreedom.

Thanks for putting that rant up :-)

- Karyn

Karyn,

Thanks for writing.

My wife, I'm certain, will be pleased that you along with many others in their very positive feedback about our childfree lifestyle are seeing that childfree is not a bad thing. I'll be the first one to let an in-law or parent know that pressuring your kids to have kids is a bad thing.

My biggest gripe is that there is no refuge for the childfree. You know what I mean. When you just want to be in a quiet adult place like....say... A BAR!!! Too many kids nowadays can just walk into a Friday's or an Applebees and completely ruin an evening for a childfree adult.

I'll be cleaning my guestbook out immediately. I thought the last entry may have been there too long.