MODERN PAGAN PRACTICES

"Baal...   m

None older is than I.

When Man came forth,

The final effort, wrung from monstrous forms,

And earth's out wearied forces could no more,

I warmed the ignorant bantling on my breast.

We rose together, and my kingdom spread

Form these cold hills to hamlets in the palms,

That grew to Memphis and to Babylon:

While I on towers and begging terraces,

In shaft and obelisk, beheld my sign

Creature, shape of first imperious law."¹    

It would seem that Christianity had left paganism and its superstitions far behind, and that coupled with modern technology we are now in a new age of belief. Advanced Protestantism has outlawed witchcraft and its magic dances, rings and rituals. In the past we have watched the American Indian rain-makers dance the fertility dance until the rain came pouring down, and we ask, "Did his dancing cause the rain fall?" Of course not! is our immediate response. The African's whoops and hoops seem simple and scientifically ineffective to us. Supernatural powers attributed to beads and metals worn be ancient religious people are now regarded as "superstition", yet many of these symbols and rituals, seemingly forgotten, are present in modern tines under other names. Some may be serving a different purpose than that for which they ware originally fashioned, but their esoteric interpretation, though somewhat vague, still remains.

Symbolism has been used as an instrument for conveying the abstract and for representing the invisible ever since the beginning of the "Chaldean Mysteries". The religion of ancient Babylon was initiated and guided by a system of discipline (symbolism and instruction in esoteric learning) which was deemed too sacred for those who had not complied with the essential conditions. Every ancient country had its sacerdotal order, the members of which had been initiated into the "mysteries".In fact, there is evidence that there was a type of Gnostic society existing before the flood. ²

Although he was given different names, most historians agree that there appears to have been a universal belief in one supreme god, creator of all, a holy mother, and a blessed son. In Egypt, according to A. Hislop, the mother and child were worshipped under the names of Isis and Osiris: and in Tibet, China and Japan, the Jesuit missionaries were astonished to find the counterpart--as devoutly worshipped as in Papal Rome itself. Esoteric folklore from India, Peru, Africa and Iceland gave evidence of the worship of a holy trinity (Father God, Mother, and Son), and a devil. ³

In Old Testament times "the one god" was known as Baal. Since Baal and his abstract attributes of love, loyalty and creativity could not be seen physically, the Primal Mystical Circle created symbols to represent him. As the initiated became more sophisticated in their worship, so did their symbols, until finally there were symbols of symbols. It became increasingly hard to tell whether the initiated were worshipping Baal, or attributing special power to his symbols. The uninitiated who knew nothing of the symbol's true importance, could only follow as they were led.

The sacerdotal order of Christianity tried to destroy these pagan customs and rituals but found it quite impossible. Consequently, the church decided to use the same feast days to celebrate events that were of significance to Christianity. It is interesting to note that Christmas was formerly the birthday of the Persian goddess Mithra with occurred soon after the winter solstice. "It was not until A. D. 400 that the Catholic Church fathers accepted the inevitable and tactfully aborted the birthday of Mithra as the official "Birthday of Christianity"⁴. The pagan feast of Easter was first observed in honor of Astarte. This day, along with Baal worship on the first day of the week, Sunday can be traced back to the Chaldean Mysteries. Many Christians still observe these holy days, unaware of their pagan heritage (no ambiguity intended).

Dancing, too, was originally a form of worship. It was a pantomime of the gods in the act of creation. Very often the participants engaged in sexual intercourse as a means of pleasing the gods. If one looks closely at many of the social dances derived from Rock and Roll’s rhythm and dancing, it would became clear that much of the ancient connotations of appeasing the gods by a pantomime of the act of creation still remains. The dancers also engaged in exchanging of apparel to fool the gods (male to female change of clothes). This was a direct disregard for Jehovah's command that apparel not be exchanged for any ritualistic worship. Women were not to wear men's clothing⁵.

In ancient times, a circle of gold metal had several esoteric interpretations. First, it symbolized eternity, having neither beginning nor end. Next, it represented the creative power of Baal. It always symbolized Baal as a "Being". The serpent represented the male’s principle, which in turn symbolized Baal, the father of man and every living thing. A person who wore this image carried the protection of this god. Today, we see a similar principle in the practice of wearing a wedding band. The wedding band in particular assures the wearer of all marital happiness. Its significance in our marriage ceremony is clear enough, although few people give it a thought. The act of putting on the ring is the reverse of the function of consummating the marriage. It would thus be more appropriate if the groom put his finger though the ring held by the bride. Whatever it was that reversed the process, the reversal brought an additional meaning to the ceremony. It was as if until the wedding ring was placed on the bride's finger, the yoni or female principle was not recognized because it was not functioning in a sexual capacity. By giving the maiden the ring: the groom calls upon her for the functioning of the yoni ⁶.

Jezebel, priestess of Baal was acquainted with the symbolic import of the ring. She was aware of beads, bracelets and anklets as symbolic of the female principle. Her body, hands and feet represented the male principle when she put these articles of jewelry on. The red color of love on her lips, fingertips and toenails all accented the erotic zones. Jezebel felt that these symbols were important to her service and worship of her god. Here, again we find an indirect disregard by Christianity to follow the command in Exodus 20:4, which asks that no one who serves him may wear "any graven image of anything that is in the heaven above or the earth beneath"⁷.

And finally, now at the end in the 20th Century where the ring on the surface, only signifies marriage; where metals have no practical religious meaning; where The Sun and The Moon have been stripped of Deity; where beads and bracelets are only ornamental jewelry; and Christians celebrate the pagan holidays under a new name; there remains on the whole the original mystic purpose of which they were first symbolized.

JT(1974)

PAGAN PRACTICES THAT ARE NOT CHRISTIAN.

While the struggle between summer and winter went on (December to April), many symbolic celebrations were held to demonstrate how anxious people were for the coming warm season and to insure as well the blessings of fertility (the important second part of these ancient rites).

The joy over the appearance of new plants and flowers in spring prompted man to attribute to them a special power of protection and healing. People planted special spring flower gardens; they brought branches of early-blossoming plants, like pussy willows, into their homes; they decorated themselves and their living rooms with wreaths of flowers and clusters of blossoms. A striking Christian variation of these nature rites was the medieval custom of planting "Mary gardens," which were made up of all the flowers and herbs that are ascribed by love and legend as a special tribute to the Blessed Virgin. This charming tradition has recently been revived in many places.[34]

Another fertility rite was the symbolic "plowing" of the earth in early spring, with a real plow or a wooden log, to make the soil fertile. It was done with elaborate ceremonies, often connected with a mummers' parade. In Germany and Eastern Europe it became a part of the carnival celebration ("Blochziehen"). In England it was held in January, and the Monday after Epiphany (January 6) acquired from this ancient custom the name "Ploughmanday." The original fertility cult is still preserved in the superstition that maidens who draw the plow or sit on it or touch it will soon be married and will be blessed with healthy offspring.[35]

Chemistry and physics as we know them, of course, were a mystery to our pre-Christian forefathers. From constant observation, however, they knew only too well the effects of rain, or lack of rain, on vegetation and life. Water, therefore, assumed in their minds a magic role of producing fertility, health, and new life. This is the basis of the many ancient "water rites."[36] It was the fashion among all nations of Europe to sprinkle women and girls with water, thus to insure them the blessings of fertility and good health. This custom is still preserved in European countries, where during carnival time or at Easter the boys sprinkle or splash water on the girls, and the girls retaliate on the following day. In cities perfume is often used instead of water.

In the Middle Ages the Feast of Christ's Resurrection became the favorite time for such ancient water rites. In many parts of central and eastern Europe, and also in France, girls and women wash their faces in brooks and rivers on Easter Sunday morning ("Osterwaschen"). It is a widespread legend that on Easter Day all running water is especially blessed because the Risen Lord sanctified all life-giving elements and bestowed upon them special powers for the one great day of His resurrect ion.

Similar customs prevail in French Canada, where people wash themselves with water taken from rivers or fountains on Easter Sunday. They also preserve it in bottles, and it is said to remain fresh until the following Easter, being credit ed with great healing powers. In Germany and Austria bridegroom and bride sprinkle each other with such water before going to church on their wedding day. Domestic animals, too, are believed to benefit from the power of Easter water. In many parts of Europe farmers sprinkle them with water drawn from brooks or springs during Easter night. In some sections of Germany horses are ridden into a river on Easter Sunday to obtain for them protection and good health.[37] Irish legends attribute to water fetched o n Easter Day magic powers against witches and evil spirits.

Among the Slavic nations the men in rural districts will rise at midnight on Holy Thursday and walk to the nearest brook to wash themselves. They do this in honor and imitation of Christ who, according to an old Oriental legend, fell in to the river Cedron on His way to the Passion.

The Church has provided a Christian version of the ancient water rite by blessing and distributing Easter water on Holy Saturday, thus elevating the pre-Christian symbolism of nature into a Christian sacramental. It is customary for millions the world over to obtain for their households the Easter water blessed on Holy Saturday.

Another rite of fertility was the touch with the "rod of life" ("Lebensrute").[38] A few branches were broken from a young bush, and any maiden touched or hit by this rod was believed to obtain the blessings of health and fertility. This symbolism was incorporated in the mysteries of the Roman goddess Libera, in which young matrons were initiated into childbearing and motherhood by a ritual of flagellation to insure fertility.

All through Europe this custom is found at carnival time or Eastertide. Girls and women are tapped with leaved rods or pussy willow branches, which are often decorated with flowers and ribbons. A familiar relic of this tradition seems to be the modern practice of throwing the bridal bouquet at weddings. It reveals its ancient symbolism by the claim that the girl who catches the bouquet (thus being touched by the rod of life) will be the next one to marry.

The greater part of the pre-Christian usage and meaning of the rod of life was transferred in medieval times to the Christian symbolism of the "palms" which the Church blesses on Palm Sunday.

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