POINTS OF LIGHT 928 EAST FIFTH STREET VOLUME IV #3 Brooklyn, New York 11230-2104 Published by: Temple of the Eternal Light (718) 438-4878 An "Omni-Denominational" Religious Fellowship _____________________________________________________ WELCOME ALL READERS. POINTS OF LIGHT is the monthly newsletter of TEMPLE OF THE ETERNAL LIGHT. It is an open forum for anyone to send in articles, poetry, short, short, stories, advertising or anything else. We desire it to blossom into a cornucopia of fact, or fantasy relating to modern magickal living, spiritual growth and a network linking all members of our human family by a chain of fellowship. With wishes for Love and L.V.X. Rt. Rev. Jerome Peartree, Publisher Rev. Karen DePolito, Editor ****************************************************************************** OPEN INVITATION TO ALL This event is open to both members and non-members. Please call a day in advance and let us know you are coming. SATURDAY, MARCH 23, at 7:00 P.M., Spring Equinox Celebration.. Donation: Bring yourself and some food or drink. $1.00 OPTIONAL This is it, friends! Come and celebrate the open sabbat with us. ................................................................................ REPRINTED BY POPULAR REQUEST SPRING EQUINOX - MARCH 20 (also called Eostre or Ostara, around March 21st) by: Rev. Karen DePolito It's time for the earth to "spring" into action, as it were -- a time to celebrate beginnings in general. The most important symbol here is the planting of the seed, and the sprouting of new life from the womb of earth. Nearly every spring Sabbat I know of involves a ritual seed-planting of some kind, either literal or symbolic. The vernal equinox marks the beginning of the "light half" of the year, when day becomes longer than night. From now till fall, the power of the Goddess dominates the earth with light, warmth and fertility. The new Sun God, first perceived at Yule, has grown to young adulthood, and stands with the Goddess no longer as her child, but her consort. And with daylight and darkness being of equal length, this is an appropriate time for focussing on the balance of male and female forces within ourselves, and on the equilibrium of the universe as a whole. At this time, the sun moves into the sign Aries, marking the start of a new astrological year. The mutable water sign Pisces -- which the sun is leaving -- represents the watery aspect of water, symbolized by a stagnant, reflective pond. Here we see the element at its most fully receptive: a profound stillness in which all impressions are accepted. (To the Caballists, this is the "Silence" that is the virtue of Binah.) The earth in late winter appears at rest, having completed a cycle -- but of course any ending is really a preparation for the start of something else. She has become, as Aleister Crowley writes about the Moon card of the Tarot, "Yoni stagnant and waiting." Waiting for what? For the fire about to descend! The cardinal fire sign Aries represents the fiery aspect of that element -- the initial, violent onrush of energy suggested by lightning flashes. While not a sustained force, fire of fire indicates a tremendous burst of magical will. This is exactly the sort of energy the earth needs to rouse it from its winter slumber, to open buds on the trees, to push seedlings up through the soil. The familiar Easter eggs and bunny rabbits got their start in Earth Religion cultures as symbols of birth and fertility. In fact, the word "Easter" is itself a derivation of Eostre, a Teutonic goddess traditionally associated with this season. It is interesting, although embarrassing to many of the less fun-loving Christian sects, to note how much of springtime's imagery has survived thru celebrating the resurrection of Christ. It would appear that the early Church recognized it had its own variation of a theme (new life rising up from death) that their Pagan neighbors had been celebrating all along, and scheduled its Easter holiday accordingly. I have heard some Christians argue that Easter actually corresponds, not to any Pagan holiday, but to the Jewish Passover celebration. Consider, however: the Israelites in their exodus were seeking change, to begin new lives. Their struggle out of Egypt and into the desert was a major effort of will -- not unlike that of the seedlings mentioned above. And hadn't Egypt, with its series of assorted plagues, become a place of darkness and death -- not unlike the earth at winter? Selah. Now shut up and eat your eggs. A RELIGION OF THE EARTH by Jerome There is so much confusion regarding earth religions since the growing renaissance that it is virtually impossible to perceive a clear picture of paganism today. This is particularly true in the Big Apple, where I am familiar with many of the hundred-odd groups growing under the title of "Neo-pagans", and, I am told, in California. It is not my intent to denounce any or to illustrate some are more worthy than others. But, to endeavor to clarify the meaning of religion and the intrinsic need for each individual to find, often groping or grouping, the way back to the light within. I am primarily a student of Caballa and in times of doubt tend to fall back upon the definitions expounded therein. Yet, even Caballa falls short where memory relives the past when Grandma lit the Shabbos (Sabbath) candles and Grandpa sang the Friday evening Blessings. Whether it be shabbos candles or votive lights the remembrance of childhood days watching the elder folks invokes the beauty of these times and an odd longing for similar pleasures within my own life today. Religion, by definition, is an aligning with inner spiritual divinity. The "Re" as a prefix, indicates we were once there and now seek to return. The biblical lesson of the "Tower of Babel" or the Tarot, "Lightening Struck Tower", clearly illustrates the futility of venturing toward Divine realization solely through intellectual endeavors. In short, study alone will not do it. There needs be a harmonious balance between knowledge and emotions, ie: the right and left sides of the brain, to find the shortest path from our earthbound "egos" to the entrance lying past the astral, three steps off the cliff edge, where the spirit is alone. Yet, many have passed the point before and many will follow. Therefore, finding a sense of fulfillment through the practice of an earth religion is easily as elusive as fulfillment through membership in traditional religion. Lack of insight and spiritual vagueness of the individual majority interested in earth religions offers "carte blanche" to anyone who can lay claim to nebulous, yet, appealing, titles or claim initiation into some as yet unrevealed, mystery society. Anyone, including myself, with some charisma and salesmanship ability can memorize heretofore "unknown" arcane jargon and master the mundane principles of religious incorporation. There was a Monk living in a cave accompanied by half a dozen disciples caring for his needs. The Monk spent most of his hours in silent meditation while the disciples gathered around him gazing at his visage reverently. Suddenly, the Monk leaped up from his seat, ran to the rear of the cave and began to draw many squares and circles on the walls. After, covering the entire rear and side walls of the cave with his drawings, he again retreated to his seat and meditations. Whereupon the disciples scurried to every part of the cave filling walls, ceilings and floors with drawings of squares and circles. The old Monk watched silently and thoughtfully whispered, "They are doing it all Backwards." So it has been for the many seekers. (Seekers only seek..Seekers do not find....Only Finders find.) How comforting it would be to know one could turn to the "Self-Proclaimed" True Wiccans for a truthful view of their religions. But, many Wiccans are hiding their small light under the proverbial bushel. Few dare to openly tread upon the heels of Christianity or to accomplish more than a superficial revelation of the intrinsic beauty of their own practice. Perhaps, Wicca today is not the honest emulation of the "Old Religion" as it is often called. Let not our daydreaming lull us into complacency where we fail to recognize our reformed paganism ...with all the bickering and chintzy inter-group criticism... is leading us down the same path as organized religions. It was never the intent of pagans to practice solitary magick except in times of oppression or when suitable partners cannot be found. We are by our very nature gregarious people seeking fellowship, warmth, knowledge and enlightenment. Therefore, now is the time to cast aside superfluous Dogmas. Now is the time to unite under the common aim of spiritual fulfillment, harmony and unity. Let all groups, regardless of personal preferences, recognize the intrinsic beauty and wisdom of Wicca or any of the other Pagan Earth religions for the benefit of all. Let us propagate honest concepts of Universal concern for our Mother Earth, and for each other. Let us offer more than lip service to the ancients precepts of fellowship and unity under natural laws. Then will our light SHINE! BLESSED BE!