September 30, 2012

This Is My Virtual Jukebox Selection For This Beautiful Sunday! They're 33 Songs That Give Me Messages Of God's Love For Me And Express My Love For Him ♥ Created At MixPod.com

My Worship Music

Playlist.com made several changes to their website and no longer allow us to share our playlist offsite. Therefore, I created an alternative playlist at MixPod.com so that you can listen to directly on my blog. Oh and you can even watch the video, simply click the photo on the upper left side. If you want to return to this mode, simply click the arrow facing up on the lower right side of the playlist. Enjoy! :)

My Daily Prayer... ♥

I would like to share two of my daily prayer's with you. The first is one I received from Paula White Ministries 5 years ago. While the second is one that I personalized for myself. You are welcome to use these prayers. Soon your spirit will personalize one for you. You shall know the Truth when you seek God's face daily. I don't mean in the traditional sense. I mean spending time getting to know Him. You can start by talking with Him like you would a friend. He will guide you on your spiritual path as you grow closer and closer to Him. Allow God's LIGHT to permeate every fiber of your being and transform you from the inside out. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind." [Romans 12:2] This has nothing to do with religion. This is about God, your Heavenly Father wanting to have a "personal" relationship with you. ♥

God is God all by Himself. The same is true for Jesus (Yahshua), the living breathing WORD of God and the Holy Spirit, the breath of God. God doesn't need a religious group or organization to make Him so. ♥ God is Alpha and God is Omega! God is the beginning and God is the end.

The Power Of Prayer from Paula White Ministries

Dear Heavenly Father, I give You praise for my life and all that is in it. You are my Creator, my Provider, my Comforter and I worship You from the depths of my soul. My desire is to know You... to truly know You in an intimate way. Please grant me a mind filled with Spiritual wisdom and a heart that continues to long for You.

This is my prayer personalized...

Thank you God for loving me unconditionally. Thank you God for never giving up on me. Thank you God for always believing in me. Thank you God for taking care of all of my needs. I am an instrument of Your will LORD, use me for Your greater good. I am ready, willing and able to effect change on Your behalf. Awaken Your Spirit within me LORD. Lend me Your strength, Your courage and Your wisdom. I will continue to abide in Your WORD as your WORD continues to abide in me. You are my ROCK and my foundation! Your presence makes me feel unspeakable love and joy. Direct my steps LORD and connect me to the right people that are in line with Your will for my life. I will continue to Trust and Believe in You LORD. I love you. Thank you for saving my life and setting me FREE. In Yahshua's precious name, AMEN!

I go on to pray, Jesus (Yahshua) please cleanse my spirit from all impurities, please purify me Lord, wash me in Your blood, cover me and protect me against all evil. Please fill my spirit with Your love, Your peace and Your joy. Lend me Your strength, courage and wisdom. AMEN!

God's Divine favor surrounds me like a shield! Amen. ♥

The Lord's Prayer... ♥ I Say This Prayer Every Morning While Relaxing Drinking My Coffee At Home Before I Start My Day.

The Lord's Prayer

1 Jesus said, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Prayer

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 Jesus said, “This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

I have taken the following from the Amplified version:

14 For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15 But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.

Keep Your Eyes On God... ♥

This was the message I woke up with this morning. God said to keep our eyes on Him. Just as a child taking their first footsteps. God says, "Keep your eyes on me, not your surroundings." A child totally trust their father or mother who is holding out their hands waiting to receive them or catch them if they were to fall. We are all children of the Most High God and He wants us to feel the same trust as we surrender ourselves, surrender our lives to Him and step forward in His divine grace and divine purpose. God sees us as His little child no matter how old we are in this material world. God loves you sooooo much... ♥ Nothing on earth can be compared to His love, His mercy and His amazing grace.
Hold on to God's hand and don't let go. Trust and believe.

Psalm 27: An Exuberant Declaration of Faith

An Exuberant Declaration of Faith
Psalm 27 NKJV
[source: Biblegateway]

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
      Whom shall I fear?
      The Lord is the strength of my life;
      Of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked came against me
       To eat up my flesh,
       My enemies and foes,
       They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army may encamp against me,
       My heart shall not fear;
       Though war may rise against me,
       In this I will be confident.

4 One thing I have desired of the Lord,
       That will I seek:
       That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
       All the days of my life,
       To behold the beauty of the Lord,
       And to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble
      He shall hide me in His pavilion;
      In the secret place of His tabernacle
      He shall hide me;
      He shall set me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
      Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
       I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice!
      Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When You said, “Seek My face,”
      My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
9 Do not hide Your face from me;
      Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
      You have been my help;
      Do not leave me nor forsake me,
      O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me,
        Then the Lord will take care of me.

11 Teach me Your way, O Lord,
       And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
       For false witnesses have risen against me,
       And such as breathe out violence.
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
       That I would see the goodness of the Lord
       In the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord;
        Be of good courage,
        And He shall strengthen your heart;
       Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Life Through the Spirit; More Than Conquerors

Life Through the Spirit
Romans 8:1-17 NIV
[source: Biblegateway]

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (the living breathing WORD of God), 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives LIFE has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the (Holy) Spirit.

5 Those who live according to the flesh (this world, man's law, your own will, selfishness) have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God (the breath of God) lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ (the Word) is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Our souls have been eternally redeemed by the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross for those who believe. Jesus was sacrificed on our behalf. Jesus (Yahshua) was God's WORD made flesh to walk among us. Demons (evil spirits, dark forces, negative energy) tremble in fear at the name of Jesus. When you are feeling distressed, call on the name of Jesus. Say His name, whisper it if you have to, but call out to Him. Tell Jesus that you need Him, that you need to feel His presence. Within minutes, you will feel the Holy Spirit hugging you tight deep within your spirit and soon afterward your tears will be dried up and you will be filled with an enormous amount of LOVE that can not be compared to anything on earth.

When you plead the blood of Jesus Christ over your life, your mind, your home, your finances, your loved ones (name them) etc., demons (evil spirits, dark forces, negative energy) are cast out, banished. Ask God to put a protective hedge around you so that no weapon formed against you shall prosper. You have to be vigilant about this. Every day and every time you feel weak or in distress.

When you surrender your life to God, you are filled with the Holy Spirit and it is the Holy Spirit who begins the process of transforming you from the inside out. Not by your will, but by the will of God. Sin simply means come short of the glory of God's perfection; missed the mark; fallen short of the standard that God expects for us. None of us is perfect, therefore all of us walk in sin, even the preachers/pastors who constantly condemn everybody. Jesus didn't die on the cross and shed His blood for us so that all of humanity would continue to live in condemnation. It's satan who seeks to condemn you always to keep you from the love of God, your Heavenly Father. This is why it is important to ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in your day to day activities and choices. Please understand that God loves you soooo much unconditionally. He doesn't condemn you for your imperfections. He wants you to love Him in return of your own free will. He wants to have a "personal" relationship with you. Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 NIV. (emphasis mine)
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh (this world, man's law, your own will), to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the (Holy) Spirit (the breath of God) you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (the annointed, the WORD), if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

More Than Conquerors

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Laughter Came from Every Brick, A Poem ♥

Laughter Came from Every Brick
from Love Poems from God, by Daniel Ladinsky

Just these two words He spoke
changed my life,
“Enjoy Me.”
What a burden I thought I was to carry -
a crucifix, as did He.
Love once said to me, “I know a song,
would you like to hear it?”
And laughter came from every brick in the street
and from every pore
in the sky.
After a night of prayer, He
changed my life when
He sang,
“Enjoy Me.”

***********************************************************
Tips to help you put more laughter in your life:
* Figure out what makes you laugh and do it (or read it or watch it) more often.
* Surround yourself with funny people — be with them every chance you get.
* Develop your own sense of humor but never at anyone else’s expense.

Kahlil Gibran on Love... ♥

Kahlil Gibran on Love

When Love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams
as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as Love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.

All these things shall Love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only Love's peace and love's pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of Love's threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For Love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, "I am in the heart of God."
And think not you can direct the course of Love, for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate Love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

More Classic Cartoons To Put A SMILE On Your Face!!! :)





It's been a quite a while since I've shared these classic cartoons with you. I was inspired by my last post on PaGAGnini. Enjoy! ♥

Classic Cartoon Intermission! We Could ALL Use Some Levity Right Now! HEY FIGARO! lol ;)





It's been quite a while since I've shared these classic cartoons with you. I was inspired by my last post on PaGAGnini. Enjoy! ♥

PaGAGnini... Classical Music In The Key Of Comedy!


I absolutely LOVE this group PaGAGnini!!! I have just watched several video's of their performances and I'm feeling totally giddy!!! THIS IS GREAT ENTERTAINMENT! Enjoy! :)

Classical Music In The Key Of Comedy
[source: Flixxy]

'Pagagnini' bring to life some of the most treasured musical pieces in the key of comedy.

The virtuoso violinist Ara Malikian along with three more musicians not only perform some of the greatest compositions of geniuses at the level of Mozart, Pachelbel, Chopin and of course, Paganini, but also involve popular genres such as rock or folk.

The musicians play, dance, jump, laugh, cry, interact and with the audience converting the show into an original comedy where the violin and the cello transform themselves spontaneously into new and original instruments.

September 29, 2012

Aries Full Moon: Sat. Sep. 29, 2012: The Sweet Spot

Mooncircles Astrology
written by April Elliott Kent
Thursday September 27, 2012
You know that movie, ‘An Unmarried Woman’? Well – I didn’t get it. I mean, I would’ve been Mrs. Alan Bates so fast that guy wouldn’t have known what hit him!”
~ Judy Benjamin, Private Benjamin
Great balls of fire. Don’t bother me anymore, and don’t call me sugar.”
~ Scarlett O’Hara, Gone with the Wind
In the 1980 film Private Benjamin, Goldie Hawn stars as Judy, a young woman who has been in a continuous string of relationships ever since she became old enough to distinguish boys from girls. On the night of her wedding to a high-powered divorce attorney, Judy unexpectedly becomes a widow. When she calls a late-night radio talk show for advice, her rambling monologue reveals that her life so far has trained her for nothing except being a daughter or a wife.

In search of direction, Judy is bamboozled, by an unscrupulous recruiter, into joining the army. What follows is the story of a pampered young woman – an exaggerated but recognizable characterization of Libra – who, in testing her physical and emotional limits, embraces her Aries warrior and finds out who she really is. When the commanding officer who promotes her to an elite team of paratroopers later makes a pass at her, she not only rebuffs him but even parlays his indiscretion into a plum assignment in Paris.

By the time she catches the eye of a dashing French gynecologist, Judy has become confident and self-possessed. But in short order, the seemingly perfect relationship proves to be yet another demeaning experience with a dominating male. Fortunately, this time Judy recognizes what she’s doing before it’s too late, calls off her wedding, and triumphantly marches away.

As Judy finally realized, attempting to purchase a (Libran) harmonious relationship at the expense of your (Aries) individuality is doomed to failure. It doesn’t have to be a romantic relationship, either; all kinds of important relationships can tempt us to become too accommodating. As this Full Moon in independent Aries stands in uneasy opposition to the Sun and Saturn in relationship-oriented Libra, ask yourself: Are you hiding your true self from your spouse, lover, best friend, or business partner – in an attempt to keep the peace? Then take the question one step further: If you are in a relationship with someone who doesn’t know who you really are, are you actually in a relationship? Sometimes it feels safer and easier to hide your true self from others, because if you are rejected for who you really are, it hurts a lot worse. On the other hand, you might be rejected for your faux self anyway, left not only without a relationship — but also without a self.

If you’re an artist or a businessperson, you’ve probably encountered a similar dynamic in your work. It’s important to understand your market and to cater effectively to its needs. But what if meeting other people’s expectations and demands requires too big a sacrifice of your integrity, or your creative vision? And if you should find yourself in competition with a friend for business or recognition, at what point is it okay – even necessary – to take off the gloves for a good, clean fight? There’s a fine line between fulfilling expectations and selling out, between yielding to others and standing up for yourself - and everyone must decide for herself where that line begins and ends, and how staunchly it must be defended.

For most of us, especially women I think, it’s safer and easier to play to society’s Libran values of harmony and cooperation; to make nice, and to maintain relationships at all costs. But the Aries survival instinct is within each of us too, ready to rise up and help us pursue whatever we need and want, even if that means stepping on someone else’s toes. Even if it means we’re not always nice.

Your Inner Scarlett

In contrast to über-Libran Judy Benjamin, it’s helpful to meditate on the cautionary tale of Gone With the Wind‘s Scarlett O’Hara, one of the most driven and remorseless female characters in literature (and almost certainly an Aries). Scarlett’s upbringing is a lot like Judy’s – she was raised to be a perfect Southern lady, a pampered princess with perfect grooming and flawless manners whose only job is to make a good marriage. When the Civil War transforms Scarlett’s world and she is forced into hardship for the first time in her life, she triumphs over adversity with grit and an iron will, and we cheer her moxie.

But the harsh manner she adopts as a survival tactic during the war eventually becomes a habit, and Scarlett loses the goodwill of nearly everyone she knows. She has mastered only the charming façade of a Southern lady with none of the consideration for others that gives the stereotype its grace. Scarlett is determined to have exactly what she wants, no matter how many people disapprove or even suffer from her willfulness. Hers is a tale of Aries given too much latitude, without the softening influence of Libran give-and-take. It isn’t until the final pages of a very long book that Scarlett begins to grasp just a glimmer of what her willfulness has cost her.

The Aries/Libra Sweet Spot

Somewhere between Judy and Scarlett, then, is the sweet spot on the Aries/Libra polarity. It falls somewhere between the extremes of pleasing everyone and losing ourselves, and serving ourselves entirely while pleasing no one. This Full Moon in Aries pits the Moon conjoined independence-loving Uranus opposed the Sun in Libra, with all of them in a tight square to powerful Pluto. Pluto represents the sort of outside forces, be it a boot camp instructor of a Civil War, that break us down and force a transformation. Things are tough for many of us now, with strong, external Pluto pressures forcing us to assert ourselves and demand independence. Let’s see if we can get that done without burning every relational bridge we have.

At this Full Moon, consider the houses of your chart where 7.22 degrees of Libra and Aries fall (and take a look at the house with 6.59 Capricorn, too – here’s a blog post to help you), for clues to help you answer these questions: Where are you learning to draw the line between self and other, between “I” and “we”? Where are you the velvet glove, and where are you the iron fist? Where are you trying to find the sweet spot?

Cosmic Dirt, September 29 2012, Embrace the Light in the Storm, Aries Full Moon w/ Uranus Pluto Square

Starcana
written by Suzi Dronzek
Friday September 28, 2012

We comfortably seat ourselves back into in the captain’s chair, ready to take charge of our direction as Moon enters pioneer Aries. We feel more excited about life, as we’re energized to bravely chase possibilities that exist on the horizon. And as life promises, change is just ahead. Since we never know when bumps may appear, and what direction they will throw us into – it would be a good idea to slip on the seat belt, just in case.

Behind the scenes, the uneasiness of last week’s Uranus/Pluto square continues to vibrate its intense shift. More dark clouds roll in today, which promises stormy weather as Sun opposes rebellious Uranus rx, and squares unscrupulous Pluto. Heavy tensions that have been stretched beyond the limit, is on its last string, and the breaking point has a good chance snapping today. This will cause a major shift in our direction, unless self-control is applied by placing both hands on the steering wheel, to guide us onto calmer waters. Breakage happens when we rely on something or someone too much, and especially when foundations begin to rot and decay, because it is overlooked and not properly repaired. How we prepare ourselves, will determine if our outcome is a break-up, a breakdown, or a breakthrough. But know that destruction with self-sacrifice is necessary, in order to renew. No more with Mister Nice Guy, as Pluto in Capricorn begins to transform now, ridding what we thought was secure and stable, to generate new life. As we empower life, we allow ourselves to evolve. Letting go of what we’ve comfortably attached ourselves to, is healing, as this allows us to rely upon ourselves and our own resources again – which gives us back our control.

As we empower life, we allow ourselves to evolve.

As Moon (emotions) conjunct Uranus (change), square Pluto (transformation), then oppose Sun (identity), we are reminded to feel and face the truth. The light of our intention and action peaks in tonight’s Full Moon, which exposes raw emotions from the heart. Nothing can be hidden now, and all comes full circle with our Virgo New Moon intentions to honor our sacred temple. This day is filled with extremely powerful energy, and the cosmic weather will speak loudly. Inner AND outer balance will be required, as we reveal an urge toward deep intense changes. The stormy vibrations that confront us are made up of cardinal energy, including today’s Full Moon in Aries. Cardinal signs: Aries, Cancers, Libra, and Capricorns (and the houses they rule in your astrological chart) are heavily influenced by these unstable currents. The ruler of Aries is fiery Mars, also known as God of War. Pushing through the darkness, we quietly finesse our ways with Mars in Scorpio, as this is a sexy combination of water and fire, that produces something steamy. When obsessive and feeling out of control when the mist gets in our eyes, we can expect something (or someone) to eventually boil or burst into flames. This is a burning love, which produces pain and scars where we are most sensitive. It demonstrates a selfish interpretation of the ego, with misunderstandings and heated disagreements. As life throws us a punch, we’re punching back. So while the drive is to manipulate as Mars transits Scorpio, as we try to get away with something more secretively… it could backfire when the Full Moon calls you on it.

Embrace the light that comes with the storm, and become a lighthouse for those in darkness.

Under the present planetary vibes, and for the rest of this year, this calling that is within, will continue to reach outside of ourselves... basically because where we stand, isn’t safe anymore. As we acknowledge this, and accept our wings, we will no longer need to hold onto the safety of our old, tattered cocoon. Also under this influence, we can continue to experience more storms in our personal life, but also in the world with cosmic storms creating more intense earth storms that force some sort of a death, whether on physical lives, people, leadership power, individual attitudes, etc. Weak foundations are forced to crumble, so that we are aware what needs to be repaired and built (Saturn) under Pluto in Capricorn, which rules: big businesses, social power, agriculture, success, manufacturing, tradition, hard work, education, realty, property, home, parents, farming, government, leadership, power, family, corporations, savings, money, career, materialism, reputation, image, public status, integrity, and respect. Pluto investigates and digs up what is rotten, corrupt, and toxic… to renew life.

When life throws a punch, we’ll most likely be punching back.

Foundations of all sorts should be looked into, just as a precaution. Safety first, right? Roads and bridges are in the right direction as they are being inspected, torn down, and rebuilt. The ground opening to swallow vehicles isn’t positive news. Underground water and gas pipes bursting, isn’t safe. Drilling the earth makes me personally nervous, especially with the ground so dry and brittle in heated area, while other areas are soft in flooded places. A few years back, I had blogged that those who lived near water should invest into flood/mining insurance, as water was going to continue to come in. Of course I made sure to mention this to my husband, and that we needed to start checking into our home foundation, and do an investigation into the ‘unseen’, to look for any issues regarding water pipes, wall foundations, well water, rodents, termites, electrical wiring, etc. Just in case. With Capricorn, its all about investing into what is important, but also protecting it. This also includes the foundations of our physical bodie, as Capricorn rules our bones, skeletal system, knees, teeth, and skin. Consult your personal physician if you are experiencing topical issues, as you may need to go deeper to find the real problem.

This also remind me of a a few years back, when I blogged about a vision that came to me, it was a large piece of land that broke away, and just dropped into the large water. It ‘felt’ like a big chunk of a water-side country that had fallen into the ocean, because I could see that part that still remained, which looked like the side of a cliff. At the time, I thought it might have been the earthquake/tsunami disaster in Japan, but it couldn’t have been, because the land still exists, and is above water. I don’t know, but with all the claims of future earthquakes, storms, and my own intuitive earth tremors, I just personally think that investigating possible problem areas is not only smart, but necessary.

As we acknowledge this, and accept our wings, we will no longer need to hold onto the safety of our old, tattered cocoon.

Back on topic, movement is prominent, and change is uncontrollable. Perhaps you’ve already felt this uneasiness in your own personal/spiritual development, maybe with work or career issues, or in various relationships. If you’ve already made hard decisions AND did what you needed to do to avoid this particular place in your life, you will less affected. I know I have made some real hard choices, so now I can turn this fiery energy into rocket fuel as a ride into positive places. Those who have chosen to ignore problem areas will feel the brunt of this particular energy. Just know that the fire in our heart is crying for better changes during this Aries Full Moon, and our brave spirit will come to save us. The timing is emotionally charged with great force, creativity and flammable productivity. If you feel a need to burn some sort of bridge right now, be wise about what you are doing, and know that it will most likely be permanent under this cycle. On the other hand, we can leave the bridge where it is, and feed our fiery passion by igniting our potential for happiness and shine. As we reinvent ourselves with Uranus in Aries, we are discovering our own truth and individuality. At the same time, we should seek balance as the Libra Sun shows us how we have influenced this place in our life, but also how we shine in relationships, and what we reflect. Embrace the light that comes with the storm, and become a lighthouse for those in darkness. Shine on. ‘Very little grows on jagged rock. Be ground. Be crumbled, so wildflowers will come up where u are. Try something different. Rumi’. Tarot insight: [Moon/SevenCupsrx] Understand the power in darkness.

Full Moon in Aries – September 29th/30th, 2012

Celestial Space Astrology
written by Dipali Desai
Sunday September 23, 2012

“Dragon Fire Brings Purification”
- written by Dipali

Overview:

Let’s get directly to the information surrounding the Full moon this month. The Full Moon in Aries is at 7 degrees on September 29th/30th, 2012. This month while writing this Full Moon in Aries article, I kept getting the image of a dragon. As a mythical creature, the symbol dragon represents power, wisdom, magic and fire of purification. The sign of Aries is a fire element and can be quick to initiate. Now, think of an image of a dragon breathing out fire. And that fire can potentially purify. You can begin to get a taste of what this full moon’s energy is like.

Out of the blue, didn’t see that coming!

One of the major configurations happening now is transiting Uranus in Aries -retrograde will closely “conjunct” the Moon in Aries. It will activate what is referred to as a Cardinal “T-Square” aspect. The planets involved are: Moon/Uranus in Aries, Sun in Libra and Pluto in Capricorn. It is very likely to feel the burn and heat under this full moon phase. And the burn can lead to transformation rather than letting the anger or powerlessness consume you. Sudden confrontations, family disagreements, ego clashes and emotional upsets are possible. All in the name of purification and change under this Full Moon in Aries.

We must directly pursue the path which helps us to evolve and reclaim our empowerment. Look at the underlying rich potential of the Full Moon in Aries. “Sudden emotional liberation and empowerment.” The Sun/Moon are seeking to find middle ground between individuality and cooperation with others. Meanwhile this Full Moon activates the already warmed up Uranus/Pluto Square from other recent planetary aspects.

Choose your battles wisely

On glance of the configuration around this potent Full Moon in Aries, one may see it as volatile, emotionally charged, forceful and downright intense. And it is. Unresolved issues around anger and feeling out of control may come up again. As pressure building leading up to and around the Full Moon, people may project their pent-up, repressed”stuff” at or onto others, anger or rage may erupt as will raw emotions flow out. Therefore, it is helpful to know people may feel highly agitated and quick flares of temper may make for irrational decisions.

Though it is a possibility to be under fire (metaphorically) of someone venting or taking out their frustrations on the wrong person during this time. Also possible now, is to see people fanning the flames which may ignite or provoke a more extreme reaction or decision. Approach the situation or “Handle with care and caution.”

The possibility of people breathing out fire (symbolically of course) or whip-lash with words or actions is there. It may shock, surprise or upset the status quo. If you open your mouth when you are angry or enraged and you will be spitting fire to burn or hurt someone. Proceed with great caution and thoughtfulness. On the other hand, you may need to open up and speak in a compassionate and direct manner to express how you feel. And the Full Moon in Aries can help you have the courage to act and express if you feel stuck. Be patient and preserve through any emotional, symbolic or literal storms if one arises.

Clarity (Sun in Libra) is possible when you take a look at another person’s point of view and compromise where needed. In other situations, you may be learning to set healthy guidelines and say “no thanks.” Sun in Libra suggests using the Archetype of the “Peace-Keeper” to help with managing things so that everyone benefits.

On a global front, Is is possible to see riots, uprising or protests manifesting regarding some cause or issue. Important issues or themes seem to get ignited and it is possible for people to react irrationally due to feeling out of control. Select wisely who or what you join up with under the full moon.

The Potential:

The potential of this Full Moon in Aries activating the Uranus/Pluto Square: quick breakthroughs, taking charge or being more assertive, innovative ideas or realizations zipping through the dense emotional fog and pain. Pleasant surprises which ignite your passion and drive. Out of the blue awareness helps solve the problem. This energy could potentially bring high level of emotional clarity, empowerment and the fiery energy to take action and make a longer lasting change. A feeling of emotional confidence may surface.

Before you act, choose or express yourself – PAUSE. Breathe deeply. PAUSE. Then handle what needs to be taken care of. Use the ‘Spiritual Compassionate Warrior Archetype’ to help you navigate.

Overall the vibe of the Full Moon in Aries is bold, daring and full of opportunity to purify old emotional debris through fire of purification. At first it may feel a bit raw or extreme heat yet then in the aftermath something new is born from the ashes. Remember, take responsibility for how you feel and then take action to change things if you don’t like what is happening rather than sitting in powerlessness and victim-hood. Under the guidance and wisdom of Soul, take charge of your life.

Intention: “I AM Courageous and Assertive ________”

Mineral Kingdom: Work with Hematite crystal
One of the metaphysical properties of this crystal is to help ground and protect. It strengthens the connection with the earth. This stone, tends to stimulate concentration and focus.

Full Moon Ceremony: Work with the element of Fire. Action, movement, Being in the Solar Energy (Sunlight), sitting near fire, helps to activate the fire element within.

USA: Justice Department’s Warrantless Spying Increased 600 Percent in Decade; In 2001, 5,683; In 2011, The Number Skyrocketed To 37,616 A More Than Sixfold Increase!

But all of you still want to support president Obama because he is black right? That is the only reason you can give. Oh yeah and because he "claims" to support gay rights right? or you support him because of the fake made-up war on women? Well ALL Americans will have no rights before we know it? Because most of our individual rights are being stripped away while you are being distracted by the dangling carrots of support the "black president" and "gay rights" and "war on women". ALL AMERICANS (INCLUDING BLACK PEOPLE, GAY PEOPLE, AND WOMEN) will have NO privacy rights, NO property rights, NO freedom of expression, NO freedom of speech!!! Oh and for the Romney supporters out there, Mitt Romney supports these same unconstitutional policies Obama has been supporting and implementing that threaten our fundamental freedoms! That is why I am voting for two term New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson for president.
 
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Wired Threat Level
written by David Kravets
Thursday September 27, 2012

The Justice Department use of warrantless internet and telephone surveillance methods known as pen register and trap-and-trace has exploded in the last decade, according to government documents the American Civil Liberties obtained via a Freedom of Information Act claim.

Pen registers obtain, in real time, non-content information of outbound telephone and internet communications, such as phone numbers dialed, and the sender and recipient (and sometimes subject line) of an e-mail message. A trap-and-trace acquires the same information, but for inbound communications to a target. No probable-cause warrant is needed to obtain the data. Judges are required to sign off on these orders when the authorities say the information is relevant to an investigation.

In 2001, the DoJ issued only 5,683 reported “original orders.” (.pdf) Fast forward to 2011, the latest year for which data is available, the number skyrocketed to 37,616 — a more than sixfold increase. Though these can be used to track e-mail, the vast majority are used to get information on mobile phone users’ phone calls and texts.

According to the ACLU:
Because these surveillance powers are not used to capture telephone conversations or the bodies of emails, they are classified as ‘non-content’ surveillance tools, as opposed to tools that collect ‘content,’ like wiretaps. This means that the legal standard that law enforcement agencies must meet before using pen registers is lower than it is for wiretaps and other content-collecting technology. Specifically, in order to wiretap an American’s phone, the government must convince a judge that it has sufficient probable cause and that the wiretap is essential to an investigation. But for a pen register, the government need only submit certification to a court stating that it seeks information relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation. As long as it completes this simple procedural requirement, the government may proceed with pen register or trap and trace surveillance, without any judge considering the merits of the request.
Even more alarming, the latest figures — which were for years 2010 and 2011 — open only a tiny window into the U.S. surveillance society.

Consider that last year mobile carriers responded to a staggering 1.3 million law enforcement requests — which come from federal, state and local police, as well as from administrative offices – for subscriber information, including text messages and phone location data. That’s according to data provided to Congress that was released in July.

The nation’s major phone providers said they were working around the clock and charging millions in fees to keep up with ever-growing demands.

AT&T, the nation’s second-largest mobile carrier, told Congress that it had received 63,100 subpoenas — no judicial oversight required — for customer information in 2007. That more than doubled to 131,400 last year. By contrast, AT&T reported 36,900 court orders for subscriber data in 2007. That number grew to 49,700 court orders last year, a weak growth rate compared to the doubling of subpoenas in the same period.

Not surprisingly, the number of people affected by such orders has jumped as well – consider the below chart on the number of people who the DoJ got information about using trap-and-traces and pen registers.

All of this only concerns disclosed monitoring. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, in ongoing litigation, claims the National Security Agency, with the help of the nation’s telecoms, is hijacking all electronic communications.

The Justice Department, meanwhile, filed the latest pen register and trap-and-trace reports for 2010 and 2011 with Congress, which the law requires. But the Justice Department refused to release the numbers publicly and did so only after the ACLU sued.

USA: The Feds (Meaning The Obama Administration) Target Los Angeles, California In Medical Marijuana Crackdown


What President Obama says and what he does are two different things. He tells the general public what he thinks they want to hear, then the federal government under his presidency has done quite the opposite! But all of you still want to support him because he is "black"? Seriously? Who gives a damn what color his skin tone is if he is abusing his authority over us.
 
At 2:09 minutes into this video the interviewer asked him, "Is it safe to say you wouldn't be um..." Then presidential candidate Obama interrupted with, "What I'm not going to be doing is using justice department resources to try to circumvent state laws on this issue simply because I want folks to be investigating violent crimes and potential terrorism. We've got a lot of things for our law enforcement officers to deal with."

You don't believe me, here is another article you can read.
[Source: 9News Colorado 08/01/12: Calif. medical-marijuana dispensaries close as Feds crack down] Since November the Justice Department has sent out 600 letters across California threatening landlords who rent space to medical marijuana operations. Nine San Francisco pot clubs have shut their doors since the letters went out. The closures haven't just affected marijuana clubs but also ancillary businesses. Ray Chico's company Doob Tubes sells plastic containers for medical marijuana. He says the closures have hurt business.

Since last fall, the Justice Department has cranked up its campaign on California's medicinal marijuana industry. The governments views the glut of medical pot businesses in violation of California's voter-passed 1996 law.

The movement was dealt another blow last week when the Los Angeles' City Council voted to tentatively ban the city's 762 marijuana clubs.
The Associated Press
written by Greg Risling
Wednesday September 26, 2012

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Federal prosecutors looking to take out California's medical marijuana shops have now set their sights on Los Angeles, where city officials have struggled to stop a blooming of dispensaries.

The U.S. attorney's office sued three property owners that house pot collectives and sent warning letters to 68 others as they enforce a federal law that doesn't recognize a California initiative that legalized pot for medicinal use.

The move Tuesday came nearly a year after federal authorities began targeting the state's pot shops. The city's own ban on dispensaries also is being challenged and could be overturned by voters if a referendum is placed on an upcoming ballot.

"As today's operations make clear, the sale and distribution of marijuana violates federal law, and we intend to enforce the law," U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. said.

California's four U.S. attorneys pledged last October to curb pot collectives they said were running afoul of the law by raking in huge sums of money and serving as fronts for drug traffickers. Proponents argue the dispensaries are protected by California law that allows medicinal use of marijuana with a doctor's recommendation.

David Welch, an attorney representing some of the Los Angeles collectives targeted by federal authorities, said he plans to file a lawsuit.

"I expected this to happen and we have planned for this contingency," Welch said. "The future is a lot less certain considering what seems to be a full press by the federal government."

Los Angeles passed an ordinance two years ago that was supposed to shutter hundreds of pot dispensaries while capping the number in operation at 70.

But a set of legal challenges against the city by collectives and the recent expiration of the ordinance due to a sundowner clause led to another surge of pot shops. City officials said more than 750 collectives have registered with the city and as many as 200 more could exist.

City officials have had a difficult time striking a balance between providing safe and affordable access to pot for people who need it for medicinal purposes while addressing neighborhood groups' worries that streets were being overrun by dispensaries and pot users.

"The shops had an opportunity to work with the city on a path to legitimacy, but once again they chose short-term profits over long-term safe access for legitimate patients," said Michael Larsen, president of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council.

More than 175 California cities and 20 counties have banned retail pot shops, according to the medical marijuana advocacy group Americans for Safe Access.

The state Supreme Court is expected to address whether local governments can ban medical marijuana clinics, but a hearing hasn't been set by the high court.

Los Angeles could soon face a possible referendum on the latest ban approved by the city council. Council members must decide by next week whether to call a special election for the measure, repeal it themselves or put it on the March 2013 ballot.

CANADA: Ontario Cop And Former Cop Charged In Canada-U.S. Cheese Smuggling Operation... YES CHEESE!

Yahoo news
written by Canadian Press staff
Thursday September 27, 2012

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - A southern Ontario police force has charged one current and one former officer in a "large-scale" scheme to smuggle cheese and other food items into Canada.

Niagara Regional Police say cases of cheese and other foods were purchased in the U.S. and smuggled into Canada, without declaring the items or paying duty.

The items were then prepared for distribution to restaurants in southern Ontario.

Police say the investigation revealed over $200,000 worth of cheese and other products were purchased and distributed for an estimated profit of more than $165,000.

Niagara police Const. Scott Heron, 39, faces charges that include conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, false or deceptive statements, and acquiring or disposing of illegally imported goods.

Police say Casey Langelaan, 48, who was a police officer at the time of the alleged offences, faces counts that include conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, and various Customs Act charges including smuggling.

A third man, Bernie Pollino, 44, faces similar charges to Heron and Langelaan.

All three suspects are from Fort Erie, Ont.

Niagara chief Jeffrey McGuire suspended Heron and Langelaan from duty on July 26 in accordance with the Police Services Act.

In a statement, a police spokesman says Langelaan is no longer with the force.

The investigation began in January and involved investigators from the Niagara Regional Police Service, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Canada Border Services Agency.

CANADA: Charges Coming As Niagara Cops Add Cheese To Smuggling Probe

CBC news
written by John Nicol and Dave Seglins
Monday September 24, 2012

Niagara Regional Police Service officers have been visiting pizzerias recently asking the same question: where did you get your cheese?

It’s part of a larger internal investigation into cheese smuggling, allegedly by some members of their own force.

CBC News has learned from numerous police sources that charges are expected soon against a few officers who are alleged to have been involved in the movement of caseloads of cheese from the U.S. to sell to Canadian pizzerias and restaurants.

The alleged scam involves jamming cases of "brick" cheese — used as a common pizza topping — into their vehicles to smuggle across the border. With U.S. cheese being as little as a third the price it is in Canada, drivers are making $1,000 to $2,000 a trip, according to numerous sources.

Canada Border Services Agency officials say anyone — officer or civilian — caught smuggling large shipments of cheese into Canada would be in violation of the Customs Act for failing to declare, and pay duties on, the controlled goods.

As well, CBSA says it would be a violation for failing to have proper permits and licences from both the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

The accused officers either face police act charges (internal discipline) for either discreditable conduct or neglect of duty or Criminal Code charges of breach of trust if any were found to have intentionally plotted to avoid customs and duties.

Offered contraband cheese

Mario Sebastiano, owner of Super Mario’s pizza in Port Colborne, told CBC News he was approached two years ago by a Fort Erie man offering to supply numerous cases of contraband U.S. cheese. The Fort Erie man, along with some police officers, are now at the centre of the cheese smuggling probe.

"He was gonna sell me a case for 150 bucks — normally it's $240," Sebastiano said. "He can supply whatever I want. If I want five to six cases a week, he’d give me five to six cases because he can bring it to this side here, no problem."

Sebastiano said he tried a sample, admitting it was an attractive offer, since his business buys more than $100,000 a year worth of cheese. But he said he turned it down, because it was illegal — and the contraband cheese was inferior.

Among the numerous pizza shop owners questioned by Niagara Regional Police Service officers in recent weeks were the staff at Volcano Pizzeria in Fonthill, west of Niagara Falls.

"Cops came in here a couple of times asking questions about it," Brandon Elms told CBC News. "We get all our stuff legit. We thought it was a joke at first. Who is going to go around trying to sell smuggled cheese?

"The cheese bandits, the mozzarella mafia!"

But Albert Zappitelli who runs Zappis, a popular Niagara Falls pizzeria, says higher Canadian cheese prices, due to restrictions by the Canadian Dairy Board, and strict controls on cheaper U.S. imports, are driving an underground economy.

"On a monthly basis we are approached by someone who wants to bring American cheese over the border and sell it to us," said Zappitelli. "What would their penalty be being caught at the bridge with six cases of cheese?

"It’s not like they’re going to put you in handcuffs and take you away."

The cheese-smuggling investigation stems from information gathered from a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) arrest in April of Niagara Regional Police Service Const. Geoffrey Purdie in Buffalo on charges of conspiracy to smuggle more than half a million dollars in anabolic steroids and other drugs into Canada.

According to U.S. court documents, a joint Border Enforcement Task Force has been using surveillance and at least one confidential informant in an ongoing probe into the steroid allegations of Purdie and others, including civilians.

CBC News has been unable to confirm which specific officers will face charges, let alone whether Const. Purdie himself is directly linked to the cheese allegations. He has refused repeated requests for an interview.

Officers under investigation

The Niagara Regional Police Association won't discuss the allegations against the officers, but confirms a number of its members have been formally notified they are under internal investigation.

Jeff McGuire, Niagara’s new police chief, has refused to discuss recent shake-ups at the Fort Erie detachment or what further charges or discipline actions may be forthcoming. He has only confirmed the suspension of Const. Purdie due to allegations of drug smuggling.

"He’s been suspended with pay, and our professional standards [group] … are conducting an investigation … but we first have to allow the American investigation to continue and be completed," McGuire said last month.

McGuire also confirmed the suspension of an officer from Purdie's Fort Erie detachment following Purdie's arrest, but he would not discuss why.

FRANCE: France's Constitutional Council Rejects Ban On Bullfighting

The Malaysian Star
written by AFP staff
Friday September 21, 2012

PARIS - France's Constitutional Council Friday rejected a request by animal-rights activists to ban bullfighting in the southern areas where it is still authorised.

The council said it was not against the spirit of the constitution to allow the practice in some regions despite it being banned in most of the country.

France holds dozens of bullfights every year, with more than 1,000 animals killed annually in bouts that supporters defend as a local tradition and an important generator of tourism.

The council said the provision allowing bullfighting in the south was "precise, objective and rational", adding that "these traditional practices thus authorised do not infringe upon constitutional rights."

The anti-bullfighting group CRAC and animal-rights organisation DDA had asked the council to impose a nationwide ban by closing the loophole allowing the tradition to continue in southern areas.

Polls have generally indicated that about two-thirds of the French electorate would like to see bullfighting banned entirely, although the latest one published on Thursday found 48 percent in favour of a ban, 42 percent for the status quo and 10 percent with no opinion.

The sport has many passionate defenders, including Interior Minister Manuel Valls who enraged bullfighting opponents earlier this month by insisting it is a tradition that should be saved.

"It's something I love, it's part of my family's culture," said the minister who was born in Spain and moved with his family to France when he was a child. "It's a culture that we have to preserve."

Defenders have also pointed to the economic benefits of a sport that they say attracts large numbers of tourists to southern France, especially to hugely popular ferias in cities like Nimes and Arles.

The Arles Easter Feria, for example, attracts 500,000 visitors over six days, each spending about 100 euros ($130) a day, according to Christian Mourisard, the head of the city's tourist office.

Animal rights activists plan to continue their fight to have bullfighting banned, despite Friday's setback. They are lobbying to have parliament enact a ban and are also considering a challenge to the practice through the European Court of Human Rights.

PHILIPPINES: The Justice Department's Investigation Bureau And The Environment Department Were Denied Entry Into The Catholic Church Where The Illegal Ivory Is Kept!

AFP news
written by Staff
Saturday September 29, 2012

MANILA — Philippine authorities looking for religious statues made from "blood" ivory were prevented from entering a church where the banned items were allegedly kept, a government investigator said on Saturday.

A joint team from the Justice Department's investigation bureau and the Environment Department were denied entry to the Shrine of the Black Nazarene in the central island of Cebu when they visited on Friday, a member said.

Security guards at the shrine, set up by a priest allegedly linked to the illegal smuggling of ivory, told investigators they would have to speak to the priest's lawyers first, said Eddie Llamedo, an Environment Department spokesman.

He conceded the team did not have a search warrant at the time and would have to obtain the proper legal papers, possibly giving suspects time to conceal any ivory items.

Asked about the incident, Cebu archdiocese spokesman Monsignor Achilles Dakay said "the lawyers are taking care of that. We will be cooperating (with authorities) but we have church lawyers".

The shrine is maintained by Monsignor Cristobal Garcia, a priest named in a National Geographic article as giving advice on how to smuggle ivory and naming carvers who would turn it into statues.

The article has touched off a nationwide investigation into the smuggling of ivory, and particularly its use in making religious statues in this largely Roman Catholic country.

Philippine authorities on Friday said they had launched a nationwide investigation into Catholic devotees collecting religious figures made of ivory smuggled from Africa.

The probe, initially focused primarily on Garcia, has become an investigation into other owners of ivory figures, amid concerns the trade is extensive, said National Bureau of Investigation's environment division Sixto Comia.

After the National Geographic article was published, the Catholic Church revealed he had been suspended in June after the Vatican began an investigation into allegations he sexually abused children three decades ago.

Garcia, who himself is known to have a large collection of ivory statues, has been sick and confined to a hospital, keeping him out of the public eye.

Catholic statues have for centuries been made with ivory, but the church now officially condemns the practice in a bid to prevent the slaughter of elephants for their tusks.

Importing ivory has been banned in the Philippines since 1981. The maximum penalty for possessing illegal ivory is four years in jail.

PHILIPPINES: A Roman Catholic Priest Accused Of Ivory Smuggling And Child Sexual Abuse!

UPDATE AFP 9/29/12: Philippine authorities looking for religious statues made from "blood" ivory were prevented from entering a church where the banned items were allegedly kept, a government investigator said on Saturday.

The New York Times
written by Floyd Whaley
Thursday September 27, 2012

MANILA — A Roman Catholic priest in the Philippines accused of ivory smuggling is under investigation by the Vatican and has been stripped of his ministerial duties since June in connection with unrelated sexual abuse allegations, a church spokesman said Thursday.

“We have received instructions from the Holy See that he is under investigation,” said Msgr. Achilles Dakay, a spokesman for the church in the central Philippine province of Cebu, where the accused priest, Msgr. Cristóbal Garcia, is based. “He has been replaced in his ministerial positions.”

The ivory smuggling investigation was prompted by an article in the October issue of National Geographic magazine that quotes Monsignor Garcia as telling a U.S. reporter how to smuggle illegal elephant ivory figurines into the United States.

The Philippines is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, a treaty that regulates international trade in plants and animals. The trading of ivory has been banned under the treaty since 1990.

Monsignor Dakay said the Manila Archdiocesan Commission on the Cultural Heritage of the Church was examining whether parts of a vast collection of ivory figurines owned by Monsignor Garcia were secured after the 1990 ban.

The Philippine National Bureau of Investigation and the country’s wildlife protection agency are investigating the claims made in the article, government officials said this week.

Monsignor Dakay would not confirm whether the church was cooperating with the government’s smuggling investigation.

“The N.B.I. must get a court order if they want to examine the collection,” Monsignor Dakay said. “It is private property.”

The same article notes that Monsignor Garcia was accused in the 1980s of abusing altar boys in Los Angeles. He was subsequently transferred to the Philippines and became a respected high-ranking church official. It was those accusations that prompted the church to strip him of his ministerial duties in June.

“We were surprised by this investigation,” Monsignor Dakay said. “This was a case from the 1980s, and it was revived just because it was mentioned in National Geographic magazine?”

The National Geographic article by Bryan Christy, titled “Blood Ivory” and subtitled “Ivory Worship,” carries the tag line, “Thousands of elephants die each year so that their tusks can be carved into religious objects. Can the slaughter be stopped?”

It examines the illegal ivory trade in several countries in Asia, including the Philippines, and mentions the sexual allegations against Monsignor Garcia as an aside.

Church officials said this week that they felt the article was biased and presented an unfair picture of the use of religious figurines in the Philippines. Monsignor Dakay reiterated that sentiment Thursday.

“Reading between the lines of the National Geographic article, you can see there is some malicious intent to downgrade the church,” he said.

“Just because we have some ivory or marble figurines, we are not idol worshipers,” he added.

The church spokesman said the writer, Mr. Christy, visited Cebu several times while reporting the story. He introduced himself as a Catholic journalist interested in representations of the Holy Child, called Santo Niño in the Philippines.

“This man Bryan Christy misrepresented himself as a devotee of Santo Niño,” Monsignor Dakay said. “He was very meek and humble during the interviews, and then he came out and attacked our church.”

The accused priest could not be reached for comment late Thursday. Church officials said earlier in the week that he was ill and resting.

Religious icons and statues are popular among Catholics in the Philippines, and those made of pure ivory are among the most treasured. Religious specialty shops openly sell pure ivory icons, and many parishes will have a treasured ivory statue of the infant Jesus or one of the saints that are celebrated during festivals.

Senior church officials said this week that the Catholic Church supported the global ban on trading ivory but noted that some of the artifacts in Philippine churches predated the 1990 ban and were considered part of the cultural heritage of local communities.