Read without ads and support Scribd by becoming a Scribd Premium Reader.
See Premium Plans
 
The Journey of the Bones, by SIN JONES
 November marks a time of giving thanks, the hallmark holiday of 
Thanksgiving:
Celebrating the finalharvest of the season, and indulging in gluttony. The English gluttony, is derived from the Latin
gluttire
,to swallow. The seasonal changes are marked with a bright-orange flag of capitalism. Dependingon where you live, there may not be the apparent transitions from Summer to Autumn, so many, likemyself, see the indicators when retail stores pack away all the Summer wares, to bring in the processionof ‘seasonal’ materialism. The rows of plastic pumpkins, silk flowers, wreaths that imitate the Autumnfoliage, little wooden Pilgrims with their First American ‘friends’ in tow, paper turkeys used as dinningtable center-pieces, and all the dinner fixings are show-cased in decorative framing. By the time youare able to acclimate to your new environment, here comes Christmas! At times, it’s difficult to swallow.Year after year, the pages of the calendar turn, and these holidays are a way to make the annual bumpand grind bearable. Something fun and festive to break up the monotony; otherwise you’ll go mad. 
Joshua Carlough as Bone Daddy, and SIN JONES asSante Muerte
 Ironic that holidays turn holy-days intoshopping frenzy and peacocking your finestdish, which will most likely be enjoyed withrelatives you barely communicate withthroughout the year. Oh these holidays, howthey bring us all together! [insert finger twirlhere] November to me, is a time to givethanks to your fallen ancestors. WhyNovember? While I practice ancestor worship daily, it’s time to really give the deadtheir due. November 1st and 2nd kicks off the celebration of 
Dia Da Los Muertos
(Dayof the Dead). Mexico’s continuing tradition of their Aztec ancestors which dominated Meso-Americaaround the 15th century. According to the Aztec Solar Calendar, it was celebrated all month long, on the9th Aztec month (August). It has become a National Holiday that’s dating is in conjunction with theCatholic Holy-days of 
 All Saint’s Day 
on the 1st of November, and
 All Soul’s Day 
on the 2nd. Thisappeals to my overall aesthetic, and the prolific symbolism of my choosing. Symbolism, by which Iprovoke myself into taking actions on my own behalf. Dia Da Los Muertos, is another opportunity topractice
Memento Moritem
.October and
 All Hallow’s Eve
(October 31st), is thought to be a continuing tradition of 
Samhain
, a Celticholiday to mark the end of summer. The term Samhain is first documented around the 19th century, thedates coincide with both All Saint’s Day, and All Soul’s Day which can be traced back to early Christianity
 
and the start of 7th century. The symbolism however, is parallel with the traditions of the Aztecs fromthe 15th century as well as Catholicism post-Spanish conquests. So you begin to see a pattern of cross-culturalism. Placing a candle inside Jack-o-Lanterns is much like the candles placed inside the skullsof the dead. The Aztecs wore wooden masks, and elaborate ritual embellishments to dance for them.Much like the costumes we wear at Halloween. One of the practices in use by modern pagans, is thepreparation of the
Dumb Supper 
. An altar is set up to honor your ancestors, and a place set at the dinner table for them to dine with you. For those that believe the souls of the dead can wander in and out of thisworld, the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is believed to be its thinnest on All Hallow’sEve. The dead are free to roam, and seek out their loved ones.The very idea, that displaced spirits roam about, gave rise to a sense of uneasiness.
Who is watching me? 
Especially, if you played any role in their death, or crossed them in any way while they were living.Guilt and fear play a role in superstitious belief. What you believe to be true, shapes your world view. Itis thought to be the catalyst for using Jack-o-Lanterns and costumes to scare off the dead; the oppositeeffect desired. It’s not so strange to observe how symbols and celebrations change with the beliefs of thepeople.While Dia Da Los Muertos is generally a 2 day celebration, the Aztecs celebrated it during a shorter solar month (compared to a Lunar month). If you happen to be a specific denomination of Christian and honor the All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day observance, it’s a great time to give both the Saints and Souls your thanks. Hey, they’ve been working hard all year, intercessing on your behalf! Not a bad idea to thankthem, or else come Samhain, they may pay you a visit. Aztec gods of the underworld:
Mictecacihuatl & Mictlantecuhtli
Photo credit:
 Archivo de Miguel Covarrubias, Universidad de las Americas, Puebla.
 A closer examination of the belief systems of the Aztecs will demonstrate that the bones were a focus indaily life, but when someone died, bones were not used to mark their death. Instead, depictions of livingactivities were placed on grave markers because in Aztec cosmology, the living were made from thebones of the dead. In past articles, I’ve discussed the symbolism tied to Mictecacihuatl (Sante Muerte)who is the keeper of the bones. She is born in the Underworld, and is considered to be the Living Death.
 
Her job, is to watch over the bones and travel with them; which is why you see her present amongsymbols displayed during any Dia Da Los Muertos celebration. For a more in-depth explanation of her symbols, I refer you to my article entitled
Mictecacihuatl, Sante Muerte.
Ancestor worship, in the context of occult practice - shapes your reality. Many, find comfort in keeping the memory of their lost lovedones alive, by honoring their memory in a ritual manner. I miss myfather like crazy but my practice serves as a reminder that I could dieas young as he did at age 48.He died of natural causes, he went to sleep one night, and justnever woke up. The Death Certificate reads:
Natural death
. It isnatural to die, so you must work against nature - to
LIVE.
Nature, is not your friend. At every turn, it’s out to get you.Nature is Satan’s Church. When you live against it, you areacting as the adversary to the adversary. Some of us out therein the world, are actively seeking to exceed normal and naturalparameters of reality. In past articles I have discussed mypersonal feelings on the terms paranormal and supernatural.The way these terms are used, and what they imply - I findoxymoronic. The unexplainable, isn’t really exceeding natural or normal parameters - its just unknown, or yet to be explained.
Foras, Demon Portrait, by SIN JONES
 Allow me, if I may, to take you on a journey; into my past.Perhaps then, you may begin to understand.When I was 29 years old, I began actively hunting for a house. The perfect little abode to call my veryown. I looked at countless homes, and it wasn’t until I arrived at my present residence, did I find it.During the closing, the previous owner commented - that when she saw my name on the application, she
 knew 
I would be the person to buy it. How did she know? We shared the same last name. Her maidenname was Jones. To her, this was a sign. I just nodded and smiled, for me this was purely coincidental.The reason I chose the house, was it had all of the elements I wanted that were on my check list. Agarage, so I could turn it into an art studio, a back yard bigger than a postage stamp for trance work,and digging in the dirt, a fireplace, and an eat-in kitchen. Discussing it with my real estate agent, sheasked me if I believed in fate. I told her, that our actions drive outcomes and I don’t think anything is pre-destined.“
No matter how weird things are, they can always get weirder. The word weird, is rooted in wer- to turn or bend. The weirdness then, is the bending of yourself. The self, can appear constant, but like the 3 Fates, there are parts of you that are not known, until someone or something touches the pulse of that portion. The destiny of man (Wyrd), may be pre-determined by that catalyst at first glance, but you have the power to tempt the fates. Do you revel against it for the sake of that alone or do you allow yourself to 
Search
Search History:
Searching...
Result 00 of 00
00 results for result for
  • p.
    • Notes
    Load more