Posts by Hyghlandyr

60

Are Jw's the only ones with apostates....

by VioletAnai in

jw
friends

who viciously attack the teachings and beliefs of their resigned religion?.

i was thinking of this last night....i have never in my life seen a movement so big as the apostates against jw's..... no other religion has displayed this....usually people just quietly leave and get on with their lives and there is no anomosity...even if they have been wronged by their religion.... but with jw's it's different...it's an all out and out attack on anyone and everyone who has something positive to say.... makes me believe the bible and the jw's even more...being here is setting the doubt in my mind right....

Hyghlandyr

VioletAnai

I have stated on the board before in other threads, that it is my opinion that some people are just Jehovah's Witnesses. Just as some people are men, some people are women, some people are artists, some people are catholics. I myself have no religion, but I am Catholic. It is in my DNA. Some call that a Cultural Catholic, Irish Catholic specifically. If you are a witness, hey go for it. If it makes you happy and gives you a fulfilling life, don't let anyone else tell you otherwise.

I ask, that if you do, when you do, keep in mind some of the things you have heard here. Keep your eyes open. Do not let people abuse you or others. Remember that in each group there are people hurting. Help them if you can. If you are a witness, then be the best you can be. I am not speaking of just the moral codes, but the emotional ones. The tenderness that Jesus showed to people, show that to others. Be a joy for other people. Make field service something that people, including you, look forward to. Be the person that the other witnesses are happy to be around. But mostly be happy to be around yourself. In otherwords, be well satisfied. And don't let us talk you out of it.

I've read some of your posts and I like them frankly. I dont consider this post to be about convincing us to go back to the hall or an attack. It is true what you said to a degree, in your experience the ex witnesses are a pretty angry and vocal group. Of course, that is partly your experience because you are on an ex witness board. If you were spending a lot of your time on yahoo chat, you would see a lot of ex witnesses who get along with the witnesses over there and we all just chill together. You would see ex witnesses who defend the watchtower society and certainly defend witnesses in general. You would see us do this sometimes because folks are just stating the facts wrong about yall. And sometimes because it is just fun to defend the witnesses. And nothing excites some of us exes more than watching a witness totally destroy some preaching trinitarian.

If you ask sometime I will give you apostate websites for some other religions that I have visited, like mormons (I am studying with them now), and ICOC (I studied with them for a short time and went to their church) and Moonies(havent met them yet) and Catholics (havent been since I was a kid) and Pentacostals (Havent been there since I was 18) and other religions. I myself dont really have apostates of my religion, which I created and made up totally from scratch, nothingism, but I have plenty of opposers, right here on this board. I am opposed here more than the witnesses are, well that is my fantasy anyhow. But I wont push, if you want those, so you can compare them to this site let me know I will hunt them up again.

As to the word apostate, lots of JWs here think the society misuses the word. They do not. The word apostate merely means someone that leaves a specific group. So by leaving them, we are apostates. Where they err is in claiming that if you leave them you consciously choose to leave god. Now if it is true that they are the only ones with the truth, then you are leaving god by leaving them, however, this does not mean you are aware that you are leaving god, if you think your new religion has god. The other way they err is in thinking all apostates oppose them. I personally am intrigued and enthralled by them. Though I would like to see them change the shunning doctrine and their policy about reporting cases of abuse.

You mentioned you grew up in it I gathered? And that you left. When you left were you a 'good' girl or a 'bad' one? This is a rhetorical question, dont answer it. I say it because when I left, (I did not grow up in it) I was 'bad' in only a couple things. I drank a little, not much. And I went to strip clubs a couple of times. I dont drink anymore, and strip clubs, while interesting, dont have much appeal to me, now that I dont think they are sinful. However a lot of witnesses I have noticed that leave, particularly those that grew up in it, end up joining 'the world' in full force. They get involved in drugs, smoking, alcohol, sex, perhaps crime, violence. The list goes on and each person's experience is different. They then perceive that this experience constitutes 'the world' and the watchtower society is right. For some that is the world. For others the world is vastly different. They lead sober, successful, moral, uplifting lives. They help others, care for their families, and are productive members of society and god.

I loved my experience as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. I would never wish it taken back. I am sure you did as well, and I hope in the future if you are a witness in the sense of it being something in your very blood, that you enjoy that experience as well. I am glad you dont blame the organization for things that were done for you, nor do you blame other witnesses. I dont myself for things that were done to me and my sisters. Only those who did them are responsible. If someone knows something and keeps it a secret, well the law will determine whether they are also responsible.

So I say, do what you want. I hope if you get baptised or participate in any way in the organization, you will contribute here still. I look forward to seeing many more posts from you, and hearing about your experiences in field service, the hall, and assemblies.

79

What is your Totem Animal?

by Hyghlandyr in

jw
friends

a lot of you might think this is a question strictly for the pagans out there, but christians have had totem animals as well.

merriam-websters defines a totem as:main entry: totem .

pronunciation: 'to-t&m.

Hyghlandyr

Beck_MelbourneKeep us posted about how your tat progresses. Mine I have been planning for years. I will start a thread on tats later..and their deep meaning to those of us interested in them.

And I totally know what you mean about feeling it to your bones. I call that an epiphany, you just know. The moment I knew the badger was my totem, I instantly began remembering all i knew about them and their family, including wovlerines and ferrets and otters and so forth. They and their family fit me. We have much in common but of course wolverines are enough different from badgers to warrant an awareness of each.

I have seen your posts. Sometimes they are short and sometimes pretty detailed. I wont argue with you about being a wolverine. Especially when you said you could feel it to your bones I did. I doubt I would fight you, because who knows, I might lose. You seem tougher than you just portrayed in your post. Those that are usually up in my face I have no question I can defeat if I chose or needed to. You..hmm...I am not taken any chances <wink>

And my experiences I relegate to the category of fiction and fantasy. I dont deny they occured, I just do not accept the same reasons as others have. The same goes for any metaphysical experiences. I claim them instead to be just physical experiences...and I am satisfied.

Plum I am noticing a lot of people are pointing out sea creatures. For a few years I was shifting into dolphin form in the otherworld. I was often swimming with them and I learned a lot. But I have not shifted into other forms of aquatica. I kind of wish I had shifted into salmon at least, a representation of wisdom among the Irish. But I often reject wisdom, so that may be why. Manta rays are beautiful and graceful. That would be something I would love to shift into. Anything youve experienced would be greatly appreciated here....

LyinEyes I usually dont mystic into reasons why. At least for others, I let them tell me. Give me some time to meditate and think of some questions to ask you that might help you do this?

I do not doubt that your dog is near to talking. I have seen it and ours tries to. We can understand him though, both me and my wife. By his words, know what he wants.

I wonder what a badgers eyes do to ya? You have seen mine <wink> I have shifted into a wolf before, but it is not my totem. I should state that you can have several totems. And you can shift into them. Some people though are never able to shift into their totem animal at all. And shift into other animals. Then some people are able to shift into their totems and other animals, like me. I have physically shifted into dolphins, wolves and others, but in the otherworld planes. I have had the fur, and feet and so forth. But again not in this realm. However the memories are as vivid as any other memories I have, and I can feel the paws, just as if I had them now.

It is vital everyone, if you have a dream, that you wish to remember, tell someone it right away, or write it down, as soon as you wake up, or as soon as you remember even a little bit of it. The more you talk about it the more you will bring the memory to the foreground in your mind. Of course as I said the best is, right upon waking. And this is even more important if you have ever had a dream where you shifted.

Lilacs,Tests like this are cursory at best. I kinda wish it hadnt been posted, but on the other hand it has demonstrated what I have been posting about the uselessness of others determining your totems.

I dont know if you have read my posts, but they are fairly extensive into how I came to know my totem, and the various things that totems mean. If you have read them then ask me any specific question they do not answer for you, I will answer. If you havent read them, read through them again really quick and see what you think, and then ask me a question if you wish as well.

If those posts dont help, then I will try again to explain as best as I can, or provide you with links.

114

Hyghlandyrs Four Pillars, his Hygh Geas.

by Hyghlandyr in

jw
friends

some of you know that i have stated i am amoral.

that means that i have no moral system.

no ethical system either.

Hyghlandyr

Plum:

I guess I was suggesting taking “self exploration” farther then you have or farther then you might ‘believe’ you have.

I would say that you are really thinking I should explore farther than you think I have. hehehe.

I like your geis. (Geis is singular) However I dont think it would eliminate war. I like fighting, though I am forbidden to kill, because of a couple of my geas. So war would not be my thing. Though dying in a battle would be.

79

What is your Totem Animal?

by Hyghlandyr in

jw
friends

a lot of you might think this is a question strictly for the pagans out there, but christians have had totem animals as well.

merriam-websters defines a totem as:main entry: totem .

pronunciation: 'to-t&m.

Hyghlandyr

PeaceloveHarmony, yes I hope more post, not only what their totems are but what they mean to them. This is very exciting for me to read and discuss. I must sound like a little kid to yall hehe.

LB Yeah turtles are great, and that sea turtle you posted was awesome. When you get the tat give us a pic of it?

As I work on my tat I will post updates here. I will discuss that in another thread sometime because it is only partially related to my totem, but also my art and my family line.

79

What is your Totem Animal?

by Hyghlandyr in

jw
friends

a lot of you might think this is a question strictly for the pagans out there, but christians have had totem animals as well.

merriam-websters defines a totem as:main entry: totem .

pronunciation: 'to-t&m.

Hyghlandyr

Teejay

I am absolutely serious about the totem stuff. But I should clarify some things.

A totem is nothing more than a symbol. It is not just a symbol of animals. You can have a totem plant, a totem stone, a totem element, a totem note(as in a song), any sort of totem you choose, or that chooses you.

Your family can have a totem, your nation can, your tribe can, your school can. Anyone, or any group can have any sort of totem that they choose, or that chooses them.

Now for non-believers in spirituality or mysticism, the totem is simply something that appeals to them on any level. Some animal for instance, which has qualities, that they desire to emulate. A good example of this would be the Bald Eagle as the emblem of the United States of America. Because this is our totem, it is almost purely symbolic. It does not usually cause people to run around immitating eagles as a result of this choice. Nor does the American Bald Eagle emblem on anything of our armies, usually cause fear to be struck into the hearts of people. The Nazi Swastika is an example of another sort of Totem, symbol, which carries a sinister power because of their careful propoganda.

Now, for those that believe in mysticism there are varying degrees of Totems. For me, I am a shape shifter. I am a badger. I always have been. My body does not change form. I do not grow fur, claws, teeth. I do however change physical form in other ways. My fingers 'claw up' my natural fangs are beared. (Which is one of the reasons I have not had a huge desire to have my buck teeth 'fixed') My brow furrows, my nose wrinkles. My gait changes if I am running. My senses are different, my eyes more focused on the thing of my obession of the moment.

A physical shift of this nature, can, like the rest of my shifts, be brought on by circumstances or by concentrated effort. Usually it is entirely outside of my conscious control. My wife, of course would not have sex during her cycle. Many times I have said to her, that her cycle is over. She has insisted it is not. But I am able to tell by her scent, her pheremones. When I persist that she should check, and she does, she always, each and every time, has found she is over her cycle.

Most of the time I walk around a badger, which is why you are able to see me react so quickly in these rooms, and write so much. I move fast, I attack directly. I do not hide, I do no retreat. But I will avoid those that are not in my path. And I love to find other badgers who have the same skill and fierceness as I have, but from a different world view. I would love to find an equal. I say not from bragging but from experience, that, thus far, none have been able to match me in a direct face to face confrontation of words.

Perhaps a way to help explain totems, a drui will often carry a small stone with him. When he approaches a situation in which he can react from emotion without much planning, he will clutch the stone, and shift into a stone. He slow to the time of the stone, and its language, in a purely mental shift. And ask himself how a stone will react. The answer of course is always, s....l....o...w...l....y. I myself use a set of those chinese balls that are rotated in the hands. I have a dragon set, panda set, and pure metal set.

Wolverines are related to badgers by the way. A person may have several totems. Often those who have several will find it far easier to shift into those forms than other animal forms.

Is there any harm to picking the wrong totem? Well it depends on how serious you are about totems. If it is a passing fancy, or something you look at from a purely pragmatic/artistic stand, then probably not. If you take it very seriously, if you travel on the astral or ethereal planes, if you shift seriously, feeling the feelings and living the life of that animal, if you are attempting to be around others of your animal form, and you choose those of the wrong totem, if you look at totems and shifting as something as real as a christian looks at Jesus and heaven and the cross, unquestioningly, then there could be harm.

I myself fall in between. I am like you an analytical thinking. I use spiritual language to describe my emotional thought processes. I use such language because often purely logical language does not fit how I feel. I could use poetry, but I prefer my current style of writing. I am not attempting poetic metres or rhymes or appearance, unless it strictly fits the moment. I do use such in chat often, in order to evoke a certain mood.

I have travelled the astral and ethereal and other planes. I have been to Tir ná mBan, The Summerlands, Land of Youth, The Matrix. I have spoken to Bridh and fought with and alongside her. I have eaten with Cu Chulain. I have swam with Marie. I have seen faith healing. I have spoken in tongues. I have been baptised in the holy ghost and in fire. I have shape-shifted, read auras, and projected.

But, I do not believe in any of these things. Rather than dismissing them as non-existent as many others do, or questioning the experiences of others, I simply accept them. It is my opinion that they are the result of any number of a combination of things. Mass hypnosis. Delusions. Fantasy. Heightened emotions. Chemical imbalances. Natural abilities of the body (such as in faith healing). Art. Dreams.

In the post about the celts, the writer that I quoted states that there was no line between reality and fantasy for the celts. I have stated I am as happy dreaming about something, as living it. Which accounts for my pleasure at remaining on my couch 80% of the time. I can adventure without having to break a sweat.

Which is why I am able to meld both of these. Because I do not believe in any of them. I wont dispute others claims, but it is my belief they are believers in fantasy. Because fantasy is pretty cool, I dont mind believing in it myself. As long as I know it is fantasy. Thus my fascination with lucid dreaming. The ability to dream, recognize it is a dream, and then control the dream.

So summarizing all of that. If you realize that the totem is either a symbol, or a lucid dream, then there is probably no harm from picking the wrong totem, as there probably is no wrong totem. If you believe these things to be absolutely flesh and blood real, well then, like those who hear god speaking, picking the wrong totem is the least of your troubles...

As to your totems, if you got a rush that the wolf was your totem go with it. I doubt it will harm you much. And each of the other animals you mentioned, Water Buffalo, Sharks, Peregrine Falcons, and all of the cats are of course fine totems. Any animal is. You sound pragmatic. I am also, though I am very emotional as well. I say simply trust your instincts. As I said I stray away from someone suggesting a totem. But, if someone did and it felt right in my gut, I would just go with it.

Thanks for posting that site and the quotes from it. You are smack on with the Astrological signs and the Chinese Animal Signs. There are things in every animal that each of us could relate with. Also in each society different animals have different symbolism. In western culture snakes are shunned as evil, thanks to a great misunderstanding of the astrotheological story of genesis by the christians who literalized the obvious metaphors there. Whereas in indian culture snakes are protectors and defenders of good, destroyers of evil.

With that in mind, and following everything I said about my lack of belief, belief. I say the same thing I said earlier. Choose whatever totem you feel fits you, whether over a time period, or something that hits you in a moment of epiphany. And go with whatever symbolism works for you.

Beck Melbourne

Hahaha, I love it! We could have a dog/badger fight sometime. Broads make great fierce animals. Grrrrrr.

PeaceLoveHarmony

I am glad I am not a dog...I think a turtle makes a great metaphor of your name here. And that is all a totem is, a metaphor. No different than gods and goddesses are metaphors.

Refiners Fire Totally cool man, I love wombats. Now I am going to have an interesting picture of you, along with that greenman pic of yours.

RedHorseWoman

I was projecting this afternoon to you, requesting your participation in this thread. I can only guess that you got that. I knew the horse would be a totem of yours. The Cat was something I should have expected. Frog, turtle, and owl, interesting, and the Dracken, coool.

Kep If you like the big cats, we are definitely going to get along...

114

Hyghlandyrs Four Pillars, his Hygh Geas.

by Hyghlandyr in

jw
friends

some of you know that i have stated i am amoral.

that means that i have no moral system.

no ethical system either.

Hyghlandyr

MPatrick, you might be interested to know that Padraig is Patrick in Gaeilge, our native tongue. Of course Sean is native Irish as well. I dont know how to spell Michael in Gaeilge. It is a beautiful thing to know the meaning of one's name.

Seosamh Seamus Ó Foirtchéirn would have been my name if I lived in Eire. (Sho-sev, Shaymus O ForthSharn) Meaning, Joseph-Yah Increases, James-Supplanter, Taking hold of the heal, and Granson (Ó) of Overlord.

Yall definitely looked Gaelic, and of course the name only added to that. But I always check and let people define themselves. Your son definitely looks pure Irish. You look black Irish, as do I.

The sleeping room thing is just a fun thing. It is another communal thing. I usually, when I get off of a study, go eat with the friends who did the study with me. We sit around in a circle, passing the food around, eating off the same sandwhiches, drinking from the same cups. I havent actually done that in a while because a couple friends I have now are afraid of germs hehehe. 'That which does not kill me, strengthens me.' In any case, communal things, 'things of the sett', always seem spiritual to me.

You might want to check the thread on totems at:
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=26145&site=3&page=1

I liked all the Hyghlandyr movies. And I was and am a huge fan of the series. I even watch the Raven on occasion. Though I am not so fond of that. My name comes from the series, back when I was on AOL. I had tried several variations to get on with Highlander, and of course each was taken. So finally I ended up with this. As it turns out I met some fella who claimed to be the writer to it. He also claimed to have acted in some other movie, I think Hunt for Red October. I checked the name of the other movie and that name had acted in it. But I was new to the net and did not know how to check the writer of the Highlander movie. I cant remember the dudes name. hehehe.

Your husband and I should get together and play the Highlander drinking game. You watch several of the movies, or series, all night long. Each time someone says 'There can be only one!' everyone takes a shot. (Of course since I dont drink anymore, I will always win.....)

Also you might be interested, there are lots and lots of places around here that teach Irish Step dancing, it is surprisingly easy, at least the formula to it, but getting my legs to do it, well thats a different story isnt it now? Also a priest in Columbus teaches Gaeilge every Tuesday night.

114

Hyghlandyrs Four Pillars, his Hygh Geas.

by Hyghlandyr in

jw
friends

some of you know that i have stated i am amoral.

that means that i have no moral system.

no ethical system either.

Hyghlandyr

Santa stole his statements from Bridh. She is not one of the voices in my head since I said that I hear my own voice.

SF I dont know who wick is. I seriously doubt wick was even in yahoo chat at all. He or she claimed to be there and said things that anyone on this board knows about me. Further he or she was upset that I didnt mention him or her by name, claiming it must have had to do with my enounters with him or her on yahoo. But since Ive never met someone with the nick Smouldering Wick on yahoo, I have no clue who this person is. I do know that the claim to having been there for several months are unlikely based on the things he or she said. Certainly the narrowminded view of everyone on yahoo as either a follower of mine or an enemy, is completely innaccurate. So I really just doubt their claims entirely.

114

Hyghlandyrs Four Pillars, his Hygh Geas.

by Hyghlandyr in

jw
friends

some of you know that i have stated i am amoral.

that means that i have no moral system.

no ethical system either.

Hyghlandyr

Actually on yahoo you can tell how many are ignoring you. Usually it is one or two. Most that ignore me were witnesses and they fled to www.paltalk.com 'where TRUE witnesses talk'(tm).

And Bridh knows everyone, she is everywhere, she is the Great Goddess of Tir ná mBán. She's watching you always. She knows when you are sleeping. She knows when you're awake. She knows if youve been good or bad so be bad for goodness sake.

114

Hyghlandyrs Four Pillars, his Hygh Geas.

by Hyghlandyr in

jw
friends

some of you know that i have stated i am amoral.

that means that i have no moral system.

no ethical system either.

Hyghlandyr

Imbue, I just asked Bridh again, she said you honestly believe you were joking, but that you werent. Gotta go with bridh, Ive seen what she looks like and know her relative position(prone..oh yeaaaaah) (When Bridh sees that comment she is going to kick my ass, but oh yeah.)

114

Hyghlandyrs Four Pillars, his Hygh Geas.

by Hyghlandyr in

jw
friends

some of you know that i have stated i am amoral.

that means that i have no moral system.

no ethical system either.

Hyghlandyr

Ring, applause. That is my point, if someone doesnt like me in chat, hey dont chat with me. So its cool man. As to kool aid, I prefer orange, grape, and cherry.

osme? A typo I suppose,....

oopps Just read Gravedancer..hehe Yes it is Osama in Gaeilge :)

(Gaelic is Scottish, Gaeilge is Irish, I dont speak scottish)