Darkness & Light in Witchcraft & Kabbalah

ה׳ בשבט תשע"ב
Imbolgen 7
Rowan 9

Through my Etsy shoppe (WITCHCRAFTS Artisan Alchemy™), I often receive inquiries regarding magic and metaphysical concepts. One I recently received sought an understanding of darkness and evil. I will share my response to that inquiry here with my blog friends as well - In my tradition, darkness does not equal evil. There is good in both darkness and light, just as there is banefulness in both light and darkness. The goal of my tradition is to clarify and raise both the light and the darkness to a higher vibration (so to speak) and to transform both forms together into an evolved energy that is greater than either light or darkness as each exists alone (each at their own untransformed level). Yes, it is dangerous to embrace one's darkness, but it can be equally dangerous to become unbalanced with light in an effort to strangle the darkness. One good writer who explains the good/baneful polarities of both darkness and light is Konstatinos. Here is a link to his book Nocturnal Witchcraft: Magick After Dark (which discusses these ideas about darkness and light in traditional Witchcraft) for more information.

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Evidence for a Relative Explosion of Evolutionary Specification and Genetic Divergence?

כ״ט בטבת תשע"ב
Imbolgen 2
Rowan 4

There is direct scientific evidence to suggest that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup N incorporates some Cro-Magnon (Homo Sapiens Sapiens, i.e., early modern humans) genetic material while mtDNA haplogroup X incorporates some Neanderthal (Homo Sapiens Neanderthalis) genetic material.

Interestingly, haplogroup X is considered to be a genetic descendent of haplogroup N, where haplogroup N is one of the "big three" primary macro-haplogroups from which all subsequent mtDNA haplogroups derive. The descent of a Neanderthal mtDNA containing haplogroup from a Cro-Magnon mtDNA containing haplogroup is not what one would typically expect to find, I think, unless ...

The three primary macro-haplogroups are L, M and N. Both M and N demonstrate alot of divergence (both M and N are descended from L1/3), and N demonstrates even more divergence than does M, while L2 (descended from L1) shows very little continued divergence over time. I think these facts are interesting and important to investigate further, particularly the fact that haplogroup N demonstrates many actively diverging lines, much more so than the others seem to (as seen in the table below). In other words, it looks to me as if mtDNA macro-haplogroup N is sort of like an active volcano while the other two macro-haplogroups (namely, L2 and M) are somewhat dormant at this time in history. Perhaps the combination of Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal DNA into macro-haplogroup N has caused quite a catalytic genetic explosion of specification and divergence - at least in the motherlines.

I want to learn more about this. I don't know enough about this area of science to be able to know how the mechanism of such a thing would work in nature.



UPDATE: A commenter (on one of my other sites) mentioned that this may also be evidence that our human "instincts" have been bred out of us - but I'm not sure that I can agree with that assumption. I think of the evidence more in terms of specification and specialization - I think of the phenomenon as more analogous to medical profession specialization and divergence. With so much knowledge and information available to us in the Universe, the greater the specialization, the more in depth one may learn about any given area. For example, a cardiologist is more learned in her/his area of medicine than is a neurologist, who is more learned in neurology than cardiology. Likewise in all areas of human endeavor, biologic specification may tell us more in depth about one area of ourselves as a species. Each haplogroup may be geared toward some kind of biologic specification in terms of evolution than the others. Importantly, this does not mean that one haplogroup is more evolved over another - it only may mean that each haplogroup may have been designed by the Universe as a mechanism for revealing deep truths about ourselves that we, as a species, might otherwise be unable to access if we all remained generalists in terms of biology. Generalists too are important, in my opinion, to the survival of our species, as generalists tend less to be focused on their own area of specialization and oftentimes may be able to see the overall picture with more clarity than a specialist. There is so much knowledge the Universe wishes to bestow upon us as a species, and in my opinion, this may be one mechanism by which the Universe has chosen to do it - each haplogroup has a piece of the puzzle - no piece can stand alone as the whole puzzle.

The Walls Can Talk To Us

כ״ה בטבת תשע"ב
Grael 28

I've just ordered the full DVD of this 3D film documentary, Cave of Forgotten Dreams:



Storyline summary by napierslogs - "In 1994, a group of scientists discovered a cave in Southern France perfectly preserved for over 20,000 years and containing the earliest known human paintings. Knowing the cultural significance that the Chauvet Cave holds, the French government immediately cut-off all access to it, save a few archaeologists and paleontologists. But documentary filmmaker, Werner Herzog, has been given limited access, and now we get to go inside examining beautiful artwork created by our ancient ancestors around 32,000 years ago. He asks questions to various historians and scientists about what these humans would have been like and trying to build a bridge from the past to the present."

One comment from the video trailer particular strikes me, "the walls can talk to us," especially in light of my dream a few days ago [Mystery of the Moabites] and its synchronous proximity to my recent decisive actions toward investigating my ancestral motherline [here and here].

A Right Hippocampal Mystic Typology

כ״ד בטבת תשע"ב
Grael 27

In correlation with the information in this article [The Role of Religious and Mystic Experiences In Human Evolution: An Hypothesis. Todd Murphy, 2010] discussing the differences between right hippocampal and left amygdalar mystic types, where it is written,

A mystic whose experiences appear from an unusually responsive right hippocampus is expected to report experiences dominated by right hippocampal (RH) phenomena. The RH role in spatial reasoning and memory implicates it in experiences of 'infinity', the "infinite void", spaciousness, and the experience that the space occupied by the sense of self is limitless ("one with the universe"), or existing in 'one-pointedness' (phenomena suggestive of macropsia and micropsia). The RH role in non-verbal information implicates it in the experience of inner silence, or freedom from 'mind chatter'. Its cognitive functions implicate it in the experience of 'knowingness', and 'insight', in which understandings appear spontaneously. The right hippocampus' role in processing non-verbal information would give such mystics a propensity for experiences that are 'beyond words' or 'too subtle to be explained". It's role as the source for dream imagery suggests that its also involved in the experience of 'alternate realities', 'other dimensions', the 'astral plane', the 'dream time', as well as the fleeting images that appear in hypnogogia, and even artistic visual inspirations. Its role in creating and retrieving memories suggests it may be crucial in accessing inner images, including symbolic, spiritual, and artistic images. Its production of theta activity suggests it's crucial in trance and meditation.

makes it clear to me that my mystical experiences (example) tend to be of this type, suggesting that I am a mystic of the right hippocampal (RH) type (as opposed to of the left amygdalar mystic type). The connection of RH mystical experiences to the phenomenon of memory is also interesting to me given my ever continuous memory of preincarnate existence. In light of the additional evidence given by this research group that human beings have out of physical body experiences of consciousness which come together to the self experientially from the perspective of an energetic or subtle body (as explained in related videos here, here and here), it seems reasonable to suggest that the physical brain may also have a non-physical correlate through which an individual may 'come together' as a self-aware entity.

(Described in the linked videos) I often "see" the void and the moving neurological electromagnetic field called "the binding factor" (which is responsible for bringing together and maintaining the "sense" of self) when I am resting - I can "see" this moving field when I close my eyes. At rest with my eyes closed, seeing these phenomena (the void and the moving field) are almost even my "default" settings of perception. In addition, I also occasionally experience partial seizure-like electrical activity at various locations in my body which no one but I am aware of - these too most often occur when I am resting.

I'd like one of those Shiva neural stimulation helmets!

Stand Up Against SOPA - PIPA Legislation

כ״ג בטבת תשע"ב
Grael 26



In the U.S., click here and type in your zip code to find your representatives to let them know that you oppose SOPA, PIPA and other similar types of legislation.

Psychic Skills & Miracles

כ״ג בטבת תשע"ב
Grael 26

Exploring European, Celtic and Ashkenazic mtDNA Haplogroups

כ״ג בטבת תשע"ב
Grael 26

The seven (European) “clan mothers” according to scientist-author Bryan Sykes each correspond to a human mitochondrial DNA haplogroup.

Ursula: Haplogroup U
Xenia: Haplogroup X
Helena: Haplogroup H
Velda: Haplogroup V
Tara: Haplogroup T
Jasmine: Haplogroup J
Katrine: Haplogroup K

This chart highlights in blue the mtDNA genetic haplogroups associated with the seven ancestral clan mothers from whom those with native European ancestry descend:



Among these seven European ancestral clan mothers, this chart highlights in red the mtDNA haplogroups most often (though not exclusively) associated with Ashkenazic Jewry:



Among the seven European ancestral clan mothers, this chart highlights in purple the mtDNA haplogroup most clearly (though not exclusively) associated with the ancient Celts:



Among the seven European ancestral clan mothers, this chart highlights in green the mtDNA haplogroups most often (though not exclusively) associated with the lands of my known ancestors, namely, Wales, England (Britain), Ireland, Scotland and Germany:



Interestingly, the ancient Celts and Ashkenazic Jewry overlap in haplogroup J - a haplogroup within the cluster of lands to which I have known ancestors. I'm anxious to see if my actual mtDNA genetic haplogroup in fact falls into haplogroup J or into any one of these primary European haplogroups. Time will tell.

European DNA Pages

Mystery of the Moabites

כ״א בטבת תשע"ב
Grael 24

I had a dream early this morning which sheds some light on the mythic story of the Moabites (people from the land of Moab) and on the halachic religious law preventing males from this people - the Moabites - from becoming part of the Jewish people on account of the fact that this people would not let the Israelites pass through their land on their way into the Promised Land following their escape from Egypt and journey through the desert. My dream speaks not of male genetic descendents, but interestingly, of female genetic descendents.

The dream suggests to me that genetic metaphysics are not only characteristic of the Jewish people, but may be also characteristic of all people. My dream suggests that the proverbial Moabites, whose name means "from the father's seed," pertains to the idea of non-acceptance among a people of individuals connected to a people through genetic patrilineal ancestry. While the dream may not suggest this to be an absolute necessary metaphysical reality, it does suggest that this may be a egregore of sorts which operates on a metaphysical plane because of its acceptance by those people.

The dream:

I was trying to escape a group of people among which I lived, but to which I did not belong. The community was at once settled at a place, but also simultaneously living on a moving train. In other words, it seems they were nomadic wanderers of sorts. It was illegal to leave the group, but nevertheless, with a small group, I "parted the veil" which was a wall of the train and a room in the enclosed community (don't expect the symbolism to make literal sense in this dream), and we jumped off the community onto the land outside. We ran and were pursued by those we had left.

We ran to seek shelter from our pursuers and to find acceptance among another settled community who was living on the land, but were denied acceptance by the women which lined up at the community's edge (city limits) who prevented us from entering into shelter there. They refused to let us pass through their land and to shelter us from our pursuers.

Our pursuers reached us, and we fugitive escapees were then entrapped sandwiched between our pursuers and those who refused us shelter and passage through their land. Our pursuers captured us and we were forced to return to the place from which we had escaped.

As punishment, I was to undergo a ritual of public violation and humiliation, and was also told I had to "wear pink on Tuesdays" as a sign of my transgressing the law of attempting escape. For me, a person who wears black all the time, wearing pink is diametrically opposite everything I consider myself to essentially be, but I could tolerate this. The public violation and humiliation was beyond my tolerance - I was not going to allow this as long as there was breath in my body. I resolved to escape again before the ritual could be carried out.

I was led to a room to prepare for the ritual. Instead of preparing for the ritual, I again parted the veil which was the wall, and jumped off the moving train, again. This time I did not run for the shelter of settled people living in the area - I ran a different way. I was pursued, again.

But this time, I outran and outfoxed my pursuers. I will not disclose details as to my route and other things of escape, except to say there are several veils and obstacles that were put in the way of my pursuers this time - by a people who came out to meet me and to lead me along the way of escape toward the people to which I truly belong.

One more thing I will say, is that I was washed clean of my former life (which functioned also to remove markers traceable by those pursuing me) and was given my own genetic mantle, which when place over my shoulders, grew of itself to become a full cloak covering me. My pursuers lost me.

End of dream (with respect as to what I will disclose).

Interestingly, in my dream, the role of the mythic MoABites (from the father's line) are not Moabites, but rather are MoAMites (from the mother's line) - the women of the land had refused me safe passage through their settlement and had refused me shelter from my pursuers. Nevertheless, on my second escape attempt, I took another route through the land to find my own way into it toward my own people who not only helped me, but who came out to personally meet me (as a small representative group sent by the whole) at the second veil I encountered. In fact, at this second veil, they came through it to me and took me with them deeper into the land.

The New Science of Darwinian Rebirth

כ״א בטבת תשע"ב
Grael 24

Tracing My Mitochondrial DNA Ancestral Motherline

כ״א בטבת תשע"ב
Grael 24

I've finally done it. I've made the purchase and am going to have the mitochondrial DNA test done on myself to determine my "Motherline" ancestral lineage clear back into Stone Age prehistory. With my DNA profile results, I'll learn my mitochondrial DNA Haplogroup (mtDNA branch or the genetic family to which my Motherline belongs), my genetic mtDNA markers, world ancestral origins, and an explanation of the prehistorical and historical migrations of my Motherline.

While this does not include all of my ancestors at all, it does trace my "Goddess" Motherline clear back into prehistory. I am so excited about this - the results will have a permanent place in a special altar box on my Ancestor altar. It will take some time to get it all done and the get the results back (maybe up to 6 weeks from now), but when I do, I'll surely post them here. To know one's Motherline and to trace it so far back in time - what a blessing by Goddess!

I have my eye on a few other DNA tests as well which will be more comprehensive regarding my ancestry and incorporate information from both my paternal and maternal lines (using STR genetic analysis). I've also just talked my father into letting me have some of his spit for tracing my "Fatherline" via Y-chromosome DNA analysis (like I am in process of tracing my Motherline via mitochondrial DNA analysis), so as soon as I save for the money for this additional test, I'll be doing this one as well.

I have been wanting to do this for a long time, to leave this legacy of ancestral information for my descendents. Now, I'm on my way to accomplishing it.

I See You

ז׳ בטבת תשע"ב
Grael 10

From Avatar, one of my favorite movies of all time ... I See You by Leona Lewis: