Category: About Network
Illustration: Robert Simon/The Telegram
Top story: Police claim accurate psychic is the real deal
Plus:
• Newfoundland fishermen snag sea monster in nets
• Sheldrake and Wiseman clash over parapsychology experiments
• Coleman dubs new sighting Bigfoot "Leeds Loki"
• Flying humanoid reported in California
• No longer spooked by ghostly goings-on
• Japanese World War II ship shelled pterosaur caves
• "Something haunted my house"
• More about the Greten Family poltergeist
• Night in haunted house for charity
• Virgin Mary icon "crying tears of oil" in France
... more Paranormal News
PARANORMAL NEWS: Psychic Detective, Sea Monster, Flying Humanoid originally appeared on About.com Paranormal Phenomena on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 22:56:55.
Forwarded emails warn of a new security vulnerability in Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003 systems consisting of a pop-up window directing users to press the F1 key, which sends them to a website that downloads malicious software.
The warnings are accurate, confirms Microsoft, though as yet there have been no reports of actual attacks attempting to exploit this vulnerability.
F1 Key Virus originally appeared on About.com Urban Legends on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 18:06:16.
Thanks to Rowan for tipping me off to this one. A group of seven Muslim men who stopped to pray in a Henderson, Nevada, parking lot back in December have filed a complaint against the local police. According to reports, a resident called the police to say "seven Middle Eastern males were acting suspiciously by a gray minivan with California license plates." The caller also reported several of the men "were kissing the ground." Shortly afterwards, law enforcement officials showed up to question the men.
If you watch the cell phone video -- which is a bit grainy and blurry -- you can hear the officer saying that police were called because "someone saw you doing your prayers, and they were kind of weirded out by that." The officer makes reference to "indicents in the past," and says, "based on events that have happened around the world... can you fault people who don't understand things for being concerned?" You can also hear one of the Muslim men questioning whether or not just being Muslim is just cause for a police stop. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, has filed a formal complaint with the Henderson Police Department for what they believe to be an unlawful stop.
So, here's the big question -- IS it okay for police to question someone just because people think their behavior is a bit weird? What happens if I'm hosting circle in my back yard, and my neighbors peek over the fence to see a half dozen folks in robes, holding athames, and chanting around an altar? Can my local deputy pay a call just because it's odd behavior by suburban standards? Or is it only a problem if I'm a Muslim, rather than a Pagan? Definitely something worth thinking about.
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Complaint Filed in NV Prayer Stop originally appeared on About.com Paganism / Wiccan on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 11:21:14.
Since the January earthquake that struck Haiti, leveling buildings and killing thousands, there has been an emerging battle between Christian groups and the country's many practitioners of Vodoun, or Voodoo. Last month, Vodoun high priest Max Beauvoir accused missionary groups of discriminating against those who practiced his religion, saying, "The evangelicals are in control and they take everything for themselves." He claimed that opponents of Vodoun have deliberately prevented medical assistance and food relief from reaching some of the more remote areas of the country.
In the past few weeks, things have gone from bad to worse, as Christian evangelical groups place the blame for the quake on the sinfulness of Haiti's Vodoun followers. Willer Jassaint, a houngan, or high priest, told reporters, "They say we're the ones who caused the earthquake. But we know ourselves that we didn't cause the quake, because it was a natural catastrophe."
On February 23, things got completely out of control when a group of Protestant evangelicals threw rocks at people holding a Vodoun ceremony. Max Beauvoir has encouraged his people to respond to such acts with aggression, although at this point it doesn't look as though there have been additional violent conflicts. Still, folks in Haiti have it bad enough right now, what with there being no real infrastructure to speak of, a lack of resources, and a crumbling socioeconomic strata. Add to this some violent dissention between religious groups, and you've got the makings of a civil war in an already damaged country.
Meanwhile, the houngans continue to plan ceremonies, so they can lay the dead to rest. They say they "owe the spirits of the dead that release... and they owe themselves that show of defiance."
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Christianity vs Vodoun in Haiti's Streets originally appeared on About.com Paganism / Wiccan on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 10:21:18.
I've always been fascinated by the notion of dowsing, which is a method of locating water sources beneath the ground using sticks and rods for divination. Some might scoff at this, but it's a technique that's been used with some degree of success for hundreds - even thousands - of years in some parts of the world. The Canadian Society of Questers, which is a dowsing group based in Calgary, has planned their spring conference at Olds College from May 14 -17, 2010. If any of you folks up in Calgary get a chance to attend, be sure to stop back in and let us know what you learned!
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Dowsing Workshop Planned in Canada originally appeared on About.com Paganism / Wiccan on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 10:08:48.
Plan your magical herb garden in advance!
Image © Getty Images
If you're planning your spring garden, consider adding some magical herbs into your planting activities. Start off by selecting a few plants you'd like to work with, and grow them yourself instead of buying them from suppliers. Plan ahead, by looking over the list of Magical Herbal Correspondences. Also, be sure to check out our Magical Herbs Image Gallery.
Don't forget to sign up for the free Seven Day Ostara Class!
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Ostara Countdown: Hooray for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Paganism / Wiccan on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 06:27:22.
"My mom and I also saw a black-eyed man in Wal-Mart. It was in Eureka, Missouri; we live only about 10 minutes away," reports Tilted Halo. "It was last summer and we had been shopping and heading for the front to check out when this spectacularly tall man passed us going the other way. I looked at his face and freaked out because his eyes were all black...." But that wasn't he only thing weird about this guy. And the sighting was followed up by something suspicious. Read the rest of the story.
Freaky Black-Eyed Man originally appeared on About.com Paranormal Phenomena on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 17:55:21.
If you're in the Central Ohio area, stop in next weekend, March 13 & 14, and visit me at the 8th Annual Gift of Light Expo! It's a great festival that brings the metaphysical community together, and includes all kinds of workshops, lectures, energy workers, readers, vendors and artists. I'll be doing readings and selling books at The Cat & The Cauldron's booth (#308), so if you get a chance, stop in and say hi!
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Join Me for the Gift of Light! originally appeared on About.com Paganism / Wiccan on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 11:08:05.
Got leftover Peeps? Make dessert!
Image © Getty Images
Coming on the heels of yesterday's goofy Chocolate Rabbit ritual, I thought I'd share with you one of my favorite sugar-coma inducing recipes for Ostara. Got leftover Peeps after your Chocolate Rabbit rite? Never fear -- you can whip them up into a dessert! Marshmellow Peep Ambrosia.
Don't forget to sign up for the free Seven Day Ostara Class!
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Ostara Countdown: Peeps Everywhere! originally appeared on About.com Paganism / Wiccan on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 05:01:54.
Of the many UFO sighting reports, those made by pilots are considered some of most credible. They are supposedly trained observers of what is going on in the skies.
Recently a pilot from Warwickshire, UK, had a very compelling sighting. He tells us that he saw two, low-flying, petal-shaped objects, moving at about 1,500 feet. Eventually, they disappeared into the cloud cover. He stated that:
"It was circular in shape, but had a structure which resembled flower petals extending outwards from the center, and the petals were very strongly illuminated and appeared to be glowing as if they were on fire."
Check out his story at Pilot Reports UFO over Warwickshire, and comment as you see fit.
Pilot Makes UFO Report originally appeared on About.com UFOs / Aliens on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 01:52:08.
Hail, the great chocolate bunny!
Image © Getty Images
A couple of years ago, I saw all the Easter candy in the store a while back, and thought that there had to be a way to incorporate all that sugary goodness into a ritual. Thus was born the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Chocolate Rabbit, which has been an annual favorite here on About Pagan/Wiccan. Feel free not to take it very seriously -- the gods know I don't -- but it's a lot of fun. And there's probably a rule somwhere that candy consumed in a ritual setting has fewer calories.
Don't forget to sign up for the free Seven Day Ostara Class!
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Ostara Countdown: Spring Silliness originally appeared on About.com Paganism / Wiccan on Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 05:55:39.
Photo: Europics
Top story: Tim Burton says it's not rare to have ghost experiences
Plus:
• Plumber becomes faith healer after finding "mystical" stone
• "Psychic" Sean David Morton sued for fraud
• New Zealand man tries to sell two ghosts on internet
• Have you been spooked at a haunted hotel?
• The ghosts of White Inn's past
• Ghost hunters claim to use ghost-catching machine to capture ghosts
• Do ghosts inhabit Ohio schools?
• Allison DuBois: Baby Gabriel will be found
• Spanish exorcist addresses claims of Satanic influence in Vatican
• Tree exorcist arrested for attacking trees by Eiffel tower
... more Paranormal News
PARANORMAL NEWS: Burton and Ghosts, Mystical Stone, Haunted Hotesl originally appeared on About.com Paranormal Phenomena on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 16:30:47.
Moonflowers bloom when the sun
goes down
Image © Patti Wigington 2009
This is the time of year when we're planning our plantings. Have you ever thought about planting flowers that bloom just at night? Yeah, sounds a bit odd, but it's glorious to look at (and smell) when it's done right. Try cultivating a Magical Moon Garden as a way of getting in touch with lunar energies. This not only looks beautiful, it provides a nice backdrop for evening rituals during the summer.
Don't forget to sign up for the free Seven Day Ostara Class!
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Ostara Countdown: Moon Gardening originally appeared on About.com Paganism / Wiccan on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 05:54:26.
Happy birthday blessings to Laurie Cabot, the Grande Dame of Salem's witchy society! Laurie has practiced witchcraft for over four decades and is the founder of the Cabot Tradition. She has been an outspoken activist on behalf of the rights of witches and Pagans everywhere, and has written a number of books. Happy birthday, Laurie, and may you enjoy many more!
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March 6: Happy Birthday, Laurie Cabot! originally appeared on About.com Paganism / Wiccan on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 04:17:28.
The egg being the most literal and obvious of all fertility symbols, ancient eggish customs survive not only in the form of egg rolling and Easter egg hunts, but also in the quaint superstitious belief, most often attributed to the Chinese, that you can stand a raw egg on end during the vernal equinox (March 20). Apparently this derives from the notion that, due to the sun's equidistant position between the poles of the earth on the first day of spring, special gravitational forces apply. More...
NEW: Share your egg balancing experiences!
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Can You Balance Raw Eggs on End on the First Day of Spring? originally appeared on About.com Urban Legends on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 02:30:12.