Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit = idolatry

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is to deny God, and to also accredit lesser gods (or demons) to the good works/miracles that actually come from God.  This, is idolatry, as defined by the Catholic Church, and is the one unforgivable sin, as stated in the Catechism:

"Idolatry not only refers to false pagan worship. It remains a constant temptation to faith. Idolatry consists in divinizing what is not God. Man commits idolatry whenever he honors and reveres a creature in place of God, whether this be gods or demons (for example, satanism), power, pleasure, race, ancestors, the state, money, etc. Jesus says, 'You cannot serve God and mammon.' Many martyrs died for not adoring 'the Beast' refusing even to simulate such worship. Idolatry rejects the unique Lordship of God; it is therefore incompatible with communion with God."

We see two famous stories of idolatry in the Gospels, where Jesus warns us of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit,  Matthew 12.32, and the second most common warning in Mark 3.22.

And yet, people do not recognize that idolatry is at the heart of this unforgivable sins.

Now, I do not have the answers (yet!)  I have fallen victim to idolatry in my yoga practices, and I know not if I can be forgiven.  Does the one unforgivable sin mean that it is only unpardonable if we die before repenting?  What about the Church teaching that once we stand before God, in our purest form (the soul), we will choose Christ?  What then?

What I do know, is that most every one has fallen victim to the idolatry that is the curse inherited from Adam's Fall.  Only few will find and take the the narrow gate; the rest will succumb to idolatry, and typically not even realize it.

The greatest and most overt example of idolatry is within the growing popularity of yoga.  In 2008, tens of millions of people practice(d) yoga in the United States alone, with over a million Canadians practicing in 2003. (Ibid).  Imagine what that statistics are in 2011!

This, of course is hard to accept, even for the Catholic.  It is important when taking the narrow path that is requested of us, that we still follow Jesus' commandments, and also to remember what it truly means to love our enemies.  Jesus was not exclusive; though he came only for the lost sheep of Israel, anyone of faith was healed.

It is a fine line between apostleship and radicalism, condemning and warning. But more importantly, there is the maturation of the gift of discernment that is bestowed upon us at baptism.  We must pray for the grace so that God may strengthen our ability to know good from evil, and to know who that lost are, and who we are not meant to minister as Christ's disciples.

The real problem in (kundalini) yoga right now, is the failure to recognize that everything is God's will: even when it is us who are preforming the miracles, and making us seem God-like. And even though the Japji states that everything is in God's will, the yogi believes that the power is his, because he is God.  This is the most common iniquity committed by man since the beginning (Original Sin), and the reason why we suffer still.  Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit must be the centre of the Christian's focus when practicing yoga (even the yogis).

The consequences of idolatry have been made known to us for thousands of years, and even the complacent and ignorant are not absolved of their offences. If we want to break the generational curse of Adam, we must recognize the Christ, our True God; there is no other way.

Yoga and the Antichrist

John prophecised in Scripture that the Antichrists have come, and will continue to do so (1 Jn 2.18), while advising that "There are many deceivers at large in the world, refusing to acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in human nature.  They are the Deceiver; they are the Antichrist." (2 Jn 7)

Jesus himself warns us of the grave danger that we are to face, "False Christs and false prophets will arise and produce signs and portents to deceive (even) the elect...You, therefore, must be on your guard.  I have given you full warning." (Mark 13.22-3)

I have been seduced by the Antichrist, but as St. Paul was knocked right off of his horse on his way to Damascus to commit sin, so too was I knocked down on my way to becoming a yoga master, right at the beginning of my teacher training program in the autumn of 2008.  This is why I feel such a strong connection to the dangers of the New Age, though I did not understand until this month the mission that God has been preparing me for.

I am now working to release my bondage from Satan, as I repent for the times I would hold asanas to demons and lesser-gods, and for chanting blasphemy.   Even if I was unaware of what I was doing; ignorance is no defence (Ps 8.2), as well as for my inherent offences against God for the generational curse of my ancestors’ iniquity in practicing the occult (idolatry), “I punish a parent’s fault in the children, the grandchildren, and the great-grandchildren among those who hate me.” (Ex 20.5).

The primal reason, the primitive reason, why yoga is the leading destructive force in the insidious New Age movement, is because it swiftly and accurately ushers in the Antichrist; it comes from the same seed that allowed for the first violation against God ever to be committed: idolatry - the worship of the self, over the respect due to the one who created us.  Indeed, New Age is not new - it is merely an exotic form of the forbidden fruit of the one and only rule that God had set for us in the Garden of Eden.

Yoga takes us away from God, by telling us that we are God, which empowers us and makes for an appealing teaching.  As God, we are perfect: we do not fault, we have no need to repent, we never die, we can control the weather, we can move mountains - and not with faith in God, but simply with faith in ourselves and our own "divinity".  Yoga claims to be spiritually superior, but what it really does is prey on the vulnerable.

Yogi Bhajan, my former master's master, who passed the year before I walked into my first yoga class, brought Kundalini Yoga to North America in the late 1960's.   Yogiji, as his followers call him,  was allegedly prophecised by the Hopi Indians to establish peace and unity on earth.  But I now argue that he is in truth an Antichrist, and the most powerful one this world has thus far witnessed.

This guru was attractive, charming, charismatic, intelligent, and persuasive; he even got away with telling his students that they are filthy on the inside.  Some of his lectures were so crass and cruel, that I would often have to stop reading them.  This is just one way in how yoga is contradictory (and should be a red-flag, but naturally is not).  In one class we're being taught that we are perfect, and in another we are being told we're ugly on the inside: fakes behind our spotless white garments that symbolize purity.

It is pressing that us Catholics recognize the dangers of yoga, and also be vigilant of New Age philosophies that are seeping into some of our priest's homilies.  It is time to ask for courage to become a Jeremiah, and to watch out for our brothers and sisters who are leaving the flock to pursue a life of idolatry - the one grave sin that Jesus says is unforgivable (Mk 3.29), yet which tens, maybe even hundreds by now, of millions of North Americans have been recorded of practicing.

And yet naturally it is challenging to understand the dangers of yoga, because it makes one feel attractive: it gives one confidence, strength, and esteem.  But the devil makes us feel good, this is why we usually do not recognize his ways.

Satan makes us feel like limitless gods - until he calls his debt in.

As Jesus says, you have been warned.

The essentials in being human

What I've learnt so far in the summer of 2011 (an on):

1) Being in pools, lakes, oceans (playing in water)
2) Amusement parks (going on rides)
3) Mosh pits

"Welcome"

From new indie band of St. John's, Newfoundland, Hey Rosetta!

The first time I heard this song, I only really picked up on the line about being 33 years old, because that's my age.  I felt guilt, because my immediate interpretation was, "everything (I) wanted and tried to be has been pulled apart because of MY fear and greed."

But when I saw Hey Rosetta!  at Downsview Park on Canada Day, one of their last songs was "Welcome", and it gave me chills, as though I was high.  Suddenly, I realized that this is my song to feel inspired, not my song to feel shame because of any fault through my own doings!  Maybe it sounds strange to identify with this song as "mine", but the embarrassment that I felt at the aforementioned lyric, and the upliftment of how I now interpret it after seeing them perform live, is truly strong.  This is MY song!

After the lyrics, I posted a flawless performance by the group during the South By South East festival at the beginning of the summer.  Enjoy :)

You'll be a bright light, coming out of the dark.
All the doctors, blinking hard.
You'll be lightning, coming out of the storm.
It's a message; it's a miracle.

You will do alright.
You've got your mother's eyes.
You've got your daddy's head;
everything thing you need for this hard ride
they'll be strapping you on.
All the ups and downs, and you can't get off.

There's trouble we're handing off
and you've got to do better than us.

It will be alright.
You've got lots of time.
You've got your daddy's love,
everything you want.

I can feel you, and what you're going to be.
You'll be stronger, you'll be smarter than me.

Oh baby, I'll say it again:
You're the most incredible thing.

I'm sorry, this is it.
It's cold and hard and badly lit,
and there's no backing out of it.

So forget where you've been.
It will never be that good again;
we must only look ahead.

And soon you're 33,
and everything you tried to be
is pulled apart by fear and greed.

But young hands could build you up,
and carve your face in honest rock,
sunlight on your noble jaw.

Young hands build you up...

I'm happy that you've come along.

Hey Rosetta! performing "Welcome"

On guard for thee

Whatever happened to just standing on guard for thee?

 From today's Globe and Mail:

"Canada is more...than hockey, saying ‘eh’ a lot, and drinking Tim Hortons coffee".  I'm conflicted on this belittlement of (fun) national identity.

First of all, it's the beholders' own folly for ignoring (or making conclusions based on ignorance) our incredible and accomplished history.  Who doesn't know that we burned down the White House?   Canada IS in fact known to have excellent hard power, despite the US making fun of us for being, and I quote Homer Simpson, the "younger brother, who, by the way, has never had a girlfriend".

In trying to show we are not just soft power, (which apparently is how we define Peacekeepers who gang up on and  beat civilians to death), we're sending out a very clear message to the world stage that we ARE in fact aggressive; but this is already completely obvious!  We riot over hockey, for crying out loud.  How does puffing out our chest and implying that we are ready to fight benefit us?  This only puts us on the radar.  What are we trying to prove, and to whom?

Now in terms of the Monarchy, as a once dominate culture (which I personally hail from), that has now become the minority to what appears to be Eastern Europeans, whom, from what I have observed, consider Canada to be second-rate to their homeland and don't really seem to want to be here, I really don't have a problem with returning back to the entire foundation of this awesome country.  But then where does this leave Quebec?  The French helped to make this country interesting and unique, and it is crucial to work with the Separatists, whilst not alienating those who do in fact respect the Empire.

On the flip side to my disagreement of our exertions, Harper is brilliant for funding our presence in the North, and I am extremely grateful for his timely insight and action; this is standing on guard, literally, which is, in my opinion, is the most noble form of patriotism.  

In closing, can we not just be left to train for defence: we already know we are amazing, must we flaunt pearls before swine? 

Harper spins a new form of patriotism

Masks

I was on a date with a guy who I had (foolishly) put a lot of stock into, and on our strange and final night together, he began talking to me about the masks that people wear.  The self-consciousness in me immediately assumed he was referring to a fakeness in my character, but in retrospect, I think that he was saying in a roundabout way, that he's actually a dick.

This got me thinking about masks.  We're taught in school that we all have different "personalities", or roles: child (daughter/son), student, friend, and so on.  For years, my yoga training has been to reverse these stigmatizations and suffocations in our characters - to be consistent: to both balance the polarities, and to grow steadfast in our characters.

I have had a very interesting (and amazing!) long weekend.  After a series of events, I realized that I am not as steadfast as I thought I was: that I am very well wearing masks, and they switch around depending on the company that I am in.

When I am nervous and shy around people who I don't know, I  can come across very meek, sunny, and sweet, even.  But when I am around people who I am comfortable around, I can be like ice:  condescending, sarcastic, even quite mean at times.

I realized, after months of trying to understand my character flaw of nervousness, that this is why I can be awkward in unfamiliar, or even familiar, places.  Deep down, I know that there is a discord in my character - something that I am refusing to address, even to myself.

I had the heebie-jeebies when going to sleep last night.  I imagined myself talking to Jesus, and I saw that I needed to let go of any "dark" or "heavy" feelings that I LIKE holding onto; feelings that, in a way, I feed off of.  I truly believe that this is the only way at this time, that I can begin to feel more relaxed.

I do not believe that I am to let go of all desire to fight, whether it be an idea, a fantasy, or even myself, but harbouring these feelings of negativity are only presenting one view of the world to me - that we are all evil, depraved, and fake; that when push comes to shove, we would feed off our own family members to survive.

What horrible thoughts I have!  Being in socially opposite situations this part long weekend, where in one place I felt like a stranger, and the other place I felt more at home, I saw that I will see what I want to see, but more importantly, that I can control the way I interpret things.

And though I have blood-lust, we all do, this only creates a feeling of defence and otherness, which I suspect leads to awkwardness, stiffness.

 Rolling in the deep

Feel my truce

I've been campaigning against the Freemasons for about half a year now.  

But a thought came to me this afternoon after remembering that my household has yet to submit our census, and it's gotten to the point that they are visiting routinely to remind us that it's federal law to fill it out.

I've been hating on Masons, and for the most part, I feel righteous and solid in my efforts - it is a corrupt organization, even the mafias don't want to get caught up with these mysterious creatures.

But because it is so valued, confusing, layered, concealed, systematic, and feared, I've had a pretty rich life, and no, I'm not talking financially, more so in terms of soft power - I can not submit my census, and not even really care about it, for example.

It is time to focus my anarchy elsewhere, because my problems with the Masons (More so Illuminati), are mine alone.  I've met two or three people online who are in this one percent of the world's population, and it's not so much that I am fighting a losing battle, because in Satan's world, there really isn't any winning until we are released in death, but more so I need to put efforts toward more relatable ills - like government - people who tell me I need to fill out a census, especially when it's been proven to be discriminatory.

Did we not hate Caesar?  Do we love taxes?  Do we really want to be told what to do, kept belittled, isolated, and afraid?  Ontario is probably one of the worse places in the free world to live in, and it has definitely shaped me into the Black Bloc advocate who I have become after witnessing the G20 summit in my city a year ago, so why am I focussing on something so elusive that has really only helped shape me into the warrior that I want to be?

Our politicians might be corrupt and evil, but that doesn't mean that the lodges where they smoke cigars are as well.  I have bigger fish to fry, and I'm ready to make peace with the people who actually run the show from backstage. 

Moment of Clarity