Making Holy Water

Despite the troubled state of the world today it's not time to give up in despair. Now more then ever we need to redouble our efforts, show compassion to those in need and help others see reason who may have lost their moral compass in the high emotions of the day. Each of can help make the world a better place and we have the responsibility to do as much as we can. It can only get better if we all pitch in.

IN THE NEWS

US prison population peaks
Jails now hold nearly twice as many inmates as in 1990. The number of people in jail in the United States rose to more than two million for the first time ever last year, the government has said. Official figures show the US has the biggest prison population in the world, and the highest number of inmates as a proportion of its population.

see full story at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/2925973.stm

EDITORS NOTE:

I've heard enough war news for now so I though I'd mention this instead. Although the trend appears to be slowing we do imprison more people then any other country in the world. We need to focus less on pure punishment and more on changing the behavior of those who commit crimes. First to go should be mandatory sentencing laws which are great for getting politicians re-elected, but opposed by 70% of judges (see http://www.sentencing.org/judge.html).

READERS WRITE IN

If you have a question feel free to email me at info ( at ) spiritual humanism.org
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Dear sir or ma'am,
I was recently ordained to be a reverend I was wondering how it is that one
blesses water to make it holy? I would be very appreciative to know the answer.
sincerely, Dru

Water rites have long been associated with various religious traditions. Since many rituals can have their religious impact enhanced by the use of water, Spiritual Humanism has a procedure for the consecration and storage of ritual water

-Use only water from a special source, such as from a source of spiritual significance.
-The water should be consecrated in a spiritual inspiring place.
-The water should be stored in a special ritual container used only for this purpose.
-The ceremony should take place at religiously significant time. Equinox and solstice are ideal, the day of the full moon is also acceptable. It should take place at sunrise, sunset, or the rise of the full moon.
-The ceremony will be more powerful if performed with incense, and a candle lighting ceremony, followed by meditation or chanting then finally an invocation.

Invocation for the Consecration of Ritual Water

Water, fluid of life. Within the abundance of this liquid billions of years ago the first living organisms, our ancestry, formed and started the process of life which we continue here, and pass along to the future.

The ancient oceans, where simple life forms thrived, reproduced, and evolved. Our distant ancestors left the teeming seas still they depended on water for their existence, to survive, and to flourish.

Like those we evolved from we depend on water to live and thrive, and ultimately for all the joys life has to offer.

We consecrate this water before us, recognize its purity, and recognize its importance in the process of life.

CONCLUSION

Clergy Packages are available in our online store http://www.spiritualhumanism.org/shop.php All Certificates are printed on acid free paper for extra long life, and Clergy Wallet ID Cards are printed on a durable plastic card. Our book, The Officiant's Manual includes information on celebrating the solstices and equinox as well as marriage laws for all 50 states, sample ceremonies, etc. The fees charged for these packs are our only income and help defer the cost of the web site, advertising, PO Box, and incorporation fees.

RA Zorger
President, The Church of Spiritual Humanism

News
There is no god, church billboard proclaims
Thu, 01 Sep 2011
While the local Mid Ohio Atheists group thinks the billboard promotes their own message, some confused Christians have complained. The purpose of the billboard was to make people think more about their beliefs and promote the church's website.

Osama Bin Laden Is Dead, Time To Bring Home the Troops
Mon, 02 May 2011
He is gone and that’s a good thing. Now it is time for America to get our house in order. It is time to end the wars and occupation that Bin Laden provoked. His goal was to pull us in to conflict with all of the Muslim world so that they might unite under his banner to battle against us. In this he failed. We have prevailed and now it is time for us to move on to face even greater threats and challenges.

Happy Spring Equinox
Sun, 20 Mar 2011
The Spring Equinox is today March 20th 2011. Also known as the Vernal Equinox, the official start of spring occurs today at 7:21 pm Eastern Daylight Time. If you are interested in the spiritual aspects of the natural event take a look at my Spiritual Equinox 2011 celebration post.

Spring Equinox 2011
Mon, 14 Mar 2011
Each season has its own flavor, and atmosphere. The essential nature of spring is hope. Even though the whole of winter's bluster has not entirely faded, there is a change in the air. The days have slowly been growing longer to noticeable degree. There are no fruits in vegetables coming in for harvest but the crocus has sprouted and come into bloom.