I'm an atheist, but I am superstitious.

[BurtWorm]

Please don't jinx the election by prematurely gloating.

:insert smiley anxiously flicking drops of chicken blood on a voodoo doll:

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

1. Well, I'm a Irish Catholic and very superstitious .

It goes with the territory and ITA.

I'd love to have a voodoo doll about now.

[pnorman]

6. "I'd love to have a voodoo doll about now. '

Try this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180044938882

(DON'T prick your finger in your frenzy!)

pnorman

[JeffR]

2. You're right. This is not the time for gloating.

There's nothing to gloat about... yet.

[Swamp Rat]

3. That is not how we practice Voodoo here in New Orleans

No thanks to that drunk hack Robert Tallant, we have a completely fictional version of Voodoo etched into the consciousness of America, exacerbated by idiots in Hollywood.

I'm not criticising you BurtWorm. I am just tired of our traditions being warped beyond recognition by christo-fascists and corporate Hollywood.

[BurtWorm]

4. Humble apologies, Swamp Rat.

My superstition isn't voodoo. It uses voodoo dolls, just not correctly. I do incorrect things with crucifixes too.

:hide:

[Swamp Rat]

5. No apology necessary

:hi:

All hail the Great Demon Lizard!



Praise Almighty Rumsferatu!

[demwing]

8. LOL - "I do incorrect things with crucifixes too. "

I think I saw that in a movie once. Ew.

[Justitia]

7. Ditto, BurtWorm. Do any of our pagan friends have some spells to calm my nerves?

I'm a superstitious atheist too - about the really important stuff anyway! ha!

All that keeps running around my head is "Don't Tempt Fate"!

[demwing]

9. Try chanting

mantra meditation is good for the nerves. Try the Buddhist mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum." It's said that the entire teachings of Buddha are contained in those words, and there is no simple way to translate them into an English sentence.


Some say the words matter, some say not. There is an old Tibetan story that illustrates the point. Here's a translation:

The True Sound of Truth

A devoted meditator, after years of concentrating on a particular mantra, had attained enough insight to begin teaching. The student's humility was far from perfect, but the teachers at the monastery were not worried.

A few years of successful teaching left the meditator with no thoughts about learning from anyone; but upon hearing about a famous hermit living nearby, the opportunity was too exciting to be passed up.

The hermit lived alone on an island at the middle of a lake, so the meditator hired a man with a boat to row across to the island. The meditator was very respectful of the old hermit. As they shared some tea made with herbs the meditator asked him about his spiritual practice. The old man said he had no spiritual practice, except for a mantra which he repeated all the time to himself. The meditator was pleased: the hermit was using the same mantra he used himself -- but when the hermit spoke the mantra aloud, the meditator was horrified!

"What's wrong?" asked the hermit.

"I don't know what to say. I'm afraid you've wasted your whole life! You are pronouncing the mantra incorrectly!"

"Oh, Dear! That is terrible. How should I say it?"

The meditator gave the correct pronunciation, and the old hermit was very grateful, asking to be left alone so he could get started right away. On the way back across the lake the meditator, now confirmed as an accomplished teacher, was pondering the sad fate of the hermit.

"It's so fortunate that I came along. At least he will have a little time to practice correctly before he dies." Just then, the meditator noticed that the boatman was looking quite shocked, and turned to see the hermit standing respectfully on the water, next to the boat.

"Excuse me, please. I hate to bother you, but I've forgotten the correct pronunciation again. Would you please repeat it for me?"

"You obviously don't need it," stammered the meditator; but the old man persisted in his polite request until the meditator relented and told him again the way he thought the mantra should be pronounced.

The old hermit was saying the mantra very carefully, slowly, over and over, as he walked across the surface of the water back to the island.

[Justitia]

11. Thanks. The story answers the 1st question that popped into my mind...

"How do I say that"?

:D

[BurtWorm]

10. Polytheism sometimes makes more sense to me than monotheism

I can understand that sort of constant desire to propitiate the universe--to try anything to keep it from smashing you to bits. ;)

[stellanoir]

12. Here's a simple Yankee one

but I have a bunch of 'em from all different sorts of traditions. . .

"Take baths. If you have no bathtub available, then bathe around. Aaaand don't tell me that you have no extra time for baths, as baths take about 15 minutes, showers take 5-10. No one is really that busy or all too important to not be able to do so.

It is recommended adding 1 part baking soda to 2 parts Epsom Salts
for baths. That stuff is really cheap. and readily available. I add
my fave oil (lavender). You can add yours.

Ritual full immersion is an age old, time & tried tradition for more than just physical purification. It is especially so for more sensitive sorts. It is great to do during lunations. That would mean, once every two weeks or so.

It is alleged to release all sorts of accumulated psychic effluvia
from bodies and auric fields . I just know that when I take one, I
invariably feel reborn, and am reminded that I too have a life, instead of contemplating the troubles of others all the time as is my
ridiculously inherent proclivity."

At the very least, it's a great stress reducer.

Feel better. Otherwise, I strongly recommend "PANIC." That always works. /sarcasm

[Justitia]

13. Good suggestion - I love baths. I always wonder why I don't indulge more often.

I have an awesome jetted tub and some really good smelling bath salts.

And it's really good for your blood pressure!

Clarification: I do shower, in case anyone was wondering.

[upi402]

14. there's a goat swinging on a rope

just in case