Conference hydra::dejavu

You'll need to sacrifice a young VAXen, preferably one that has never
been booted...

Perry

    Re .0 (whoever):
    
    >Whoops. Someone has threatened to put a Jamaican voodoo curse on
    >our department.  Need instant help. How to ward off hex.
     
    Jamaicans practice Obeah, not Vodoun.
    
    Any idea what kind of hex the threatener was talking about?
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    re: .3 (Steve)
    
         I can see it now...it's a HEXadecimal!
    
    Frederick
    8-)
    
    p.s. Good one, Todd!
    

    re: -.1
    
          Q-What's a hex on a DEC animal called?
    
    Frederick
    

    I have spoken to the author offline and have offered some suggestions.
    
    SET MODE/PHILOSOPHICAL
    
    Although it's often tempting to treat some requests lightly, sometimes
    a person with a serious problem asks a legitimate question; in this
    case, for aid.  
    
    Without going into details in this forum, the concerns expressed
    in the (now deleted) base note were genuine, and on the basis of
    what was said off-line, I was able to provide a suggestion or two
    that should help alleviate the situation.
    
    I'd like to assume if a person asks for help, that person's not
    talking frivolously.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.
                                  

    Thanks Steve,
    
    I for one was taken back abit when I saw the base note.  Glad you
    are sensitive enough to get beyond the initial shock of that
    brief entry and contact the person.  I speak for myself and feel
    as though I speak for the conference in appologizing for the
    banter.
    
    And, I'd also like to add; a sense of humour is the most powerful
    elixer in the universe.  Afterall, a curse is a form of hypnosis
    or convincing someone to identify with another's belief system.
    
    Larry

    re: .6 
    
        Sorry for my part in offending...it wasn't intended.  Actually, my
    hairs rose a little bit when I read the title to this note "Hex Ward
    Off" (note my last name?!) so found it humorous for me from the start.
    As we have pointed out before, just because someone has a problem
    doesn't mean we can't have humor...as long as it is adult humor and
    not humor at someone's expense.  I didn't think that line had been
    crossed.  Guess I was wrong, but I think several replies were serious
    (.1 is to me, though it could be interpreted differently) and yours
    (.3, I think) is, also.  Moreover, and this is my last point for now,
    the request came from an UNSIGNED person in a suspect account
    (General_Hospital or some-such)...we've had those bogus accounts in
    here before.  So, it is easy to see how we could come to take a 
    not-too-serious initial approach.
    
    Frederick
    

    Re foregoing:
    
    Although the basic question for a specific problem has been addressed
    offline, I suppose a little general discussion about "hex aversion"
    or things of that order is appropriate.
    
    One important consideration, if one feels he or she is vulnerable
    to hex workings is to do things that would lessen susceptability.
    There are several things that can be done that might comprise a
    form of gerneral protection, and I'll list a few here.
    
    To get rid of general negativities, one can use Sandalwood incense,
    either alone or in combination.  Dragon's Blood works nicely, too.
    (N.B.: Dragon's Blood is a gum from a plant of that name, ground
    to powder to use with or on incenses.)  A  sachet containing cloves
    works well, too; and neclace/garlands of cloves have been used as
    protectives for babies.  For really powerful negativities, burning
    Asafoetida works, but the odor is so pungent that it drives away
    all sorts of other things, too; for that reason, it should only
    be used as a last resort.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    I was dead serious with my reply in .1 (Ignore it).   Hex's or Evil
    Eyes or whatever are an attempt by the perpetrator to get the
    perpetratee to believe that a spell or hex has been placed and then
    rely on the conscious/sub-conscious to make the desired effect occur.

    Steve

    One piece of advice is to fight "fire with fire".  If they exist, get
    the advice of a positive practioner (or a practioner willing to work in
    what you would consider a positive mode) of the same magical "art".  If
    the negative is "real" then presumably the positive is also, and the
    protections provided are specific to the nature of the "hexes" involved.
    
    					Topher

    Isn't that like playing their game on their turf?  Isn't there
    a game senior to the "hurt someone - protect yourself" game?
    
    Causes one to wonder.
    
    L.

    Re: .12
    
    I do feel there are superior 'games', but I've also noticed that if
    someone is absolutely determined to play a given game, and determined
    enough to drag you to his/her field, (even including coercing you to
    the field as part of the game rules) one can often accomplish it. 
    Perhaps not all the way, but enough to get something started.  And
    anyone can end up being surprised enough to get coerced accidentally
    onto someone else's turf.  So I think that the better part of wisdom
    can occasionally be to learn other people's rules, and not to insist
    playing only by one's own.  I've never warded off a hex, but I have
    seen other people consciously play by someone else's 'rules' (in much
    more mundane arenas) and beat them at their own games; and sometimes
    being beaten was shattering enough for them that they stopped playing. 
    A fairly positive outcome, that, especially when the game was a
    negative one.
    
    Whatever works.
    
    Marcia

	I came in late on this one but have a few words to say.  I mostly
	agree with .1.  If you've seen the movie "Labyrinth" with David
	Bowie, a line at the end of the movie says it all.  After being
	under the influence of the 'bad guy' the female character simple
	comes to realize and say aloud to him, "You have no power over me."

	It could be that simple, but you have to believe it.

	Terry

RE: .12
    
    The Perfect Budo (martial art) is demonstrated by never being
    demonstrated.  One lives one life so in harmony that one is never
    attacked and therefore never needs to defend.
    
    Few of us reach that level of accomplishement, except at unacceptable
    costs (such as suicide).
    
    Another alternative is to become a willing victim.  Embrace the attack,
    love the attacker, and accept whatever "damage" joyfully.  Again few
    of us have ever reached that level of "selflessness" and I am quite
    unsure that it really represents a higher level of spirituallity.
    
    Given that we are attacked and that we are not willing to simply accept
    the effects, it follows that we must find a way to defend ourselves.
    
    We must then look for the least harmful (to ourselves and to others,
    including, I believe, our attacker) fully effective means available.
    If there must be harm, in my view, it should be to the attacker.
    
    The question then is not, whether there is a "higher" response to
    attack than enlisting the aid of a positive practitioner.  The question
    is whether there is an effective response which does less harm.  There
    one must deal with particulars, and with ones own belief.  I would
    have to seriously consider before authorizing a real counter-attack
    ("get him before he gets us").  If you believe that prayer to your
    particular choice of "god-force" is likely to be effective, then that
    is your choice.
    
    My personal belief is, however, that this is an extension of physical.
    Prayer has proven to have at best limited efficacy against someone
    with a gun.  Either a magical attack is ineffective, in which case I
    don't have to worry about it, "psychological" in which case I only
    need not believe, or its a matter of talent in which case "he" would
    seem to have more profficiency than me and I would like someone at
    the same level on my side.  I would pray to my god-force, if that was
    part of my belief structure, *and* I would enlist the aid of someone
    who is experienced at his game.  Whether or not that someone was of
    the same belief structure as the attacker would depend on the
    situation.
    
    					Topher

    Re.0 (without seeing the original note)
    
    There is the old saying, "Know thine enemy."  
    
    From reading many books, including "People Of The Lie - The Hope For
    Healing Human Evil", by Peck, it is most important to accurately name
    that which is causing you pain.  Simply by naming it and seeing it for
    what it is, assists in dissipating the fear that is instilled in you in
    the initial act.  Quoting from the book directly, "The only power Satan
    has is in the **belief** in the power of its lies."  The exorcism
    participants were continually threatened with bodily harm by the
    entity (thus attempting to instill fear in the minds of the exorcist
    team), however no attacks ever happened.  The reason for this that 
    they concluded is that the entity needed a human to carry out its desires.
    
    They also saw that the entity had no concept of the language of love.
    "Perfect Love casteth out fear."   If you are Christian, saying the
    Lord's Prayer (which includes, "Yea though I walk through the valley of
    the *shadow* of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me...")
    might be of comfort to you.
    
    Hope this helps.
    
    Cindy

    Re:   .-1

    >>>>>>>..."shadow of death..."
    
    Well, that's the 23rd Psalm, but a Rose by any other name ...
    I've used the 23rd Psalm often in times when I was really scared.
    
    The Lord's Prayer might be thought to represent a deeper understanding,
    especially where it speaks of forgiving us our sins as we forgive
    others.  This prayer will also help you center yourself.  In fact, it
    can be used for meditation as well as in times of distress.  If you're
    interested, write me for a copy of a pamphlet on that subject. 
    
    I like to take my shaggy black dog along when I walk through my
    personal "valleys of the shadow of death". It wasn't 'til I had several
    encounters with the dark forces within myself and near my property that
    I understood why this dog came to us:- He's got poor manners, he tends
    to smell, he sheds all over the place, but he's a real comfort in those
    situations. 
    
    Finally, I have found that using my body as a sort of transformer,
    I can transmute evil and fear into love and hope by raising my arms
    and spreading my legs.  I recommend the posture.

    Peace and Hope,
    
    Donald Reinke    
    

    Re.-1 (Reinke)
    
    Oops - thanks Donald - I always get them mixed up.
    
    Cindy
                  

    How can one possibly "reply" to a note that is "set hidden"? I don't
    know much besides reply and write as far as notesfiles go and I
    am puzzled to see 18 replies to a note that I can't see/read.
    
    I know this is the DEJAVU files but still..... :-)
    
    Lorraine_who_is_a_readonly_dejavuer
    

Well, however you do it, Lorraine, you've done it.

    Re .19 (Lorraine):                                      
    
    set mode/moderator
    
    The base note was deleted at the author's request, but the question
    asked went about as follows.
    
    "Someone has threatened me and my associated with a Jamaican Voodoo
    hex.  What can we do to keep from getting hexed?"
    
    It was not because of content that the note was deleted.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    re:  .19

    >>>How can one possibly "reply" to a note that is "set hidden"?    
    >>>I know this is the DEJAVU files but still..... :-)
    
    That almost deserves its own -- deleted of course -- base note. One
    wonders how much of human interchange refers to a "base note" that has
    since been deleted. 
    
    I was reminded by your answer of T.S. Eliot's musings on his life
    as a poet.
    
	 ... one has only learnt to get the better of words
    	For the thing one no longer has to say, or the way in which
    	One is no longer disposed to say it.

    				East Coker, Four Quartets

    Bravo Lorraine!
    
    Donald Reinke
    

    bravo, Donald!!
    
         Thanks for pointing that out...I like that, too!  "My life is
    a deleted base-note."  Makes one wonder what's really in there, doesn't
    it?
    
    Frederick
    

    Not merely late, but really most sincerely late.
    
    Don't come in here often, mainly because the system's so slow.
                                
    I got enough from the replies (.3, I think) to get the scoop.  One
    thing it appears everyone overlooked is that this person *believes*
    it is possible.  Therefore, unchecked, it will probably happen,
    however manifested.  So I suppose the best spiritual defense is
    fighting fire with fire.  However, we should not overlook the fact
    that a person made a threat.  Last time *I* checked, Digital frowned
    on stuff like this.  Over & above the spiritual, it appears some
    disciplinary action is called for.  A threat is a threat.
    
    Anyway, Steve, I'm curious as to what the outcome was.  (No names
    neccessary, just looking for a blow struck for justice.)  It's 
    been over a month...
                      
    						Don
    							Don

    Re .24 (Don):
    
    >Anyway, Steve, I'm curious as to what the outcome was.  (No names
    >neccessary, just looking for a blow struck for justice.)  It's 
    >been over a month...
     
    The person involved took some of the suggestions made here (plus
    some privately communicated measures).  The situation seems to have
    defuzed.
    
    >........................................................... One
    >thing it appears everyone overlooked is that this person *believes*
    >it is possible.  Therefore, unchecked, it will probably happen,
    >however manifested.  So I suppose the best spiritual defense is
    >fighting fire with fire. 
     
    Worth some comment:
    
    The event might have happened, whether or not the person believed
    in it, though belief does enhance the probabilities of occurrence.
    However, "fighting fire with fire" can be taken the wrong way. 
    If by that it's meant using psychic defenses for a psychic attack,
    well and good; however, answering a curse with a curse (the way
    it could be taken wrong) tends to be counterproductive.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    I agree with Steve <re: -1> about the counterproductiveness of
    re-cursing a curse; `two wrongs don't make a right.'
    
    Also, believing that the curse has power is the first step to giving
    that curse power; you must keep your defenses up and **believe**
    your own spiritual power is greater than that of any other.  This
    will keep you safe from intrusive influences.  However, this may
    also shield you from friendlier/supportive influences.  Thus, it is best
    to `tap' into the spirit of The Creator/Absolute Goodness; within this
    realm of spiritual power, you will harmonize with the best of the best.
    
    (This is a Native American perspective.  I have been the target
    of "hexes" but they become of no avail and result in de-harmonizing
    the assailant in a proportion which he/she wished me to suffer.)
    
    tony w.