Crystals???

[Ravyn_Guiliani]

Dear Roza,
Saint Paul said all things are lawful but not all things are to your advantage. I think in your state you might want to rid yourself of everything that reminds you of your old life, however I do not think it is a must-do. Just maybe it is a must-do for you. If these things bother you, then either get rid of what makes them bother you or get rid of them.

I was a witch before I came into the Church. I had many things. I got rid of the books and cards–the obvious and man-made things. But the jewelry and crystals were not man-made like those other things, just used wrong. I had a priest bless my home and pay particular attention to blessing the what-not shelf where I had those things displayed. I used some Holy Water in a spray bottle and in the end I got some beautiful pictures and small statues of Mary and Jesus and turned the corner into a devotional. It reminded me how in olden times many pagan holy sites were used to build Churches on! What God creates is Holy. Man can’t change that!

In my first Confession I told the priest I had been a witch. He smiled and asked me if I ws a ‘good’ witch or a ‘bad’ witch and we chuckled a little at that. But after determining that I never meant anyone harm and that I did have some natural gifts that had been exploited by witchcraft–he then told me not to grieve Holy Spirit by rejecting my God-given gifts. He told me to find a way to use them and to give the credit where credit is due. The problem with witchcraft is that it assumes the power comes from either the person or from an opposing entity to the Christian Trinity. Now I use my herbal knowledge to keep myself and loved ones healthy, to make tasty food, to give fragrant gifts. There may be something to the energy in rocks—everything has an electrical frequency–but any healing comes from God not the rock. But everything He created is here to balance the forces of nature on this planet for us humans. And as other posters have said–do not forget the value of their beauty! Find a way to use these things for the glory of God

Paganism existed for thousands of years before Christianity (as an organized religion not as Truth) and it was not all evil, just not all correct. Christianity corrected it, brought mankind back to God and His ways. Gave us all the pieces to the puzzle. Many pagan practices and beliefs were corrected and ‘baptized’ into the Church and now praise God like they were always supposed to do. I know this is a touchy subject. But remember that Satan cannot create–he can only counterfeit and steal and all the things he claimed for his own really belonged to God–he distorted them, Christ fixed it all.

Do what your conscience tells you to do with these things you have. And continue to develope your conscience as a mature Catholic by prayer and study.

 

[Ravyn_Guiliani]

I know this junk was in the family too, if you saw my post about when my grandpa died & the vacuum turned on by itself, growing up, that was Catholic to me. So yeah, I lumped it all together. I don’t know if my parents still look at junk like that as having been actual ‘visitations’. The day with the vacuum, my dad was there, my mom wasn’t. I think he started believing in ghosts then. sighs I haven’t really asked him. The switch for the vacuum had to be clicked into place to be turned on or off so I couldn’t have had it half turned off or something, know what I mean? I know now it wasn’t my grandpa visiting… I believe it was a familiar spirit but back then, yeah… I thought my grandpa had ‘stopped by’.

I’ll bookmark that link and get it eventually. Thanks!

It may comfort you to do some research on what the Catholic Church believes about ghosts and visitations. And I will give you hint–it is not all demonic. Look up the subject of ghosts right here on CAF.

 

[Roza]

Yeah, it’s touchy… cuz when first getting out of the NAM, yeah, I stupidly blamed everything on Catholicism. When first coming back, I told my priest about the dabbling, he said ‘so you have an awareness’… yeah I did alright. I have to start over now with a new priest because my Church closed. I still have a herbal sachet from my friend who was raised Catholic but left and was wiccan, she’s passed away now. I’ve kept that, I pray for my friend, I wish there was a way I could still contact her family just to tell them she was a good friend, I’m praying for her and I miss her.

Seems most people either know it’s out there or they write you off as being crazy. I don’t know where the priest that was at the Church I had returned to Catholicism is, I haven’t seen him at the other Church. So starting all over again, that has scared me I admit.

Like I still have those iching balls, but that’s from another religion isn’t it? Those were supposed to deal with ‘pressure points’ on the hands but isn’t that the same eastern religion philosophy as acupuncture/acupressure. I used to do that to ‘heal myself’ in those days. I still remember my pressure points on my hands & feet for my eyes and other things but I assume that’s still looking at new age then? I am praying a lot on everything. I sure did get myself into a pickle between straying, dabbling and all the rest. blush

 

[Roza]

It may comfort you to do some research on what the Catholic Church believes about ghosts and visitations. And I will give you hint–it is not all demonic. Look up the subject of ghosts right here on CAF.

I’ll have to look. I heard so many stories growing up. But it seems to me, isn’t it clear either heaven, hell or purgatory? I had a friend here where she lived in a house and would hear footsteps or doors open by themselves… she used to believe in that stuff to but now no longer does. She was never Catholic but has a church she attends and she doesn’t experience that stuff anymore either. She used to read tarot too but tossed all her cards and left it behind. My decks were the first things I tossed.

 

[Ravyn_Guiliani]

Like I still have those iching balls, but that’s from another religion isn’t it? Those were supposed to deal with ‘pressure points’ on the hands but isn’t that the same eastern religion philosophy as acupuncture/acupressure. I used to do that to ‘heal myself’ in those days. I still remember my pressure points on my hands & feet for my eyes and other things but I assume that’s still looking at new age then?

think of it this way–the pressure points–may or may not be for real–but it was God who created the nerves and such. However iching balls are man-made and part of divination and a false religion. So get rid of the iching balls, but if the pressure points work for you then no need to stop doing that. Ask yourself “is this from God or man?” and ou will have your answers.

 

[Pious]

If I’m gone for a while just means I lost internet access at home, can’t pay the bills right now. But I have an important question.

I still have my old crystals, sitting in a box, in the closet. Should I be getting rid of them too? I don’t do all the dumb new age junk I used to with them, I don’t ‘charge’ them in the sun or do the salt & apple cider vinegar… shoot, I don’t even remember what that was for. Wasted a lot of money on ‘rocks’. Yeah, have pyrite, amethyst, rutilated quarts, agate, etc. Does it show I was a new ager & into all that? blush Also had books on reflexology and my crystals covered every ‘chakra’. Loved Shirley MacLaine and interesting that the address for the company that published a lot of her books (Bantam Books) is 666. One of my homes growing up (lived in two places) was the glacial dumpsite of WI so I loved finding fossils and always had an attraction to rocks.

Since I used my crystals in my NAM days, should I be tossing all of those too. I couldn’t burn my books but I tossed them and destroyed them before doing it so I wasn’t passing them on to someone else. My wiccan friend wanted a few that I tossed and a dumb crystal wand I have too.

Pardon me, I’m still getting junk out of my head here… blessed salt… I keep thinking, ‘isn’t that wiccan???’ yeah, I’m a goof that fell for the anti-Catholic stuff that claimed it all pagan… would I use blessed salt on them or would I toss them in the trash? They sit in a box in the closet.

Yeah, back in 2003, coming out of the NAM and then seeing Johnathan Edwards meditations with the rosary… NAM, I think that and other notorious anti-Catholic sites had me out of whack but it’s been a journey back home… a year back since July or August 2007.

Br. Ignatius Mary, OLSM of www.saint-mike.org suggests the following in this reply saint-mike.org/qa/sw/ViewAnswer.asp?QID=239

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Roza

I still have my old crystals, sitting in a box, in the closet. Should I be getting rid of them too?

Crystals are pretty, so if you have a fish aquarium, you can always put them in the bottom of it. They’ll help decorate the tank and the fish seem to like them as well.

Jim

 

[Mystic_Warrior]

If I’m gone for a while just means I lost internet access at home, can’t pay the bills right now. But I have an important question.

I still have my old crystals, sitting in a box, in the closet. Should I be getting rid of them too? I don’t do all the dumb new age junk I used to with them, I don’t ‘charge’ them in the sun or do the salt & apple cider vinegar… shoot, I don’t even remember what that was for. Wasted a lot of money on ‘rocks’. Yeah, have pyrite, amethyst, rutilated quarts, agate, etc. Does it show I was a new ager & into all that? blush Also had books on reflexology and my crystals covered every ‘chakra’. Loved Shirley MacLaine and interesting that the address for the company that published a lot of her books (Bantam Books) is 666. One of my homes growing up (lived in two places) was the glacial dumpsite of WI so I loved finding fossils and always had an attraction to rocks.

Since I used my crystals in my NAM days, should I be tossing all of those too. I couldn’t burn my books but I tossed them and destroyed them before doing it so I wasn’t passing them on to someone else. My wiccan friend wanted a few that I tossed and a dumb crystal wand I have too.

If you used those crystals for any rituals then you should get rid of them. Your priest can tell you the best way to do so. The crystal wand should definitely be thrown out too. I’m assuming that you used it for rituals. It’s tainted now.

Pardon me, I’m still getting junk out of my head here… blessed salt… I keep thinking, ‘isn’t that wiccan???’ yeah, I’m a goof that fell for the anti-Catholic stuff that claimed it all pagan… would I use blessed salt on them or would I toss them in the trash? They sit in a box in the closet.

Yeah, back in 2003, coming out of the NAM and then seeing Johnathan Edwards meditations with the rosary… NAM, I think that and other notorious anti-Catholic sites had me out of whack but it’s been a journey back home… a year back since July or August 2007.

Blessed salt was used way back before Wicca (rather modern invention) began. Its use can be found in the Old Testament and throughout Church history. It’s a purifying agent - a cleanser and a preservative. Nothing Wiccan about that.

A priest should be able to tell you the best way to rid yourself of those tools that you used to perform rituals and so forth. I’m not Catholic, so I won’t tell you how I would do so. It’s best to get his (name removed by moderator)ut.

If you haven’t done so already, I would pray some of the deliverance prayers that BeckyMarie has posted before. I don’t categorize things as “New age” or not. That’s a wide umbrella and doesn’t fit my definitions.

However, for this post I will say that if you had anything to do with “new age” items, such as performing rituals or infusing certain energies into those items they should be discarded and you should pray for deliverance from that old lifestyle.

Peace…

MW

 

[Mystic_Warrior]

I’ll have to look. I heard so many stories growing up. But it seems to me, isn’t it clear either heaven, hell or purgatory? I had a friend here where she lived in a house and would hear footsteps or doors open by themselves… she used to believe in that stuff to but now no longer does. She was never Catholic but has a church she attends and she doesn’t experience that stuff anymore either. She used to read tarot too but tossed all her cards and left it behind. My decks were the first things I tossed.

I agree pretty much with everything that Ravyn has said thus far. And yes, you would be surprised if you did a search here on CAF and read some material by Peter Kreeft (Catholic apologist). Do a search in the “Ask an Apologist” section. They have covered this before.

Even I have to step back sometimes and make sure I’m making correct distinctions about some things - especially in the spirit world. I don’t think anyone truly has a complete understanding of the spirit world, including me and I have some experience with it.

Put simply - the only spirits you should be comfortable with are the holy angels. And since the Dark One can imitate them, I think it’s best to simply ask your guardian angel to be with you and ask for St. Michael to protect you in your life. Beyond that, it’s best to leave the spirits alone.

Peace…

MW

 

[Roza]

I was at her house one of the days we heard footsteps and saw a door opened a crack. Then a friend in the house said ‘hello?’? He opened the door the rest of the way and nobody was there.

Back when I was real dumb and played with that ouija, the friend I had used it with… I don’t talk about it a lot but things were crazy for quite a while. Like I remember banging on my door when nobody was there and other junk. Then on the drive out of that city where it happened, I remember both of us had our eyes drawn to signs along the road… like ‘we’ve got you now’, ‘you’ll never leave’… I mean, this is why I don’t talk about that much at all because it’s still… what can I say, like we opened a portal to something we never should have been near. I don’t know of any other way to describe it. Had enough things I grew up with before that but after that dumb ouija… it was nuts.

I am thankful to be out of the NAM… it’s still fresh enough. 5 years out of it but… still fresh enough.

 

[Mystic_Warrior]

I was at her house one of the days we heard footsteps and saw a door opened a crack. Then a friend in the house said ‘hello?’? He opened the door the rest of the way and nobody was there.

Back when I was real dumb and played with that ouija, the friend I had used it with… I don’t talk about it a lot but things were crazy for quite a while. Like I remember banging on my door when nobody was there and other junk. Then on the drive out of that city where it happened, I remember both of us had our eyes drawn to signs along the road… like ‘we’ve got you now’, ‘you’ll never leave’… I mean, this is why I don’t talk about that much at all because it’s still… what can I say, like we opened a portal to something we never should have been near. I don’t know of any other way to describe it. Had enough things I grew up with before that but after that dumb ouija… it was nuts.

I am thankful to be out of the NAM… it’s still fresh enough. 5 years out of it but… still fresh enough.

Roza,

I don’t mean to pry, but since you’ve brought these things up - have you seen a priest about these things? I think it’s really, really important to bring this all out in the confessional and work with the priest about where to go from here.

It seems like (from your post) that there’s been a lot of occult activity even from childhood and it’s time to start healing from those experiences and the past few years worth of experiences. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Just go to the Church and begin the process of totally freeing yourself from those former influences.

Peace…

MW

 

[Roza]

I did have several meetings with my priest, asked him about a spiritual director, he said he could be mine, then we got the mailing about the merge… I haven’t seen him at the other Church so yeah, got to start over again. That’s the hard part. Telling a brand new (to me) priest about this stuff and not knowing how he’s going to be with me. And in the midst of a job hunt. I’m not making my life easy these days.

 

[Mystic_Warrior]

I did have several meetings with my priest, asked him about a spiritual director, he said he could be mine, then we got the mailing about the merge… I haven’t seen him at the other Church so yeah, got to start over again. That’s the hard part. Telling a brand new (to me) priest about this stuff and not knowing how he’s going to be with me. And in the midst of a job hunt. I’m not making my life easy these days.

I see. I’m glad you got it started. Well, perhaps you could still work with him. I’m not Catholic, but I don’t see why he couldn’t still be your spiritual director. I can understand. I don’t know your exact situation, but my experience of sharing things of this nature isn’t always positive. But, keep it up dear sister. It’ll work out.

Peace…

MW

 

[Nicholas82]

Pretty stones are pretty stones, that’s it… sprinkle some holy water on them and say a prayer if you’re worried. Don’t get too superstitious… if no one is throwing them at you they won’t hurt you! If you just can’t get over the psychological impact they have, get rid of them. I’d decorate with them or sell them… not as an occult item of course.

 

[Belle10]

I did have several meetings with my priest, asked him about a spiritual director, he said he could be mine, then we got the mailing about the merge… I haven’t seen him at the other Church so yeah, got to start over again. That’s the hard part. Telling a brand new (to me) priest about this stuff and not knowing how he’s going to be with me. And in the midst of a job hunt. I’m not making my life easy these days.

You might not have to start all over again. Most likely he was also “merged” into the church that stayed open, or relocated within the diocese. Find a local priest and explain that it is important that you get in touch with your priest and he or the diocese can probably help you find him (if he’s still in the general area).

 

[Roza]

The Church bells don’t ring anymore, I could call the number, why it’s been hard for me to do that I don’t know. I haven’t seen the priest from the Church I returned to Catholicism at in the one that’s still open. Battling my own things too. Things that have my mind swimming but I need to remember where my eyes belong, on Jesus.

I thank God for all those who put up with me in my NAM days and after. My own dumb days of trying to tell a friend I had messages for her… I was so deceived with my spirit guides (demons). That’s why I know we need to pray for that woman that people saw as being evil. Was I evil back in my dabbling days? I was messing with evil junk and I didn’t know it. My heart thirsted for God but I was looking in all the wrong places. The inner turmoil constantly… me asking my ‘spirit guides’ if they were really from God. Seek and you will find, if you look in the wrong places it will take longer but keep looking and eventually you will find Him!

I have a job interview tomorrow that is in the city I live. Whether it’s temp or perm I don’t know but I think I’d be good at it. I need to accept where God has placed me at this time in my life and know that He knows what is best for me.

God bless