Guarding it

I didn't sleep very well last night.  The dog behind us kept barking, all night long.  I kept waking up.  Not only that, I had nightmares about my compost pile. 

There's something really sad about that, having nighmares about the compost.  I will address it today.  Basically, I have to take the "cozy, dry, refuge" away.  I have ideas on that. 

I have also read that mint repells - them.  So, I'll be buying some mint (the garden center had some lovely mints, and I'd love to grow some anyway) and plant it all around the pile.  The plants will love the nutrients and moisture.  I will love the fact they're guarding it for me. 

When I kept waking up, I'd pray.  I have a bad tendency, in my faith life, to ONLY pray during my God Time.  God loves to hear from me, not just then.  I need to work on that. 

I work on appreciating the good things in my life, and thanking God for them.  I think that is important. 

Yesterday, I saw something at the grocery store I found profoundly sad.  It's one of those huge grocery stores, very large, acres and acres of merchandise. 

I was looking for the fava beans.  I found myself on the candle aisle.

I love candles.  These, however, were religious candles.  In my own opinion I think God doesn't care if you burn a candle.  I like to burn incense when I do my God Time but that's just a fun little ritual for me.  When I have a headache, and can't, I am certain God still hears my prayers. 

As I looked closer, I realized that while many of them were the traditional "Catholic" style (and I have a few in my disaster kit - they are very long burning), many of them were Santeria candles.  It was a huge, long display, at least 30 feet, with several shelves.  They even had special "powders" and oils.  "Look at me"  "Favor from judge", etc.   They also use special charms, etc.  Information on santeria

How profoundly sad.  Santeria, basically, is a hybrid of Catholic and Pagan practices.  It began with Yoruba slaves, kidnapped and sold into slavery.  They were not "permitted" to practice their native religion, so they used Catholic saints as "covers".  While they appeared to be praying to St Matthew, for instance, they were actually praying to something else entirely. 

Am I scared?  No.  When I told Ron, he was chided me to get out of there, but I told him "My God is a lot stronger than their god".  Did I buy anything?  Play with the merchandise?  No, I just looked at it, briefly, and got out of there, looking for my fava beans. 

You wouldn't think a pagan "religion" would be so popular in Texas, in this milennia, but it is.  Boy, is it popular, according to the merchandise display. 

I think the saddest item was the love candle.  It was in a clear glass, had images on the glass, red wax.  It had a "prayer" on the side you apparently recited while lighting the candle, asking (something) to bring you love, so you could enjoy the acts of love. 

How very, very, sad.  Of course I'm already praying for them, but when I see stuff like that, and realize how many people have this "magic" crap in their homes, it makes me want to crank it up.