Is it cruel to "rescue" feral children?

Mother Nature Network posted an article on feral children on Facebook today. Feral children are kids who were raised by animals. While other people were reacting with fascination, the only thing I could feel was horror.

Now, some of the kids featured were from some seriously disgusting circumstances. 3 instances involved parents locking their child up with other animals at their home. How sad is it that a family's kennel of dogs was more nurturing than the child's parents?

What I find equally horrifying, is what happened to some of the feral children who had lived in the wild. When found, those kids were taken away, to be "rehabilitated." The way I see it, though, is that those kids were essentially kidnapped.

Just imagine what those kids must have felt. The animals who raised them were their family, just as if those kids had been adopted by another human family. Then one day, strange creatures come along and snatch them from their parents, siblings, etc.. Could you imagine what it would be like to be captured by beings who were completely different from all you had ever known, who didn't look, communicate or behave in any way you understood? Wouldn't you feel terrified and miserable, never knowing if you would see your family ever again? Those kids were then made to live in a way that was completely alien to them, and must have felt so alone.

From their eyes, it must have been torture. No one spoke their language, and they were forced to try to learn a new one. Considering that human languages and animal communication work on completely different levels, is it any wonder that those kids couldn't figure it out? Animal communication involves not just sound, but body posture and subtle movements. How would those kids ever understand the relationship between those languages?

In the end, some of those feral children have been locked into mental institutions, considered mentally unsound. They failed to stop being what they are, and so, because they are human, they must be broken. Yet, science has already determined that a child's personality is set in just a few short years. Plus, the older we get, the harder it is to learn new things, like languages.

So, what kindness are we doing to those feral children? Any wildlife rescuer will tell you that you can't release a wild animal who was raised by humans, and expect it to survive. Why should it be any different for humans? It's the same problem in both situations. That person or animal has spent their formative years learning to be one thing. Putting them into another environment isn't going to change that.

I think in most cases, it would be better to leave those kids to live the rest of their lives in the world they've been adopted to. Of course their are exceptions. The child who's mother locked him in a room with pet birds, who was raised and treated like a bird, needs human help. The little girl who was only age three when found living with dogs has a chance of re-adapting to human society. A child raised by wolves until found at the age of 8, however, is in their soul a wolf.

How I stopped using the guidebook with my tarot cards, and an example of how I use them.

I hated trying to memorize the tarot card meanings. It was such a pain flipping through that little book whenever I went to do a reading. Then I had, well, an epiphany, I guess. Here's the method I use. It's worked perfectly for me.

First, we look at the attributes of the different suits. For wands, I interpret things involving learning, knowledge or understanding. Cups usually indicate strong emotions, such as passion, love, sorrow, desire, longing, etc.. Feelings of anger may be interpreted, usually when cups appear along with swords. Swords isn't always an indication of anger or hate. Sometimes it's just an indication of decisive action, fighting for an ideal, righting a wrong, or the need to do such things. Pentacles refers to physical needs or objects. Maybe the person needs money, or a house. It may also indicate an object that is central to the issue, like a family feud over some memento of a deceased loved one.

The major arcana are usually self explanatory. The card name may ring true to the situation, or some aspect of the picture on the card will spark a thought.

Now, here's how I figured out the minor arcana. It involves imagining the cards mirroring the evolution of a plant, from seed to flower, and back to seed. First, we break the cards 1-9 down into 3 sets of 3. 1-3 are the seed stage.

1. Fresh, unplanted seed. There is potential, but nothing more than that.

2. Newly planted seed. The decision to act is made.

3. Seed has germinated. Things are in their first stages of action. Preliminary steps taken.

Cards 4-6 are the growing stage.

4. The plant breaks to the surface. Perceptive people, or people close to you, begin to see signs.

5. The plant grows beyond it's seed leaves. New roots spread from the tap root. The situation is becoming more defined, things aren't as shaky.

6. The plant is well grown, roots are strong. All of the preliminaries are finished. It will be very difficult to go back now, and there will be big ramifications.

Cards 7-9 are the flowering stage.

7. The bud is formed. Anticipation is heightened. Results may be on the way, but it's yet to be seen. Waiting for what you want.

8. The bud is blossoming, but not fully unfurled. Now is the time when we see what has been growing. Is the flower like a beautiful rose bud, or are there signs of disease or bugs? Is it the flower you wanted, a pleasant surprise, or an ugly weed?

9. The flower is on full display. Are you happy with what has grown?

The face cards are the seeding stage. Some decks have 3 royals, some have 4. Mine has 4, so I'll describe it that way.

• Princess. The seed pod is swelling. Fertilization is successful. Things show signs of possibly growing into something more, spreading out.

• Prince. The seeds are maturing. Which ones will become viable? Analyze the potential to move onward from here. Educate yourself, and prepare for the future.

• Queen. The seeds are full formed, but not ready to be freed from the pod. You have plans, but don't jump in just yet. Go over everything one last time. Make sure you haven't missed anything. Make sure all is fully formed.

• King. The seed pod is dry, the seeds ready for harvest. Time to choose which are good and which are bad. Time to choose when and where to plant.

So, let's look at a classic spread, and read it with my method.

I'm going to do an open ended reading for basic guidance. I choose my Significator card. I chose The Moon, as I'm currently swinging rapidly between manic and depressed, and feeling rather stressed.

Next I shuffle the cards. I usually do things so the cards are always upright. I feel there is enough variety in the cards for them to express themselves without reverses. Sometimes some cards still end up reversed, which I figure means that they REALLY needed to use a reverse meaning. If while shuffling some cards fall out of the deck, I set them to the side, to be read separately.

After shuffling, I cut the cards into three piles, face down, from right to left, using my right hand. Reverse hands if you are a lefty. I then gather the cards back up, starting with the middle, then right, then left.

Now I fan out the cards, close my eyes, and concentrate on what I need to know. I let my hands hover back and forth over the cards, feeling for the ones that “call to me.” I grab up one at a time, until I have ten, and stack them face down.

Then I make my spread. One vertical on the significator, one horizontal on the significator, one above, one below, one to the right, one to the left, and then the last four to the far right, in a column from bottom to top.

Now we read.

1. Basic self. What is important to know about the me of right now? I flip The Seeker. I read this to mean that I am feeling rather empty, alone, in need of something to make me feel fulfilled. A rather easy interpretation, since I'm reading myself. I have a bunch of books I want to write and arts and crafts I want to sell. Everyday life right now isn't very conductive to these pursuits.

2. Obstacles. What is standing in my way? This one is 6 of pentacles. Pentacles mean needs or finances. Physical objects. 6 is the final stage of the plant growth, before flowering. My cards have detailed pictures for every card. This one has men and women standing around a stone table with a mountain of fruits, vegetables and pentacles. No one seems to be looking at the bounty, or taking anything from it. I read this card to mean that, while I have been laying the foundation to get the things I want and need, I have yet to see real progress. My husband and I are in the process of eliminating some debt. We've worked hard, and made many sacrifices. I see a dual meaning here. The people aren't [partaking of the harvest. This could be prudence, or it could also mean that we aren't appreciating the other things we have around us. Not all wealth is monetary.

3. Hopes and dreams. Princess of Swords. Swords mean action. The princess is the first stage of seeding. Things are moving in the right direction for me to get beyond my current obstacles. Now is not the time to be too hasty, or too cautious. I must keep moving forward, but with caution, because one wrong move could damage the seeds before they have a chance to become viable, and I would have to start all over.

4. Foundation. Temperance. I have everything I need, but it's not quite time to use everything. The lion on the right could symbolize my husband, who is a Leo. The woman standing behind the cauldron holds a blue flask and a torch. The cauldron is simmering over a fire, and has the Mars/male symbol on it. There is an eagle to the right. I'm a Virgo/Earth, but I'm rather close to Libra/Air. All elements are represented. Basically, the soup is on the fire, but not ready to eat. I must give it time to cook.

5. Past. 6 of cups. Emotions maturing, but not exposed yet. 6 is an even number. In my past, I have sought balance in my emotional life, and have often kept my feeling penned up. Bipolar sucks. I hope this indicates that I'll be moving beyond this, but I fear it means my recent bout of contained balance is reaching an end. I have to be careful when taking on projects, because I'm prone to grandiose planning. Once I get started, I go overboard. Hypomania is easily triggered by exciting new things.

6. Future. Nine of pentacles. The image is of a heavily pregnant woman in a field of flowers. Pregnancy can't be rushed. Nine is the last phase of flowering. Everything I've worked on will eventually blossom. The woman's face looks pensive. She's gazing into the distance. A full bloomed flower doesn't always result in seeds. The signs point towards us seeing the end of this cycle, but beyond that? It's too soon to tell.

7. The root of my answer. 5 of swords. 5 is the stage of growth where things are taking shape, but not fully formed. Swords are action. A woman in a blue dress clutches a child, while two men in red appear to guard her. They are on top of a rock pile. Two men in red stand lower on the pile, battling the two men on top. One man lies dead. Is the dead man one of the enemy, or one of the guards? Should the woman try to help defend herself? But that puts the child at risk. I feel like I should be “doing more,” but while it may seem like I am not helping myself, I am doing something important. I have two children who aren't ready to be left to their own devices. They're still at the age where they need me to take a more active hand in their lives. I guess my desires will have to wait until my children reach the age where they are breaking away from me, to learn to be their own person.

8. The part of my answer that is visible to the rest of the world. The Fool. More signs of hunting for something, while not seeing what is already there around me. Friends and family are probably looking at my situation and wondering how I can be so blind.

9. Goal or destiny. Death. I rarely see the Death card as truly meaning death. It is often a need for change. I need to make a clean break from old weights dragging me down, if I want to move on. My desires can't be fulfilled until our debt is less of a burden and my kids are more independent.

10. Final outcome. Queen of pentacles. The queen is the last stage of nurturing the seed. My husband earns the money, but I'm the one who moves it where it needs to go. I am literally the queen of my family's finances. I am also the nurturer and disciplinarian of our children. My hands are full right now. It's not time yet to throw myself into the dreams I've been having. I can, however, make plans, so that I am prepared for when that day comes.

So, this reading seems pretty straightforward. I need to be patient. Things will come to me in their own time. I'm on the right path, I just need to keep the end in sight, and keep moving. One step at a time.

Can God make a rock too heavy for Him to lift?

A friend asked this question.

Could God make a rock so heavy that even He can't lift it?

Here's my reply.

According to my theory of energism, it would depend on a number of factors.

Gods and rocks are formed of the same thing. Energy. Rocks are just densely packed balls of energy, with a defined purpose of being a rock. God is a being comprised of free floating energy, given form by the belief of people who believe in a god. So, in a way, God created all rocks, though rocks are, in a way, God.

Planets are just really large rocks. But would energy moving a planet be considered lifting? The center of our solar system is exerting an infinitesimal pull of gravity on it's orbiting satellites. Would an energetic force moving a planet away from the center of the solar system count? How much would it have to move, in order to count as a lift?

Of course, you'd have to have something giving energy the impetus to perform this action. Enough people would have to be visualizing energy lifting the heaviest rock in existence. Are there enough people who could work together to visualize this outcome?

Then you have to take into consideration the amount of available energy. Is there enough around us to do that? There might be enough in the Universe as a whole, but how long would it take for all of that energy to get here? It may be that it would take multiple generations of people visualizing that common goal to have enough energy coalesce here.

Then there is the “jinx” factor. Would there be enough people, with enough will, to overcome the inevitable people who would thoroughly believe that this outcome is impossible?

Now, we must also think of the possible consequences of this. What would happen if this planet were a central nexus of that much energy? Energy creates heat. The amount of energy needed could incinerate the planet. Also, what if some of the energy was pulled from our sun? If enough of the sun's energy was convinced to abandon it's purpose in being a sun, and joined in the “rock lifting” project, our sun might become unstable. It might not have enough energy to be the kind of star that provides our planet with the heat and light it needs to be a life sustaining planet.

Then again, since all things are made of energy, an asteroid is, in part, God. An asteroid hitting our planet would move it. It might not be much, but it would move.

So, while it might be possible, it's not probable. It depends on what you consider lifting, and whether you consider something like an asteroid shifting a planet 'lifting.'

My angle on books my kids could read, and if I would let them.

While I think flat out censorship of books is wrong, I can't say I would NEVER forbid my kid to read a book. I would have to look at it first, check out what was in it. I wouldn't mind them reading books geared towards various religious sects, for example, but I would want to check what kind of message was being sent in the book. It may seem nice and wholesome on the outside, but if there is any indication that the book is making out some other religion/race/whatever to be bad, then yes, I would forbid them to read it. It's the same premise as any parent forbidding their child to read Harry Potter because they think wizards and witchcraft are bad, and don't want them to think that it is ok. The difference for me is, I don't want them reading anything that might even subtly indicate that any specific race/religion/whatever is bad. At ages 3 and 6, my kids might question what they read, if it conflicted with what my husband and I teach them, but it would still cause confusion. It would introduce the thought of, "Well, these people say this is bad. Mommy and Daddy say it isn't, but what if they're wrong?" Also, by my giving them permission to read that book, I am tacitly saying that what is in that book is ok.

There is one other reason I would keep my kids from reading, or reading to my kids, some books. It has only happened once, but I would do it again. My kids get books from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and for the most part, I've liked the books we've received. There was one book though, that I just didn't like. It was called "Flossy and the Fox." by Patricia McKissack. The message of the story was great. It was about a girl who uses smart thinking to outwit a fox that has been plaguing the area. What I didn't like was the way she talked. She had that slave-era, southern accent dialect. I know that that is how they talked back then, and it's not that I have any hatred because of it. But my three year old is in that age of quickly learning new words, proper grammar, and proper pronunciation, and mimicking what she hears. My six year old still has some trouble with annunciation and grammar. I would rather avoid having them pick up the bad grammar and pronunciation, then have to correct them in public. Also, and this is purely a personal quirk, the word "flossy" was a slang term for a girl's private parts when I was a kid. It just made it really odd and uncomfortable for me when reading the book.

These are purely personal choices when it comes to what my children read, though. No matter what I think of a book, if someone else is ok with their kids reading it, then that is their choice. I would never espouse completely banning a book from say, the school library, just because I don't agree with it.