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2021-01-24T22:26:59-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

DSD: Hilal, the pre-Islamic God of Cycles, Trickery and the Crescent Moon

Last updated on: January 24, 2021 at 10:26 pm By Bader Saab

The crescent moon is highly respected and important in the Muslim world, something that could date back to pre-Islamic times. The reason is that it was and is still used to determine the religious calendar of the faithful, but could it be possible that it was seen as a God before the times of Muhammad? Read more

2021-01-09T21:35:22-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Nazar: an Arabic Amulet Against the Evil Eye

Last updated on: January 9, 2021 at 9:35 pm By Bader Saab

Since I was a kid, there was a blue eye used as an amulet for babies to be protected. Only when they were one year old or so, or when my grandparents considered enough time had passed by, they removed the pendant from the child’s clothes. Later in life, I discovered this amulet is called nazar, is against the evil eye, and can be used by actually anyone, not only babies. What’s the Evil Eye? Annwyn Avalon, from The Water... Read more

2021-03-11T12:21:26-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

7 pre-Islamic Readings for this 2021

Last updated on: March 11, 2021 at 12:21 pm By Bader Saab

First of all, happy new year to everyone! 2020 was an insane year to all of us, for some more than others, truth be told, but hopefully, we are at the beginning of the end. Let’s cross our fingers and hope for the best. I always plan what I want to do during the year when it starts, and this year I have some important readings I want to be done with. Some of them are free, some are economical,... Read more

2020-12-27T22:55:45-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

On the Syrian Bread Crisis (Prayer Included)

Last updated on: December 27, 2020 at 10:55 pm By Bader Saab

I just came home with my heart on the throat. A couple of hours ago, I was trying not to cry in the middle of the street as I read Sarah Dadouch’s article for The Washington Post. It speaks about the bread crisis in Syria, something I completely ignored and didn’t know about. As I read the details, I felt I was losing my breath, putting myself in the place of these people, deciding every day to either work/study or... Read more

2020-12-14T21:47:03-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Another Night, Another Death

Last updated on: December 14, 2020 at 9:47 pm By Bader Saab

There’s a saying that I’ve heard quite a lot in my life. “Every day is a new beginning”, or “You are born anew every day”, and so on. Similar versions abound, but the idea is the same, and being the Gothic soul I am, I couldn’t help but think about the other side of this statement: “Every night is a new ending/death”. This year has been plagued with it, and not only in the physical sense but also emotionally, mentally,... Read more

2020-12-02T11:51:29-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

My 7 Reasons to be Thankful Despite the Pandemic

Last updated on: December 2, 2020 at 11:51 am By Bader Saab

Although this year has been a very difficult one for all of us and every situation is different, mine has left me some teachings that are helping me in my path as a Witch and a human being. It’s easy to forget about the good things during hard times, but the pandemic hasn’t been as negative as I initially thought. Going with the Thanksgiving spirit, there a few things I am thankful for. 1. A clearer vision: I’ve seen many... Read more

2020-11-28T12:10:54-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Book Review: Water Magic

Last updated on: November 28, 2020 at 12:10 pm By Bader Saab

One of the first things you learn when you discover Witchcraft is about the four elements (five, if we include spirit, aether, spirit, energy, quintessence, or any other name you wish to use), their attributes, and get some basic ideas of how to work with them. Reading Water Magic, by Lilith Dorsey, the first book in the Elements of Witchcraft series, lead me to better understand this element, although not as I expected. Thanks to the publisher for sending me a... Read more

2020-11-18T15:21:59-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Witchcraft, Hobbies and Fox News

Last updated on: November 18, 2020 at 3:21 pm By Bader Saab

Fox News should have done a better job, should have gone a bit deeper, should have given us Witches a good image on the small screen, but that they gave their public the information about our Craft becoming popular and that it is also an option as a spiritual path is a good start. Read more

2020-11-16T00:03:21-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

On The 1001 Nights

Last updated on: November 16, 2020 at 12:03 am By Bader Saab

We all grew up knowing the stories of Aladdin, Ali Baba, and Sinbad, we know there is a certain Scheherazade who told a different tale every single night to an Arabic king, but how many of us have actually read these folk tales? Read more

2020-11-07T21:39:27-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What’s a Modern Day Sha’ir?

Last updated on: November 7, 2020 at 9:39 pm By Bader Saab

I’ve been mentioning this title over and over and it is even part of my column’s name, but what is a sha’ir? What does it mean to be one? What was the role implied in the title? While the origin of the name is unknown, according to Warner et al (1917), the function is crystal clear, and I see it as an important role to play in the modern world. The short answer Kuiper (2010, pp: 58-59) gives a very... Read more

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