In the moonlit night, under the shadowy mist, a witch floats on a swing. Her long, black robes billow around her as she glides effortlessly through the air. The swing, made of twisted branches and vines, hangs from an ancient, gnarled tree. It creaks eerily as the witch rocks back and forth, her wicked smile blending with the enchanting melody of the wind. A nightmarish moon illuminates her pale, gaunt face, emphasizing the intensity in her eyes. **And as she swings, she casts spells and hexes on unsuspecting victims, her powers growing stronger with each sway.
The error came in by slow degrees—not all at once. It would have been too glaring for the church to receive, if it had shown its head at one time with all its horns upon it. But it entered slowly and gradually, till it came to be inducted into the church. I do not know, an error which causes the damnation of more souls than that at the present-time. There are thousands of people who firmly believe that they shall go to heaven because they were sprinkled in infancy, have been confirmed, and have taken the Sacrament. Sacramental efficacy and baptismal regeneration, all spring from the first error of infant baptism. Had they kept to the Scripture, had the church always required faith before baptism, that error could not have sprung up. It must have died before the light of the truth, it could not have breathed, it could not have had a foothold in the Christian church. But one error must lead to another—you never need doubt that. If you tamper with one truth of Scripture, he that tempts you to meddle with one, will tempt you to tamper with another, and there will be no end to it, till, at last, you will want a new Bible, a new Testament, and a new God. There is no telling where you will end when you have begun.” From New Park Street Pulpit, Sermon # 307, page 168.
This aqueous regeneration surpasses my belief; it is a trick which I do not understand the initiated only can perform the beautiful piece of magic, which excels anything ever attempted by the Wizard of the North. These Sacraments, necessary to salvation began at birth with INFANT BAPTISM, other sacraments throughout life, ending with a final anointing with oil at death to prepare one for the hereafter.
**And as she swings, she casts spells and hexes on unsuspecting victims, her powers growing stronger with each sway.** The swing seems to possess a mysterious force that fuels her dark magic, propelling her higher and higher into the night sky. The world below trembles in fear as this spectral sight unfolds, leaving all who witness it in awe and terror.
Questions about baptism, paganism, and the interpretation of Christ
I have considered myself Pagan for much of my life. My spouse was raised Catholic, but we have found a home in the Episcopal church. I love our church and I look forward to attending every week. I have always been able to find meaning in the service and have found it to actually be very compatible with my own beliefs. We will be getting our baby baptized, and I feel pulled to be baptized at the same time. However, I don’t subscribe to the story of Jesus as being a literal one. To me, while his teachings are wonderful and totally in line with my morals, the story feels more like a metaphor for the inherent divinity of humanity. Like a call to reconnect the part of us that is God with the part of us that is human. As a very honest person I fear that being baptized even though this is how I feel would be dishonest to the church and disrespectful to the religion. I would love some insight and feedback. I know talking to the priest at my church would probably be a good step to take, but I’m shy and nervous about judgment!
Edit to add: I’m getting a lot of feedback that many baptized Episcopalians feel similarly to me about this. So to add another question, what would be the difference between myself and someone with the same views who happened to be baptized as an infant? Also just a clarifying point, I would see baptism as a commitment to the doctrine, an expression to myself that I would like to explore my spirituality in the context of the church, and in that way bring myself closer to God/dess.
**The witch floating on a swing is a symbol of the supernatural, a reminder of the ancient powers that dwell among us, forever captivating and terrifying our imaginations.**.
Reviews for "Beyond the Broomstick: A Witch Finds Thrills on a Swing"
1. Mary - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Witch Floating on a Swing". The story was confusing and hard to follow, and I didn't feel connected to any of the characters. The writing style was also difficult to read, with overly descriptive passages that seemed to drag on forever. Overall, I found this book to be slow-paced and uninteresting.
2. John - 1/5 stars - I couldn't even finish "Witch Floating on a Swing". The plot was all over the place and the characters were poorly developed. The author seemed to be trying too hard to be whimsical and mysterious, but it just ended up being confusing and pretentious. I kept waiting for something to happen, but nothing ever did. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I really wanted to like "Witch Floating on a Swing", but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The concept sounded intriguing, but the execution was lacking. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest quickly. The characters felt one-dimensional and underdeveloped, making it difficult to connect with them. Overall, I was disappointed by this book and wouldn't recommend it.