COVID Finally Hits My County | Masks and Magical Thinking

 

For most of the COVID pandemic, my northwest Ohio county has been a safe place to be, with low numbers of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. But the rural areas of the state are being hit hard now too, and tomorrow grades 7 through 12 of our local school will go to remote learning. There is concern that our hospitals will not have enough beds and health care staff, and the governor has imposed a statewide curfew, with businesses closed and citizens grounded at home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. 

So how do I feel now that we actually have reason to be especially cautious in my area? Not much different. I have always taken this seriously and will continue to do so. At the same time, I don't think lock downs, curfews, masks, etc. have had any positive effect, and the cure of draconian government protocols has certainly been worse than the disease. The toll on people's livelihoods and mental health and the loss of constitutional freedom that we may never get back are too high a price to pay for the illusion of "staying safe" and "slowing the spread." 

The CDC itself presented a study showing that the vast majority of people who got COVID always wore masks (over 70%), and that under 4% of those who got sick did not wear masks. Read about it here: https://thefederalist.com/2020/10/12/cdc-study-finds-overwhelming-majority-of-people-getting-coronavirus-wore-masks/?fbclid=IwAR3Zsbj39hbyxYjLU0HSJ2iEkZ-zkREkEe7w2FbemM-sNwYcNXN5pSLuN_c. 

Yet another distinguished doctor in the field came out recently saying that the masks and distancing are useless, and all that can effectively be done is to protect the most vulnerable (https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-youtube-censors-lifesite?fbclid=IwAR1w7WZTYFg0Lak7f4Nv0slGfofjp15By0tl7MoCbDrJIx73IjVXdSA6MOM).  The audio recording of his statements on YouTube was removed, with Life Site News, which had posted it, having their channel closed down for a week, with the threat of permanent deletion. 

So why are we still wearing masks? Why have we been robbed for the past 9 months of our 1st Ammendment rights and our ability to make the best decisions for ourselves, our families, and our local communities that we can? Why is big tech allowed such prevalent censorship? Perhaps our government leaders are simply power hungry. Some clearly are. I think others are in denial. They are being told by a very limited number of "experts" that these safety protocols work, and that the only reason we still have a problem is that citizens aren't being responsible. 

I suppose a small minority of folks have thrown caution to the wind, ironically, the most draconian government leaders being among the most personally irresponsible. But the great majority of folks have done their very best to follow the mandates, and if these measures were going to work, they would have done so long before now. 

My local school had all staff and students wearing masks even during gym and recess, which should have been exempt according to Gov. DeWine's own orders. So even with precautions above and beyond, we still had a significant breakout. Everywhere I have gone in the two largest towns in the county, I have seen very few people not wearing masks. I assumed that they, like myself, had health exemptions. 

As I suspected months ago and feel I have seen confirmed to be true, nothing can be done to stop this airborne virus, and the widespread use of masks and social distancing has likely lowered our immune responses and harmed our respiratory function. We have made it all that much worse for ourselves, and between disagreements over COVID and the election (which are no doubt connected issues), many have lost their support and connection with family and friends--an emotional loss on top of the physical separation. 

We have to stop this magical thinking, this grand illusion of control. Businesses and schools should stay open, most of us should toss the masks aside, and while being prudent and protecting our most vulnerable, we should control what we actually can and make steps forward to return to our normal lives and a free society. Going backward is not the answer and will result in nothing but increased devastation. If people don't start standing up and demanding their due sovereignty, we may never get to the point of being able to again. Especially if we are facing a Biden presidency, which I pray to God we are not, there is the very real and terrifying possibility of a Communist United States. 

Conservative Women | There's a Place for Us

 

I watched portions here and there of the confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court last week. Nothing stood out to me like the comments from Senator Lindsey Graham (R--S. Carolina), when he told Amy that her confirmation will signal to conservative women that there's a place for them. What I heard him saying was that there's a place for me, and women like me, in this country. I've thought about this every day since, including watching Barbara Streisand sing "Somewhere" on YouTube!

Can we indeed find a new way of living? Amy's confirmation will surely be a step in the right direction. But if Joe Biden wins the presidency in November, and he packs the court, which seems to be the plan, I feel like we will be left in a very dark place, with an expansion certain of the culture of death, socialist Marxism, and mob rule destroying our democratic Republic and its rights and principles like a flesh eating bacteria. 

We need a plan, in our own minds and families, if President Trump is not re-elected. Ultimately, we cannot seek a savior outside of us, except Jesus Christ, and we must steep ourselves in the light, love, and freedom of the Gospel. To what extent our opposition to tyranny and totalitarianism is either quiet, or public and active, is an individual choice, but we have to be willing to stand firm in that resistance, gather the strength of Our Lord firmly within ourselves, and not wait to see what happens. Conservative women, especially, must insist that there is a place for us, a place of honor and respect, and stop accepting unacceptable behavior. 

I've seen no end to leftist liberal women supporting one another, defending even lewd behavior and the abortion genocide, and pretending like any views differing from theirs are intrinsically wrong and anti-woman. Just one case in point was the lascivious Super Bowl half-time show put on this year by Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, complete with "dancing" that drew special attention to the crotch, and camera close-ups to accentuate it. JLo gyrated on a stripper pole and ended that performance in a gesture as if she were on the cross of Christ. 

On so many levels it was a disgusting show, and even my teenage daughter had the good sense to characterize it as "gross." Yet my impressions of the show posted to Facebook led to responses implying that as a dance artist myself, and a middle aged woman like the performers, I ought to have appreciated their athleticism. It was even suggested that I felt threatened and jealous. 

My opinion, as is so typical of how conservative women are treated, was invalidated. I saw lots of posts in my newsfeed defending against the backlash Jennifer and Shakira received from many people, who expected a family friendly show, and got nothing of the sort. As supposedly strong feminine role models, these women were lauded as deserving of being lifted up, just because they were women, and especially because they were also Hispanic. 

What a difference conservative women could make if they banded together and unapologetically, and without concessions to diplomacy in order to be "nice," stood up for what we value. The Bible tells us nowhere that we must be nice. Kind, yes, but not nice. Patient, yes, but not nice. We must not be rude, that's true, but we are not called to be nice. Niceness is not a virtue. We are called to be virtuous women. We are called to certain roles in our family, in our churches, and in society, and I have been wanting for a long time to speak up about the biblical truths in this area. However, I know some will certainly be offended, and feelings may be hurt. But ultimately, only good comes from living the Truth. 

There's a place for conservative women. Conservative women helped to found this great country. There's a place for me, and I'm of an age where Scripture calls me to teach the younger women. That is a responsibility that I need to have the courage to shoulder. Conservative women are called to do their part to save a once godly nation, which has not ceased to be abundantly blessed by God and filled with a great many people of real and abiding faith. 

Amy Coney Barrett | A Turning Point for America | Coronacult Weakens Its Hold

 

My, how suddenly the tide can turn! I was feeling very discouraged at the time of my last post, but things definitely seem to be heading in a better direction. 

On Sept. 18, liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a staunch supporter of unlimited abortion rights, died of cancer. Though she had been ill for some time, the timing of her death, so close to the upcoming presidential election, came as a shock to many. President Trump wasted no time in proceeding with his duty to fill the gap in the court, nominating conservative Catholic Amy Coney Barrett this past Saturday. It's expected that the Senate will confirm her before the election. 

I prayed for Ruth and do hope that God had mercy on her soul. But I honestly felt a profound sense of relief at the news of her death. It seemed to mark the end of an era plagued by the ungodliness of radical feminism and the scourge of abortion that it has produced under the guise of women's health and reproductive rights. Ruth literally sanctioned the murder of millions of children in the wombs of their mothers, and this unthinkable evil has become the primary platform issue of the Democrat Party. 

Amy Coney Barrett has made her Catholic faith and pro-life stance no secret. She is the mother of 7 children, 5 of them biological, and two adopted from Haiti. Her youngest is a special needs child. Amy's qualifications are of the highest order and are undeniable, and Democrats are unlikely to find any skeletons in her closet. Though you would think that her adoption of two black children would rule out the Left's ability to play the racist card, Amy has already been called a white supremacist specifically because she adopted them!

Anyone with a dollop of good sense sees right through this theater of the absurd, and all it does is make the Dems look bad, and pitiful. Biden and Harris have recently scurried to do damage control after they realized that the BLM/Antifa rioting was hurting them in the polls. A little too little, a little too late, they condemned the domestic terrorism and many-months-long violence. The truth of every case of supposedly unwarranted, lethal police action against black criminals has eventually come to light, exposing the media for their lies, bias, misinformation, and stoking of a race war. Blaming the president for the mess the media and Democrat governmant leaders have themselves caused isn't working anymore. 

Likewise, the coronacult is losing its grip. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently opened the state completely back up, eliminating mask requirements and prohibiting the forced closure of businesses. Restaurants and bars can open to 100% capacity. Local officials can only limit them to 50% if they can prove the necessity. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has been gaining in popularity with people from other states, because she never locked her state down or imposed draconian mandates and restrictions. She's grabbed a lot of media attention for her enthusiastic invitation to other states to come visit her land of the free, and thumbing her nose at social distancing. All we need are a few more states to go back to normal social and business activity, and the pressure will be on for the rest of the country to follow suit. 

I believe that people on the fence will be emboldened by these recent events to go out on Nov. 3 and re-elect President Trump. Though they may not like Trump very well, they are waking up to what they have to lose if Biden and Harris take over the White House, which basically is America as they know it. People are tired of the coronacult fear mongering and tyranny, and they want to see the restoration of law and order. The hold of the sorcery is breaking. I predict that those of us who support Trump's commitment to patriotism and the upholding of the Constitution as it is written, those who value religious liberty, freedom of speech, the right to peaceably gather, the right to life, and the right to bear arms will turn out in droves (and in person whenever possible!) to save our country. 

As Laura Ingraham put it on Fox News, it is the choice between liberty or lockdown; strength or submission; the Constitution or chaos. And the choice is clear. 

When You Have Lost Yourself | How to Find Your Way Home

I just got a new keyboard for my Kindle HD 10, so I can write again! But since I last wrote a post, Blogger has changed its format, and I can't say I like it. I'm not fond of Facebook's new look, either. I suppose I will get used to these things, but I'm tired. I'm exhausted from fighting against the insidious agenda of "the new normal." I can barely keep my eyes open to prevent becoming one of the pod people I see all around me. 

I'm not usually a person opposed to change. For example, I generally welcome the change in seasons, and my favorite, fall, is upon us. Yet I am craving more than anything a sense of the familiar, the normal things we once could count on. As much as I try to just live my life as I wish, I can't block out the stark reality of a world gone helter skelter. How can you hope to hold onto your identity when so many around you have lost theirs, to the point of living in a country that has almost entirely forgotten from whence it came to be? 

I suppose the first thing is a radical acceptance of what is. We have to accept what we cannot change before moving to change the things we can. The children have had to go back to school wearing masks. In my town, the school system has gone beyond even Emperor DeWine's mandates, forcing the kids to wear masks during gym and recess, and denying them the 5-minute break they are supposed to get. Communities are not willing to fight back against government tyranny, even for the sake of their children. Those who do oppose the party line are told to shut up, to not make things any harder than they already are. I fully accept that this satanic inversion of what is held sacred is really happening, and I accept the challenge of the battle, despite feeling I have no energy for it.

I admit to being deeply disappointed in people for being weak, for being lemmings, for running off the cliff obediently, doing as they are told. For being so gullible as to believe all that has been destroyed was for the common good, for the sake of public health. I've come to accept that people are not as smart as I had given them credit for. They are not as good, as kind, as sensible, or as faithful as they ought to be. Having consciously acknowledged my disillusionment, I must accept the truth of the way things really are, the existence of evils that are no longer even a little hidden, but in fact, are embraced by so many. I accept that I am disappointed in myself as well. Then there is the hard work of detachment from it all, which mysteriously includes holding on to a state of compassion for myself and others.  

I have not lost hope. There are still plenty of fighters, a remnant of the righteous and the brave. But if you are among them, you must come out of the shadows. Take off the masks, all of them, and come back into the light. Find yourself again in the One who truly knows you. Let me know you are out there, and that you haven't given up. 

I'm tired of pressing the reset button, of feeling like I have to start all over again, as if I have made no progress at all. But sometimes, when we seem to have come back to the same place, we have actually traveled further up the spiral. Having come around again, we have picked up new tools and information; we have indeed gained wisdom. We are brought back to a place that still has weeds to pull, yet the clearing has widened and room has been made for fresh things, for Beauty, for a deeper, more expansive dimension of existence.

I think that fairy tales have had such staying power generation after generation, because we can all relate to feeling lost, abandoned, and hunted by witches. We should not need to be reminded that we are sons and daughters of the King, but for whatever reason, we do forget. It's time to remember. It's time to wake up from the dreamspell and claim your place at the throne. 

Habits and Character | A Return to Charlotte Mason

Every year, waiting until at least mid-May, when the danger of frost has passed, I plant a variety of container flowers, and this year I also planted a few herbs to use for cooking. My husband plants a small vegetable garden. I care for the flowers, and he for the vegetables. He has had to be out of state on a number of occasions this year, to care for his deceased father's estate. While he was gone, our daughter watered the garden. Once he returned, I assumed he would resume care of the vegetable patch. By the time I realized that wasn't happening, it was nearly too late. 

Tall grass grew in every square inch available, green beans turned brown, and it became impossible to see the wanted plants for the weeds. The garden looks like grief, but it isn't bereft of hope. We've had some small but delicious tomatoes, a handful of beans, and plenty of lettuce. The kale and Brussels sprout leaves have been the food of some pest or other, but it may not be too late to salvage those plants.

When something is a habit, a good habit, it makes our lives easier. We have to make fewer decisions when our behaviors are automatic. It's much simpler to keep a garden watered and to remove weeds on a regular basis, while they are still small and haven't taken over, than to do damage control late in the game. 

English educator and homeschooling pioneer Charlotte Mason wrote a lot about the connection between habit training and personal character. The importance of encouraging good habits in children cannot be overstated; but it seems nearly impossible to do this if the adults responsible for them have poor habits themselves. 

Clutter and neglect, whether in a garden or a home, is a sign of disorder--be it clutter of the mind, heart, or spirit. Where I live, school begins Aug. 19, in less than three weeks.  Since we will be homeschooling again, we don't have to start that early. But as many of my daughter's friends will be less available once school resumes, we will likely get our studies under way on the 24th. 

It takes 21 to 28 days to form a habit, so now is the perfect time to evaluate where things are working, and where we need to fine-tune our routines. What our your priorities for the coming school year? What do you want to do differently, to bring greater order, beauty, and harmony to your days? I'm going to take some time over this weekend to draft a plan, to get things like sleep schedules and meals under control, and to organize our homeschool. If there are books and other materials that are needed, it's time to order them, as mail deliveries have been inconsistent.

I've gone back and forth over the years regarding Charlotte Mason, at times being thoroughly enthusiastic about her philosophy and method, at other times finding her ways to be too overwhelming; and/or I've questioned her appropriateness for a Catholic education. But this summer I have felt led to return to her once again, to mine the treasures of her writings, and to seek the joy and creativity that underpin her educational approach. Most of all, I want to spend much more time in nature. 

How to Advocate for Your Own Health | Good-bye Wal-Mart

Early on in the coronavirus pandemic, God took my fear about getting sick entirely away. But more recently, I've suffered anxiety over the threat of mask mandates, amongst all the other horrors raging across the country. Last Tuesday, I had a terrible feeling that Ohio Governor Mike DeWine was going to mandate masks in public, for everyone across the state. His usual press conference  was postponed till the following day. By the time I got home on Wednesday and had access to the news, he had already made his emperor's mask decree. Not only was I not surprised, but I realized that my anxiety was gone. This should not have surprised me either, because I had been praying about it for some time. However, we have to allow God to work in our lives, and likely I had been holding on to the illusion of control.

I knew exactly what I had to do. His majesty had graciously given health exemptions to the mask wearing, but as usual, he had provided no guidance on how to ensure being allowed into stores and other service providers. Would I need a doctor's note? My research told me that under the Americans with Disabilities Act, businesses could not discriminate against those who are not able to wear masks due to health conditions. They would have to provide some sort of accomodation if they were going to refuse business to those without masks, such as curbside pick-up. 

Before the governor's mandate went into effect last Thursday at 6:00 p.m., I had already visited local businesses in person, and called ahead to my chiropractor's office to make sure I could come in without a mask. One store told me that it was up to the health department to enforce the mandate. Another told me that to protect employees from potentially angry, violent customers, they weren't going to question anyone about it! I've been in contact with three church pastors. So far, my family and I are going to have no trouble entering any of the public places that we usually frequent. I got curbside prescription pick-up today from my pharmacy. 

Advocating for oneself is extremely empowering. I didn't have to argue with anyone. In fact, I have received nothing but support for the protection of my health. My teenage daughter is not going to wear a mask either. She has health exemptions too, so I have advocated for her. My husband hasn't encountered any resistance, and he didn't even talk to anyone first. 

Here's how I look at it. I happen to be a person who can claim physical health exemptions from mask wearing. The governor also gave mental health exemptions, and in either case, one should not be required to divulge the nature of one's disabilities. As far as I'm concerned, if you believe that wearing a mask is a threat to your physical, mental/emotional, or spiritual health, you should not have any qualms about claiming an exemption. I'm not telling anyone that they should or should not wear a mask. I simply believe that our freedoms are being egregiously stripped away across the country, under false pretenses. People need to be courageous and make their own choices.

The one place that we shop that I can foresee having an issue with is Wal-Mart, especially since they mandated masks at all their stores before DeWine's pronouncement. So, I made one last trip there, and will not be returning until they lift their mask requirements. This means being more self-sufficient in regard to food, so I will be making weekly trips to the farmers market and cooking more from scratch. I'll wean my family away from the frozen and canned, packaged foods. Bake my own bread. Rely less on stores in general. In any case, we can get by just fine without Wal-Mart! 

My guess is that we'll see even more illness of all kinds in the fall, as a direct result of all the stress and "safety" measures being repeatedly recommended and forced over COVID-19. It behooves us all to get as healthy as possible and to form like-minded communities for support. There is no time for delay. Be proactive now. Make community connections now. Reach out and talk to people, because a lot of folks are not vocal and feel timid about standing up for their beliefs and advocating for their health and rights. It's time to get out from behind our screens and fully embrace life!

I wrote back in late April about moving on from the coronavirus; but the media and government officials have made that nearly impossible. Once we have advocated for ourselves and our families and are doing what we can to create fulfilling, free, normal, and even extraordinary lives, I believe that we can begin to move on. My feeling now is that I don't want to continue giving energy to the chaos, so I'll be calling less attention to it. I won't be mentioning the coronavirus or the mandates much anymore. In this way, I believe, if enough people detach themselves from the negativity, the wind will naturally die out of the COVID sails. What I will be sharing instead are the things I am refocusing my energy on, for the sake of my own health and that of my family, in the hope that it will be an encouragement to others. Your reality in great measure depends upon where you put your focus. Godspeed, Rita Michele

Occult Ritual Transformation and the Coronavirus

St. Michael the Archangel

"But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh... Wherefore we do not lose heart."
(2 Cor. 4: 7-11, NABRE... 16, Confraternity Version)
 
I recently visited a local farmers market and had an illuminating conversation with one of the vendors there. Something I said prompted her to ask me if I was afraid of the coronavirus (no) and if I was a Christian (yes). She then shared with me about an internet article she had read on the satanic origin of the mask mandates and other "safety" measures we've been plied with over the past four months. 

If you follow this blog, you know that I pray and read the Bible, seeking discernment of the truth from the Spirit of Wisdom. I pray  
to know when information is correct and when it's erroneous or deceptive. When I stay close to God and receptive to him, rather than trying to figure things out for myself, which leads to confusion and anxiety, I find that the answers I need are revealed. 

It took me no time at all today, without being given a link for the article or its title, to find exactly what the woman at the farmers market was telling me about. She provided so many details that I knew the article as soon as I saw it. It's a long read, but I strongly suggest taking the time to read the entire thing: 
https://haveyenotread.com/occult-ritual-transformation-and-coronavirus/ 

I'm not necessarily convinced that there is a masterminded conspiracy to lead us to a "new world order," but I have already written about my coronavirus cult theory in the previous post, and I'm now convinced that there is a satanic influence at work here. I've been objecting to mandated masks mostly in terms of the dangers to the health of the wearer, and the lowered immune response being created by their widespread use. Based on the best scientific and medical information I can find, I don't believe masks are an effective defense against this coronavirus. 

I do think the mandates represent government overreach, and on Thursday Ohio Governor Mike DeWine mandated masks in public across the state, even in counties in the "yellow," which is the case with my county. Health exemptions were given, but no guidance as to how to ensure being allowed into stores and other businesses without a mask. In addition to all of these objections, I believe that a religious exemption is in order, and that the most prevalent danger of mask wearing is to the soul. 

Christians need to come together to fight for religious freedom. The next post will elaborate on how I've been proactive in my community to protect the health and well-being of myself and my family. 

The Coronavirus Cult | 4 Tactics of Cult Recruiting We See Brainwashing America

As the debates over the coronavirus and the war of the masks rage on, as government officials continue to double down on measures to "slow the spread" which seriously threaten personal freedom, especially health autonomy, the idea continues to grow on me that what we're seeing is a veritable cult situation. I'm calling this the "coronavirus cult," or "coronacult" for short. 

Before continuing, please read this article on the four psychological techniques used by cults to recruit members. It's uncanny how our current American situation fits with them. 
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=4+psychological+techniques+cults+use+to+recruit+members

Step 1 is picking the right target. It's important to note that people who have been brainwashed are not by nature stupid or mentally unstable. They typically begin as normal, psychologically healthy human beings. Under the right circumstances and because people tend to be gullible, anyone can get sucked in. "The most susceptible to recruitment are stressed, emotionally vulnerable, have tenuous or no family connections, or are living in adverse socioeconomic conditions." That perfectly describes basically everyone during the coronavirus lock downs!  

The cult recruit is enticed with approval or the promise of some fulfilling understanding of the universe. This came with the promise in the beginning that the lock downs would be temporary, a mere few weeks, and were necessary in order for doctors and scientists to get a handle on the nature and origin of this novel coronavirus. This seemed like wisdom early on, but as the semi-quarantine of healthy people and the lock downs continued, the signs of a cult began to emerge. The promised understanding of COVID-19 did not occur. We received "scientific" information and recommendations that changed daily, and today there is more confusion than ever regarding the truth about the numbers of cases and deaths, treatments for the disease, and what does and doesn't work to help prevent the spread. Despite what the company line keeps insisting, there is no "scientific consensus"! So let's look at how the cult hooks you, and how these steps are revealed in "the new normal."

Step 2 is love-bombing. Examples of love-bombing which quickly came to mind were the "we're all in this together" type mantras; the high praise from some governors about how great a job their residents were doing to "flatten the curve"; and the media ego stroking regarding how self-sacrificing and caring were the folks doing all they could to keep from "killing grandma."

Step 3 is isolation. This one is so obvious as to not require commentary, but let's recap. We saw the end of mass gatherings for plays, graduations, weddings, funerals, movies, religious services, recreational activities, and just about anything else you can think of. In some states and cities even churches were forcibly closed. Schools and businesses, except for those deemed "essential," were shut down. Everyone was admonished not to visit with friends or family outside of their own household members. In the event that you had to go out, you must keep a distance of six feet from any other person. People in hospitals and nursing homes had very little to no access to loved ones, many dying alone (and without the sacraments). In cities such as Chicago, there were even mandates regarding how long an individual person could be driving in their car or walking alone outside! We were encouraged to live in absolute fear of one another.

"Newspapers, books, TV, and web access are all censured, ensuring that the only reality the recruit gets to experience is the one presented by the cult."  This fits our reality perfectly as well. We are isolated from any information or opinion that does not fit the party line. For example, hundreds of doctors and scientists all over the world, as well as personal protection equipment specialists in the field, disagree with universal mandates for face mask wearing in public places. The ones who manage to start to make a difference by presenting the truth are quickly labeled frauds and conspiracy theorists, their videos removed from public forums. The mainstream media is purposely complicit in keeping us under control by continuous repetition of the cult narrative, which leads us to the last step.  

Step 4 is keeping control. "By keeping cult members totally off balance..., cults increase their members' dependency on the leader, ensuring they retain control. The exhausting, frozen state of 'terror and avoidance' overwhelms cult members and their ability to think critically about the ideology they've suddenly committed themselves to... Broadly, cults retain control over their members by controlling the narrative. Dissenting voices offer a landmark to cult members that they can use to situate themselves and find their way back to objective reality."  The mantras I have quoted throughout this post are subtle control tactics used by the mainstream media and government leaders, ie., the new normal, flatten the curve, stop the spread, we're all in this together, wear a mask, killing grandma, social distancing, wash your hands, stay safe.

We are being kept under control by threats to shut down the economy again if people don't obey the Emperors' and Empress' recommendations and mandates. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has made it clear that if we don't "slow the spread" by each and every one of us following his protocol, especially the mask wearing, and even in counties where there is no epidemic, he may be forced to put us back into isolation. As I alluded in the previous post, his recent speech strongly suggested that we voluntarily self-isolate. 

And how about the shaming? I've seen videos of people screeching at and video recording others not wearing face masks in stores. There is similar shaming on social media, with a bullying tone and not-so-subtle suggestion that anyone not wearing a mask is an idiot. It reminds me of the pod people in the "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" movie. When a person is discovered who is not yet converted, the pod person points and screams at a high pitch, and all the other alien pod people come running to abduct the human.

In this article, Fr. Kevin M. Cusick also uses the term coronavirus cult: https://thewandererpress.com/catholic/news/our-catholic-faith/a-leaven-in-the-world-coronavirus-cult-vs-christianity/. 
He writes, "One would be forgiven for suspecting that the motive here is not health, but in some instances social control. When public safety rests upon shifting opinion rather than fact, there is the potential for a cult. When people’s fears are exploited for manipulation, and risk is enabled by irresponsible advice, superstitions can run rampant."

I think I've made a very strong case that the citizens of America have been sucked en masse into a dangerous cult. In future posts I hope to offer some solutions to getting back your ability to think critically and open your mind to alternative ideas, facts, and opinions, so that you will not be blown about by the changing winds of this coronacult narrative. We will discuss how you can take more responsibility for your personal health, how you can fight for health autonomy, how to strengthen your spiritual life, and how to grow a like-minded community of support.

Gov. DeWine Fails to Encourage Better Personal Health Habits

Yesterday, July 15, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine gave an impassioned speech to encourage the state's residents to double down on their efforts to "slow the spread" of COVID-19. Although he did concede that mask wearing alone would not be enough to battle the virus, the emphasis was undeniably on this one measure. 

I do believe that Gov. DeWine truly cares about Ohio, as do I. I've lived in this state for my entire life. He is making decisions based on the information and scientific "consensus" that he thinks is best. I admire all of his hard work and positive attitude throughout this entire ordeal. He took quick action in March and has held regular briefings to provide Ohioans with updates ever since. He has allowed protests and, until recently, did not mandate mask wearing in public places, except for employers and employees. (Masks are now mandated in public for everyone living in counties in the "red zone" of his color coding system.) Religious services have always been exempt from the mandates for mass gatherings.

DeWine's tone yesterday seemed to be an attempt at a fatherly approach, trying to be gentle while admonishing the children that they have dropped the ball and need to quit being slackers. The standard parental guilt trip was applied as well. He even played the "killing grandma" card! The pat on the back was given for how well Ohioans rose to the challenge at the start of the pandemic, but now we need to not only wear the masks in public and social distance, we should also go back to isolating ourselves from one another. You know, so we don't kill grandma. 

A neighborly barbeque is too much of a risk. Does he want to keep the economy recovering, and keep people from going insane, or not? We go to grocery stores, hardware stores, shopping malls, work places, fitness centers, and the list goes on. But don't have a family reunion? At least he didn't try to shame us out of going to church. 

The thing is, we were told by credible doctors with immunity expertise that a spike in cases would happen once the country opened back up. Remember California doctors Erickson and Massihi, the urgent care physicians on the front lines that the radical left and mainstream media dismissed as frauds, because they are conservatives? All over social media, their video was taken down, their professional opinion, as immunity experts, silenced.

The good doctors told us that because healthy people had been quarantined, isolated from one another, staying mostly indoors, social distancing, not being exposed to microbes necessary for our health, wearing masks, and all that jazz, people's immunity functioning would be very low, causing an increased vulnerability to pathogens. We would then see a dramatic rise in illnesses. These doctors have now been vindicated. Yet the blame is being squarely placed on people not wearing masks. 

Zach Bush, MD, one of the rare triple board certified doctors in the USA, has said that by wearing the masks, we are killing ourselves. He is not the only one. Doctors have come up with effective treatments for their patients and are saving lives, yet this information has been withheld from the general public. OSHA trained PPE specialists have warned that the widespread mask mandates among people who haven't had the proper health screening and training on mask use are dangerous and potentially deadly. Yet here again, important information the public has a right to is not provided by government officials or the mainstream media. 

And Governor DeWine failed, as have all the high profile doctors on the case, to encourage the one thing that would absolutely improve our situation. That is, to take responsibility for our personal health habits. The USA is a notoriously unhealthy country. We have an obesity epidemic, even among children. Our people smoke, overindulge in alcohol, suffer from alarming rates of drug addiction, are largely sedentary, don't get enough exercise, fresh air, sleep, or sunshine; eat too much junk food and are nutrition deprived, work too much and have high stress levels and crappy relationships. If we had taken better care of ourselves in the first place, and if we had quarantined only the high risk and sick people, we would not be in the royal mess we are in--although the whole question of increasing cases is subject to debate in regard to how much of the rise is due to exponentially more testing, and the death rate keeps going down. 

Why aren't we being told to slim down, quit eating so much sugar and junk, eat nourishing foods, get outside in the sun and fresh air, reduce our stress (the media encourages stress!), exercise, take a vitamin and mineral supplement, especially zinc and vitamins C and D, get enough sleep, and spend time--in person--with loved ones with whom we have healthy relationships??? The trinity of excellent health and a strong immune system is comprised of good sleep, food, and exercise habits. God designed us to be social creatures. Hugs are proven to promote good health. Happy relationships reduce stress. Contact with others and the microbes that are necessary for our health is key to managing this crisis. It seems all the wrong things are being promoted, and people are obeying the narrative like followers of a cult. (The "coronavirus cult" will be a future topic, so stay tuned!)

Since I can't control other people, places, or things, I am choosing to focus on my own personal health and that of my family as a whole. I'm doing the things proven to support good health. It's not too late for folks to develop better health habits and for it to make a difference in the number of hospitalizations and deaths. We should have been encouraged to do the right things back in March. We should have been told that this virus is a wake up call, that we need to live better. We need to change the way we grow food and produce meat and dairy products. We need to stop producing so much air pollution from both city industries and chemical farming (Roundup) in rural areas. We need to stop killing ourselves with our lifestyle so we will be strong enough to deal with an epidemic. We need to encourage herd immunity. 

Mask wearing is a psychological bandage at best, for most people in most cases, and is already causing injury and could lead to death. It hasn't been proven to help. What if it's significantly contributing to sickness? I encourage everyone to fight for health freedom and to take personal responsibility for the state of your own health!
 

The Spiritual Art of Detachment | Triggered by the Masks

I first learned about detachment as a member of the Al-Anon 12 Step groups for friends and family of alcoholics. I was an active member for 10 years, and the topic of detachment came up frequently. The principles and practices of Alcoholics Anonymous are based upon traditional Christianity, though the organization and its affiliates are autonomous groups with no religious affiliation. 

Detachment is difficult to both define and to practice. In the 12 Step groups, it's usually applied to emotionally distancing oneself from the problems and behaviors of another person. It isn't about not caring or going numb; we are supposed to feel our feelings and detach with love. 

Say, for example, that your spouse comes home drunk and passes out in the bathroom. You could lie awake for hours stewing in fear or anger, plotting the tongue lashing you're going to give him when he wakes up. Or, practicing detachment, you could check to make sure he's breathing okay, cover him up with a blanket, say a prayer, and go to sleep. You'll wait until he has sobered up to talk to him and will keep control of your own emotions and actions. 

Lately I've found that rather than needing to practice detachment with a particular person, it's the events of the outside world that are causing me anxiety, which could easily lead to obsession. Obsessive thinking, the desire for control, and an overly developed sense of responsibility are typical issues for the Al-Anon person.

I found myself worrying about people at Mass last evening, so many wearing masks, and knowing that it isn't healthy for them. I feel very disturbed with all the mask wearing, both forced and voluntary; loads of yellow caution tape in public places; and intense arguments and contradictory information in the news and on social media about COVID-19. Add to that the issues of civil unrest, murders, rapes, robbery, and destruction happening at the hands of Black Lives Matter and Antifa, and the debates surrounding all that. Top the bitter cake with the mismanagement of government officials in all of these areas, in many cases their blatant encouragement of mob rule, and we have a perfect storm of widespread insecurity and a desperate fight to preserve our safety, rights, and freedom. I will be shocked if it doesn't all rage to a volcanic explosion the likes of Pompei. 

The art of spiritual detachment seems nearly impossible to practice with the intense, prolonged, and multiple stresses we are all facing. Our own personal issues are quite enough to deal with. Adding so much extra baggage from the outside is too much of a burden for anyone. Sanity will not be possible without detachment. 

I will continue to explore detachment in subsequent posts, but for this one, I've gathered the memes to help define the concept, which is what one has to do before putting it into practice. Detachment really must begin with daily prayer and the Bible, or at least conscious contact with a "higher power." I highly recommend the Rosary. I have found that it not only calms me, but gives me clarity and stabilizes my thoughts and emotions. 

I hope you have found this helpful. Godspeed, Rita Michele

The Freedom of Having No Clothes Dryer

lavenderhousevintage.co.uk

A couple of weeks ago, my clothes dryer suddenly stopped working. The load in the dryer tumbled, but the dryer didn't get hot. I had already washed another load, so now I had two wet loads! I don't have an outdoor clothes line because of allergies, and we additionally have a lot of dirt in the air coming off our road, which was torn up for sewer reconstruction. 

Fortunately, after my husband's dad passed away, he brought home a large wooden drying rack from his house. I also have hangers on a metal bar in the basement, where I do the laundry, for clothes that can't be machine dried. To my surprise, the air drying system that I now must use has been liberating!

Before, I felt like I had to be constantly doing laundry, all day running down to the basement to check if a load was dry yet, and resetting the dryer when it wasn't. Now I can typically do only one load a day, and I wait until the following day to gather the dry clothes from the rack and hangers. I have to do smaller loads, so there is less laundry to deal with at once. I no longer feel overwhelmed. Sometimes things dry so quickly that I can even do two loads in a day. 

My new laundry situation has also made me more conscious to be sure that a load gets washed every day, so I don't have a constant mountain building up. If I had a large family, I might be very frustrated. But as it is, this experience of making due with what I have has resulted in the feeling of a simpler life. I even enjoy the creative outlet of determining how to arrange clothing and linens for maximum use of space! And there is, of course, also the saving of electricity. 

Towels and other items dry stiffly rather than soft, but it really makes no difference in their function. The acceptance of reality, of the way it simply is, helps me to let go of perfectionism. I am reminded of the principle in a book I read about doing less and taking longer to do it. Many people pack as much as they can into each day in an effort to be "productive." I do wonder how much joy is sucked out of the day with that type of approach, and what spiritual deficiencies are brought about with no margin built in, no time to just be. 

Maybe, if we actually did less in a day, we would find ourselves with a surprising abundance of time. And maybe that's precisely what we're afraid of. 

How to Let Go of Your Story (Part 2)

I thought about going back to the previous post and removing the "Part 1" from the title. I feel overwhelmed by this concept of letting go, or transcending, the story of what my life has been. It seems like this topic could have endless parts. Yet perhaps I can take it a bit at a time, not looking too far ahead, and just see where the path leads. 

Along the lines of Dr. Zach Bush's thinking, I do believe it's possible to set on the path to a whole new life in one day, to make not only a beginning, but even a dramatic shift; however, I don't think the change can possibly be completed in a 24-hour period. And that probably isn't what he was implying anyway. 

I found a place to start in today's Gospel reading, from Matthew 7:6, 12-14 (DRV), in the words of Jesus:

"Give not that which is holy to dogs; neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turning upon you, they tear you... All things therefore whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you also to them. For this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat. How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it!" 

The image at the top of the page shows a man weighted by the burden of sin, his baggage too broad to enter through the narrow gate. It seems that more and more people are daily choosing the wide, winding gate over the straight and narrow, pushing through it in misguided droves. The souls of many in our nation and around the world are in a dire state. I don't believe this is a time, during intense civil unrest, to advocate for positive thinking and merely hope for the best. I think the time is well overdue for calling a spade a spade. 

What we're seeing in America are the dogs and swine trampling on the pearls, tearing away at what is good, true, and beautiful. These people spit upon the Golden Rule. They do unto others what they would never accept being done to them. I will not associate with anyone who supports the violence and destruction. These villains don't want to go anywhere near the narrow gate. They despise what is holy. 

Black Lives Matter is a terrorist group with an open agenda of Marxism. They are narcissists who care for no one but themselves; opportunists with purely political motivations, without an ounce of understanding of human dignity. Not only do individuals need to let go of their own stories; but if this country is to be saved, we have to reject, as a people, the evil intentions of those who are violently thrusting stories upon us, shoving their narrative down our throats. If we do not swallow the bile of these stories, we will be called racists, white supremacists, bigots, and the list goes on. We will be persecuted. So be it.

I think that detaching from the Marxist narrative, turning our backs to it, dropping the baggage of their twisted stories, and pointing our souls toward the narrow gate is the only solution. If what Dr. Bush was talking about is a practice of detachment, and I believe it is, then we need to seek knowledge of what a Christian detachment looks like, which I believe to be a key element on the pilgrimage to sainthood. 

Like our spiritual ancestors, we must become, once again, pilgrims. It's horrific seeing the statues fall at the hands of felons. It's terrifying seeing mobs destroy lives, businesses, history, law and order. The only response I can cling to now is detachment. Their story is not my story. Their story is not the story of America the Beautiful. Their idea of utopia is a path of slavery. Oh, the irony. 

Dive into the Word. Receive the sacraments. Go to Confession and rid yourself of sin and guilt. Become clean, living in a state of supernatural Grace. Wear the pearl of great price. Detach from the efforts of persecution. Call evil what it is. Yes, slavery and racism are evil, and that is exactly the agenda of Antifa, Black Lives Matter, Planned Parenthood, and all of their ilk. But we must remember to pray for those afflicted with malice and lies, both those who lead others astray, and the ones who are mislead. Prayer is the beginning, and the primary vehicle, of detachment. 

If enough of us transcend our stories, we will experience a sea change. Let the marauders do what they will, showing their true colors, and discontinue validating their stories with "diplomatic" responses. Allow them to reap what they sew. Silence is golden. And then, there will come a time to break silence...

How to Let Go of Your Story (Part 1)

Zach Bush, MD

The following is an excerpt from Dr. Zach Bush, one of the very few triple board certified physicians in the U.S., on the Rich Roll podcast, #456, recorded at a retreat in Italy.

"The cubicle you're really living in is your story. You're gonna go back into an environment at home where everybody thinks they know who you are, because you have very carefully created a cubicle that you show everybody. You are a multi-faceted spiritual creature, that has innumerable facets and faces to you. There is such beauty and complexity in you, and yet you choose to show forth faces of a cubicle. And you have created that story of your life and who you are through training. And I would say that's the biggest problem that all of us face in this room, is the story that you now tell yourself of what your life has been. It's keeping you in a box."

Take a moment to breathe deeply and soak this in. 

I listened to the podcast weeks ago and have been thinking about how to do it, how to let go of my story, ever since. I don't have advice to give on how to transcend one's story, but I think I need to spend the rest of the summer trying to figure it out. I believe I was already in the process of doing this months ago, at the end of my grandparents' lives. I knew I would no longer have the key source of support and unconditional love that they had provided my whole life. Sure, I have other support systems and loved ones, but what my grandparents represented for me was unique and foundational to my story. 

I was somehow aware, through the grief and numerous mixed emotions I was experiencing, that I had been trained into a box of who I was supposed to be, and I felt the prison breaking open, turbulently, as I came to terms with my grandparents' passing. I knew that I must never apologize for being who I am. I owed no one an explanation, not for anything that came from my sense of dignity and the sincerity of my heart. It was okay for me to be weak. It was okay for me to be strong. It was okay for me to be myself. 

I do not believe that my grandmother lived in a cubicle. On more than one occasion, when I was thinking that the state of the world had grown so dark that there must have been a time in history that was better, that we could go back to, I asked Grandma what past era was her favorite. She was born in 1928. She would never choose, always telling me that she had enjoyed all of the eras of her life, including the current one. I understand now that she lived in the present. And because she did, because she wasn't boxed in by her own story, she could allow others the freedom to not be defined by theirs. I wish I could ask her how she managed to live this way. 

I had been told a story from my early childhood for many years, over a period of decades, that was always the same. It was a sweet story that I enjoyed hearing. And then the last time it was told, it was changed entirely. The new version cast me, as a small child, in a lurid light. What had been sweet turned suddenly sour. I knew logically that the revised version could not be true, as it was markedly different from what I had heard my entire life. After listening to Dr. Bush, I decided that not only must I let go of the version that hurt me, but the one which had made me happy as well. 

This was someone else's memory. It was not mine, and I did not have to hold onto it. It did not have to define me or have anything to do, either good or bad, with my present self. It was another person's story, that for whatever reason was altered, and it need not mean anything to me. When the story changed, I realized that it had always been an illusion. 

I don't think Dr. Bush was talking about "reframing" our experiences, though that could be a place to start. Rather, I think he was talking about a radical detachment. He doesn't even like the story that is told to introduce him in interviews about his rare accomplishment as a triple board certified doctor. These details of his life are not who he is. 

When we hang on to our story, we will find ourselves stuck. Our stories can play obsessively in our minds. Memory is not necessarily accurate, and the power of suggestion is strong. We have been trained by the stories others have told about us, and that they will not let go of, to hold onto our own stories as well. Curiously, my grandma didn't tell me stories of my childhood. Our relationship is not colored by her stories of me. For this I am profoundly grateful. 

What about you? I encourage you to take the time to listen to the whole podcast. It may sound a bit "out there" in places, but I think the basic idea of breaking out of one's cubicle is solid. Dr. Bush goes so far as to say that we can have a whole new life in a day! And I think the key is to start with small changes. 

Do you want to give up coffee, but tell yourself that you are a coffee drinking person? Do you want to be a dancer but tell yourself you are clumsy, because that's what you've always heard, and you have the bruises to prove it? Do you tell yourself that you are disorganized, a perfectionist, lazy, lonely, depressed, stupid, smart, fun, boring, offensive, nice... ?? What if you did start fresh, today, right this very moment, dropping every story? What a scary thought! Like standing on the edge of a cliff. 

But what if you could stand on the edge and not fall? 

These are the questions. 

The Quiet Revolution of Women | True Power

A revolution can be quiet. While the mob rules the streets, women can be home, quietly nursing babies. The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world. While children are being indoctrinated in Leftist government schools, where history is erased, women can homeschool their own and teach them in the Way they should go. While women of folly screech their abortions and emasculate men,  women of grace love their husbands and children, and quietly fill their quiver.

Women are the keepers--the guardians--of the home, and we are keepers of Beauty. While death and destruction seem to be ruling the day and America appears to be sinking in quicksand, there is an underground revolution that has already formed deep roots in the soil. And it is increasing. Many women were mandated to stay at home, and many men too, during the coronavirus lockdowns. If you can, stay there. Do not go back into the brutal world. This crisis was a blessing in disguise.

A woman's gift is holy Silence. That a woman should be silent is not that a woman should not speak. Rather, "She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue" (Prov. 31: 26, DRV).  A woman's silence is in the repose of her soul. Because her words are honorable, she is honored, and she is heard by those with ears to hear.

Do not believe, dear women of God, that you are powerless. Follow His will, and your arms will be strong to do His work. Mold yourselves in the image of Our Lady, who is the perfect feminine image of the Lord, and you will be praised in the gates. And the enemy will fall. And the darkness shall not overcome us.

Catholic Homeschool High School Curriculum Outline, 2020-2021

   

I got our homeschooling notification forms to the superintendent this past Wednesday, as I prefer to have that out of the way so I can enjoy my summer. As we are all too aware, this is an unusual year, and so much of the future is up in the air. Our homeschool co-op has postponed registration for fall until an undetermined date in July, so I was concerned about how to word my family's curriculum plans, without knowing for sure what classes might be available. Another mother wisely reminded me that we only have to submit our intended plans. I kept my outline very brief--only one page! This is the first year I've been able to condense it so much. My daughter will be an 11th grader, but this curriculum is general enough to work for various grade levels. Please feel free to use whatever you'd like from this outline and to request additional details in the comments. Godspeed! 

 Homeschool Curriculum Outline 2020-2021

Immaculate Heart Academy

I. Please note that resources and activities planned for this school year are subject to availability and change, as determined by the progression of mandates and procedures regarding COVID-19. The curriculum may include but is not limited to the lists provided in brief here. All required subjects will be covered and hours completed, within the framework of a Catholic Christian, liberal arts educational program. Also, for this phase of high school, we will be following student-directed, interest-based learning, implementing possible apprenticeships, travel, and experiential opportunities for credit. We believe in an integrated curriculum, so various resources will connect subject matter and overlap. Unless otherwise noted, courses will be designed using recommendations from the High School of Your Dreams manual and the additional sources listed below.

II. Resource List

* High School of Your Dreams course manual (Catholic Heritage Curricula)

* AmblesideOnline, Year 11

* Simply Charlotte Mason (simplycharlottemason.com)

* Homeschool Co-op classes, academic and fine arts

* Sauder Village Farm and Living History Museum

* Public and home library and online resources

* Navarre Bible

III. Subject Guide

Language Arts: The Good and the Beautiful high school language arts, including classic literature, vocabulary, grammar, poetry, and writing, plus honors book studies (jennyphillips.com); narration, copy work, and dictation; self-directed creative writing projects; Spanish; Shakespeare (SCM)

Social Studies (history, geography, and religion): American government, twentieth century history, geography (The Good and the Beautiful), saint studies, religious education (Saint Patrick Church), papal encyclicals, current world events

Mathematics: Concepts in algebra and geometry (MathHelp.com); consumer math (Money Matters for Teens); personal finance

Science and Health: Biology, environmental science/ecology, animal science, plant-based diet, nutrition, organic gardening and regenerative agriculture, composting, hygiene and self-care; The National Parks (Freeman Tilden); zachbushmd.com

Physical Education and Life Skills: Running, hiking, biking, swimming, home fitness program, home economics, Christian stewardship, driver's education, school sports teams

Fine Arts: Classes, lessons, and experiences in singing, guitar, musical theater, song writing; art appreciation and history, drawing and painting (The Good and the Beautiful); pottery

First Aid, Safety, and Fire Protection: JOY Co-op fire and safety programs, home safety and first aid instruction, self-defense classes and techniques