The Misguided Sheep | Far from the Madding Crowd

 

My husband and I recently watched the 2015 movie version of Far from the Madding Crowd, based on the Thomas Hardy novel. Carey Mulligan stars as the fiesty, independent heroine, Bathsheba Everdene, with Matthias Schoenaerts playing one of three men vying for her affections, shepherd Gabriel Oak. 

Curiously perhaps, today's Mass readings from the Douay-Rheims Bible reminded me of a scene from this movie. For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand (Psalm 95: 7) He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth (Luke 11: 23). 

Farmer Oak is training a new sheep dog to replace his beloved, aging dog, Old George. The younger dog is named Young George. One night, for reasons unknown, Young George jumps into the sheeps' pen, disturbing them to the point that they break free. The renegade pup drives them into a frantic run. Gabriel awakens to the commotion, and by the time he catches up to the flock, he watches in horror as every single sheep plunges over the side of a cliff. The sight of the dead flock on the ocean shore below is chilling. You can guess what happens to Young George. 

Something akin to this is happening in today's society, as we continue to be goaded into a frenzy and feel ourselves falling without a net. Maybe the most disturbing aspect of the coronavirus cult response by government leaders, medical "experts," and much of the population is the "fear porn," as it has been called by some of its opponents. Mainstream news media and big tech social media have conspired with the cult leaders to keep people disempowered, silenced, and terrified. The only break from the maddening narrative we've gotten over the past year has been the Marxist revolt of the Black Lives Matter and Antifa organizations, which have delivered their own brand of fear porn while taking attention away from the Covid Theater. 

The likes of Dr. Fauci, emperor-like state governors and city mayors, some members of the police force, the Marxist groups, and the hard left media have become society's shepherds, and clear marks of their misguided sheep are the citizens complying with mask mandates and lockdowns. The sheep at the bottom of the cliff are those driven to suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and poverty, among the many victims of the coronacult fallout. 

Others, mostly traditional Christians it seems, have found a new fervor of faith, and we have our gaze fixed firmly on our eternal Shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord. All of the false leaders are truly idols that many have chosen to follow, out of fear, out of lack of faith and the action that it requires. They reject the Way, the Truth, and the Life for a story of despair and bondage. The path of a holy freedom is too narrow, so they enter at the wide gate and refuse to consider turning back. The consequence is an existence frought with anxiety, a loss of one's sense of self, an isolation we were not created to endure. It is nothing short of the crushing of the spirit, the piercing of the soul.

The question is, are you gathering or scattering?  The choice is actually simple, though not easy, and comes down to a daily decision to act either with Faith or in fear. Bathsheba Everdene reacted for a long time out of fear of losing her independence, so she refused to marry. That is, until she inexplicably made an impetuous decision to surrender to the wrong man. Her heart led her astray, as can anyone's. It seems to take forever for our heroine to turn to the shepherd who has always been there for her, who continuously watches over her, waiting with extreme patience for Bathsheba to finally come to her senses. 

This brings me to the third of the everyday duties from Achieving Peace of Heart that I've been exploring and discussing this Lent: to elevate and control my heart (love of God and neighbor).  As Jesus commands that we love our neighbors as ourselves, we must first love God with the entirely of heart, mind, soul, and strength before we will be oriented in the right direction. Putting one's faith in the world's idols puts the whole flock in danger. A heart lifted to God and obedient to his sovereignty puts all other considerations into perspective. 

Recently, "medical" advice was given to parents that if a child was exposed to Covid, he should be isolated in a room by himself for two weeks, with no hugs or any closeness with family members, eating meals alone and doing everything completely by himself. If he were to venture into the hallway to use the restroom, he must be wearing a mask. I can only imagine the emotional scars a child would suffer under such conditions, yet some people think this kind of approach falls under the dictate of common sense. In reality, it's a call to heartlessness. These are the extremes that being in compliance to the absurd has led us to, and if such totalitarianism continues to be allowed, we will see far worse in the future. 

It's imperative that we recognize the evil and stop listening to the barking of orders that has caused this coronacult stampede and its ultimate perilous jump into collective mayhem and madness.  Be the one sheep that is found. 

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!