There's a Reason I Use "Phoenix" as a Nickname...

Afternoon y'all. I just felt the need to write this afternoon as I had been in "lala" land the past few days... hell, maybe for the past few years; who knows, at any rate. I am here. I am rising. I walked over the hot coals and am still standing. I am not a quitter... as my famILY often reminds me... most people, if they have been through even a tenth of the shyt I have been through, they wouldn't even be on this earthly plane any more. 

I tend to hope they would be, but that's the empath in me (fortunately, or unfortunately).

Anyways, I am not here to babble on about the woes of this life or the hardships we all go through, as someone I love had pointed out... there is no comparison to someone's pain.

It isn't a competition. They are right... what could be absolutely devastating to one person, could be miniscule to another. Kind of like what is the norm for one, is detrimental for another... just look at the spider and the fly scenario and you'd get what I am saying!!! Every person/soul who crosses you path, is a life lesson, or part of one. There is no need to look at them in a bad light because at the end of the day, it is what it is and it was a lesson the universe needed you to learn. It's only a mistake if you didn't learn!!!

Let's get to why I go by Phoenix...

(Before I begin this long-winded explanation, you need to keep in mind that the oldest depiction of the phoenix is found in the Catacombs of Priscilla in Rome; these catacombs are shared by Pagans, Jews and Christians. It has never been truly clarified who was the group who later became Christians... but all the "signs" that were discovered the Christians wanted to carry their meanings into the Christian faith, while the Romans, who identified it as art that was part of their identity and culture.

In these same catacombs, you will find imagery of Greek and Roman Gods, plants, animals and much more that go basically to the first century of when Christianity was still very forbidden, and Christians were living among the pagans in Rome... a time when THEY were hated, persecuted and murdered; thanks to the ruling of Emperor Nero. Christianity was considered illegal (Ironic how that works, right?!!)

Now I said all that, to get to this...

Because Christians were persecuted, it was believed, after much analysis, that the symbol of the Phoenix is found in much of the early Christian artwork; as early as the 2nd century. Most, if not all, was depictions of the idea of rebirth, resurrection or rediscovery. Victory and martyrdom. The artist biggest and most important work was the legacy of the phoenix in the image he made of Christ rising from the dead and triumphing over death.

In some images the Phoenix appears on a palm tree; a tree specifically placed behind the apostle Paul, because, for those who have read and studied the bible, would know that Paul was the preacher of the doctrine of Christ's resurrection.

 You can still find the Phoenix in many of the older churches, cathedrals, etc as it DOES play a role in their beliefs; whether they want to admit it or not... 

BUT THIS IS NOT WHY I CARRY THE NAME>>> I AM ONE WHO LOVES THE IRONY OF IT THOUGH!!!

Phoinix (Latin Phoenix) is a word that denotes the so-called palm tree; more specifically the palm LEAVES!!! (PAY ATTENTION HERE!!!)

If you have read the bible you will know that there are several chapters and versus in the New Testament that speak of people greeting Jesus who was entering Jerusalem, by placing palm leaves on the road, while he road past on his donkey. This is not a misprint, nor is this written like this by accident; because if you continue to read one... what did Jesus do that day when he crossed those palm leaves, just BEFORE he entered Jerusalem??? He rose Lazurus from the dead, a man who had been dead for 4 days!!! All of this literally explains immortality, and the rebirth/resurrecting or reincarnation (whatever term you'd prefer to use) of a human being.

So as I have said a billion times before. I respect what your beliefs are, as long as you can respect mine. I am not some dumb chick. I do have an education. I am well-versed and speak of what I know, but I am not so close-minded that I cannot listen with an open mind to hear and learn. That being said, I just want to point out, that regardless of who thinks what about the Bible or any holy book of any religion; you all do need to recognize that everything is from the universe and Paganism was around since the beginning of time (UGH, I hate the word "time", since it is actually a man-made term)... 

So I will just leave this as a tomato/tomatoe kind of deal. I am nicknamed the Phoenix because I can and have fallen, but you can bet your ass I have and will always get back up. You can say I have been to "hell" (whatever you perceive that fictional place to be; ...as I consider it a state of mind... not an actual place); but no matter what you do, I will never stay down.

Just on a side note... if you have been keeping up with me, you know I do NOT believe in the bible as a factual book at all. I do NOT believe religion is a thing. I do NOT believe in a heaven nor a hell. Just to clarify.

~Phoenix