The prophet's dictionary guide to the supernatural

worshipped. The site’s excavation revealed many cultural tablets that record the history of the Phoenicians, the home of Queen Jezebel, Ahab’s pagan wife. See Jezebel. 1236. Rastifarianism—A largely Caribbean-based religion that sprung out of a political movement started by Marcus Garvey. It was formed in an effort to rescue Jamaican slaves and end or ease their racist struggles. The religion that was formed was based on the Old Testament Scripture with a perverse messianic strain attached. It was named after Prince Ras Tafari and evolved into his adoption of the lion of the tribe of Judah fetish as its principal worship stance. The progenitors and propagators of this religion inducted Christ’s leonine symbol as their cult image and compelled this prince’s worship as the incarnate messiah god. Other of their religious forms include elements of the Old Testament Scriptures blended with magic and sorcery. Marijuana is a chief ritual substance smoked to elevate the worshipper to a heightened spiritual state to invite and receive the spirits of the cult. The marijuana ritual is observed as part of the communion rite of the religion. Features of ancestral worship are further integrated in the cult as a means of spiritual contact with the other worlds. Through it they contact the spirits of the dead. Necromancy is also a rudiment of the faith, suggestive of the hodge-podge of old Caribbean beliefs that infiltrated it over time. Dreadlocks is the name given to the distinctive hair style they wear. It is in keeping with the Old Testament’s priestly dictates about the hair appearance of its ministers. The long, straggly look commanded by this faith is based on the Lord’s injunction concerning His Levitical priests cutting their hair, only they reversed it because the command was to not wear long hair while anointed for priestly service and in priestly garb. Their look is based more on an ancient myth that long hair on men resembled a lion’s mane and was therefore a source of increased potency. It is felt that the hairdo communicated the wearer’s strength in connection with the deity the Rastafarian worshipped. 1237. Raven—A scavenger bird related to the crow. Ravens signify death, loss, and war. The bird is associated with soothsaying, which is symbolized by it. Ravens have long been used as predatory mascots of war gods. Odin in particular employed one as his symbol. Ravens are indicative of mind powers, especially the memory, because they are credited with astute instincts. Raven lore denotes the raven, and its relative the crow, as the wild and crude