The Aztecs in Mesoamerica used a wide number of plants and animals in the pursuit of an altered state of consciousness. The Florentine Codex refers to the use of psychoactive substances multiple times, and it was one of the most important and revered parts of the society.

The second paragraph of Declaration of Independence starts with the following words: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

When it comes to visiting Mexico, there are countless historical and archaeological sites which can entice even the most casual history buff. While the Maya and Aztec sites like Chichen Itza and Uxmal are very well known, the slopes of the Popocatepetl volcano in the center of the country house ancient monasteries which have been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and are truly a unique sight to see.

In the book of Esther, it is written: "In the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on its thirteenth day…on the day that the enemies of the Jews were expected to prevail over them, it was turned about: the Jews prevailed over their enemies." - Esther 9:1 "

Now you have accepted Jesus into your life you have now become a part of the family of God. You may have many questions, thoughts or you may even be slightly anxious about this new life, but don't be as your Father knows everything about you.

All through history, angels and demons are already described in superstition, religious beliefs, and folklore. Whilst people of many beliefs believe without question, it is human nature to question. So we ask ourselves, do angels and demons exist? To resolve this question, we should look at their roots from different religious and cultural perspectives.

Let us go to the Bible for some guidance on this. Take Luke Chapter 1 Verses 26 - 28 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

The trip Pope Benedict XVI took to Mexico last week reminded me of the many trips we took there in the 90's to document some of the history of the early part of the 20th century.

We read this statement by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and we were so filled with the Holy Spirit and love for our country and for our Church, we could not rest until we sent this to you and prayed you would read the bishops' entire statement, for yourself. We thought we knew the history of our country, but after reading this statement, we find ourselves hungering to know more - and more- and more!

Thousands of years ago, voodoo started as a religion practiced in certain regions in Africa. These days, there are numerous places where voodoo is practiced. It might be fascinating for you to know exactly where this religion remains observed. Different places in different continents of the world have their own form of voodoo. Different gods and certain rituals are usually used.