NOTICE!: It was necessary in declaring the truth of the origin of Valentine’s Day, and the symbols associated with it, to include some material of a sexually graphic nature. The intent of this writer is not to be controversial, nor to stir up impure thoughts of a sexual nature, but rather to expose the deceptions of the enemy in order to lead the Elect of God to separate themselves from all that is impure...
We should not be surprised to learn that many symbols and traditions that have been handed down to us from former generations have their origin in some idolatrous practice or obscene source. Much that mankind deems to be innocent and harmless today was birthed in the mind of the one who is the adversary of God, and the adversary of man. The Scriptures declare the following concerning Satan:
I John 5:19-21
The whole world lies in the power of the evil one... Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world...
In recent months the Spirit of Christ has led me to put together a number of presentations that focus upon the spirit of Babylon. Babylon throughout Scripture is a symbol for the kingdoms of men under the direction of Satan. Babylon was marked by its extreme idolatry, as the prophet Jeremiah declared. As the end of this age draws near we find that Satan is seeking to restore his dominion over all the kingdoms of the earth, in effect rebuilding Babylon...
The practices and symbols spoken of here are disgraceful, and will certainly be shocking to some who will for the first time understand their origin. I am sharing these things in the spirit of the following command of Scripture:
Ephesians 5:11-15
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light... Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise...
I have at times questioned whether these things should be shared, for they are disgraceful to speak of, yet the injunction above is not to be silent, but to expose such things that the saints might not participate in the works of darkness. This is the same cry that the Spirit is proclaiming as He urges the children of God everywhere to no longer participate in the works of Babylon. These celebrations began in Babylon, and their symbols are directly related to the veneration of the sex act that was made the focus of idolatrous worship through Nimrod and his wife.
Valentine’s Day has been called many different things through the centuries, and even today it is called various names by the nations. The following information is taken from the website www.wikipedia.org
In France, a traditionally Catholic country, Valentine's Day is known simply as "Saint Valentin," and is celebrated in much the same way as other western countries.
In Denmark & Norway Valentine's Day (14 Feb) is known as Valentinsdag... people take time to eat a romantic dinner with their partner, to send a card to a secret love or give a red rose to their loved one. In Sweden it is called Alla hjärtans dag ("All Hearts' Day") and... its celebration is recognized and sales of cosmetics and flowers for this holiday are only bested by those for Mother's Day.
In Finland, Valentine's Day is called Ystävänpäivä which translates into "Friend's day..."
In Turkey, Valentine's Day is called Sevgililer Günü which translates into "Sweethearts' Day..."
According to Jewish tradition the 15th day of the month of Av - Tu B'Av (usually late August) is the festival of love. In ancient times girls would wear white dresses and dance in the vineyards, where the boys would be waiting for them (Judges 21:19-25). In modern Israeli culture this is a popular day to pronounce love, propose marriage and give gifts like cards or flowers...
Valentine's Day has emerged in Japan and Korea as a day on which women, and less commonly men, give candy, chocolate or flowers. It has become an obligation for many women to give chocolates to all male co-workers...
By a further marketing effort, a reciprocal day called White Day has emerged. On March 14, men are expected to return the favour to those who gave them chocolates on Valentine's Day. Originally, the return gift was supposed to be white chocolate or marshmallows; hence "White Day." However, lingerie and jewelry have become common gifts...
In Chinese culture, there is a counterpart to Valentine's Day, called "The Night of Sevens"; according to legend the Cowherd and the Weaver Maid meet in Heaven on the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar...
In Persian culture (Iran) Sepandarmazgan is a day for love, which is on 29 Bahman in the Jalali solar calendar. The corresponding date in the Gregorian calendar is 17 February. Sepandarmazgan were held in the Great Persian Empire in the 20th century BC hundreds of years before its acknowledgment by western world.
[End Excerpt]
There are many sources that trace the observance of Valentine’s Day back to the Roman festival known as Lupercalia. This became such a debauched event that Pope Gelasius abolished it during his reign between 492-496 A.D.. Although the Lupercalia was a local event in the city of Rome, a wider festival was observed by the people of this time known as Juno Februa, or Juno the Purifier. Juno is a type of Semiramis. The month of February takes its name from this festival that celebrated purification and fertility.
The oldest documented celebration I have found on this date is that of Sepandarmazgan, which was celebrated as early as 2,000 B.C. in the Persian Empire. That it should be found there is to be expected, for Babylon lies in what is now the nation of Iraq, and Iran is its immediate neighbor to the East. The following quotes are taken from Iranian (Persian) websites.
Sepandarmaz is another name for mainyu (earth) meaning sacred, humble, and passionate. It is the symbol of love. It is humble, meaning it is modest toward the entire creation. These are the qualities attributed to Earth that spreads beneath our feet, thus the symbol of modesty and love. As human beings, there are creatures that we find unpleasant and repulsive even, but Earth is not like us. She embraces all creatures the same and loves them the same; like a mother who loves all her children alike, even when they are ugly. In our ancient culture, mother is symbolized by sepandarmaz or earth.
In the feast of Sepandarmazgan, Earth was worshiped and women venerated. On this day, Royal women and girls sat on the throne and men and boys had to obey them and bring them presents and gifts. In this way, men were reminded to acclaim and respect women.
[Source: http://www.tavoosmag.com]
In the mystery religions, the earth and celestial bodies were envisioned as deities. Nimrod, who also was known as Baal, was pictured in the Sun. Semiramis was at times pictured in the Earth, as well as the Moon, for both are linked to fertility. A woman’s menstrual cycles are based upon the phases of the Moon. The ancient Indo-European word menes denoted both Moon and Month, and serves as the basis for the words menses and menstrual. Thus, the moon became a symbol of fertility. Crops were planted according to the phases of the Moon, and people determined the best dates for conception by the same observances.
The earth also served as a symbol of fertility, and it is this relationship that has given rise to the name “Mother Earth.” Semiramis, therefore, being the origin of the goddess of fertility was associated with both the Earth and the Moon. Sepandarmazgan is a feast established for the worship of Mother Earth, whose bounty was entreated by bringing gifts to women. This is the origin of men presenting gifts to their female lovers on Valentine’s Day. Chocolates, roses, greeting cards, jewelry, and a variety of other gifts are all the modern enactment of this ancient idolatrous festival.
Doing a search on this ancient festival will lead one to discern its origins in the Zoroastrian religion, and its association with the god Ahura Mazda. Alexander Hislop reveals that both Zoroaster and Ahura Mazda are other identities of Nimrod. Understanding these things is reason enough for a Christian to choose to not have any participation in this festival. The Scriptures state:
II Corinthians 6:14-17
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you."
The thoughtful Christian should consider that the various festivals and holidays that the world celebrates all had an origin at some point, and many of them can be traced back directly to idolatrous worship. When we discern that an event has such an origin, we should separate ourselves from any association with that which was birthed in idolatry. Even more, many of these idolatrous celebrations were very obscene, having a focus upon the act of reproduction that was distorted into something contrary to Yahweh’s desire. Rather than sex being viewed as a sacred thing to be shared among a husband and wife in a relationship of fidelity, it became something promiscuous.
The symbol most widely associated with Valentine’s Day is the heart. As one looks at the shape of an actual human heart, they should wonder how it ever came to be depicted as it now is. Following is an image of an actual human heart, and the symbol now associated with it.
Below is an image created by tracing the outline of the actual human heart above.
Egyptian Ieb
The ancient Egyptians when wanting to symbolize the human organ had a much different image that they used. It is called the Ieb. This is a much better graphic as it reflects the valves and arteries of the heart. This image pre-dates the heart graphic that has become commonplace today. One must ask, “Where then did the shape we now draw as a heart originate?” Following is one account.
What the traditional "heart shape" actually depicts is a matter of some controversy. It only vaguely resembles the human heart. Some claim that it actually depicts the hearts of cattle, a more readily available sight to most people in past centuries than an actual human heart. However, while beef hearts are more similar to the iconic heart shape, the resemblance is still slight. The shape does resemble that of the three-chambered heart of the turtle, and that of the human male prostate gland, but it is very unlikely that the image was patterned after either of these organs.
There are many claims that the "heart" shape actually depict features of the human female, such as the female's pubic mound or vulva. A Sumerian cuneiform symbol for "woman" closely resembles the heart shape, and is believed to directly depict the pubic mound. Others maintain that the heart resembles the shape of the female breasts or the female buttocks, especially when bent over in readiness for copulation. Any of these origins would indicate that the heart was originally a symbol of fertility and sexuality, explaining its current association with love.
The heart shape may also represent a perfectly formed and spread labia.
The piercing of a heart or valentine with an arrow, an obvious phallic symbol, then becomes a straightforward representation of "act of love" — penile-vaginal penetration.
[Source: burningtaper.blogspot.com ]
I believe the actual origin of the heart symbol can be demonstrated convincingly as one considers the source from which it arises. We must keep in mind that Valentine’s Day is simply the modern form of the ancient festival that worshiped Semiramis as the goddess of fertility. Her festivals were known for their impure sexual practices, and the act of sexual intercourse was an integral part of it.
Before I go further to show what the heart symbol actually represents, I want to first look at a common way in which it is depicted at Valentine’s Day. It is very commonly shown in association with Cupid shooting an arrow into it. Following is one such illustration.
It is commonly understood that the arrow is a phallic symbol, that is, it is an image that represents the male sex organ. This symbolism is used even in the internationally recognized symbol for the male sex.
We can gain more understanding as we understand who Cupid is. Although Cupid is commonly depicted today as a winged baby, this is merely part of the deceit of Satan. He seeks to depict Cupid as something that is innocent, when historically he has been known as anything but innocent. Following are some common depictions.
The actual identity of Cupid reveals an image that is not innocent at all. The website Wikipedia states this of his identity. “In Roman mythology, Cupid (Latin cupido) is the god of erotic love and sex. He is equated with the Greek god Eros, and another one of his Latin names Amor...” We can understand the true nature of Cupid as we observe some of the English words that have been derived from his Roman, Greek and Latin names.
Concupisence: illicit sexual desire, unlawful desire
Cupidity: covetousness
Eroticism: an abnormal emphasis of sex and sexual relations
Erotogenic: producing sexual desires
Amorous: showing, or feeling sexual desire
The Greeks and Romans viewed Cupid/Eros after the image that these words depict. The following words are found under the Wikipedia listing for Eros: “In Greek mythology, Eros was the primordial god of lust, love, and intercourse; he was also worshiped as a fertility deity.” Following is a picture of a statue of Cupid/Eros found in the ruins of Pompeii. It is dated to the first century B.C..
It is evident that this is no cherubic baby. The citizens of Pompeii and Herculaneum, which were alike killed in the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, were obsessed with sex. The paintings, sculpture, and other artwork found in these buried cities reveal the most explicit and excessive focus upon sex. That a judgment was brought upon these cities due to their sin is as likely as it was for the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah who ran to the same excesses.
Knowing then that it is Satan’s habit to depict that which is vile in an innocent form; knowing that Cupid is the god of illicit sexual desire, and understanding that the arrow is a symbol of the male sex organ, what is it that is actually being depicted in the symbols associated with Valentine’s day?
It is actually a depiction of the act of intercourse. We have seen that the arrow is an image of the male sex organ. What then is the heart shape an image of? The writer cited earlier listed a number of possibilities. The correct one, I believe, is that it depicts the female organ with the labia pulled back. This accounts for both the shape, and the red, or pink color.
Following is a depiction of the female organ taken from the cover of an online magazine. In the following images the color and arrow are added. I came across this image while researching the article “Another Gospel” back in 2002. The originator of this magazine was a friend of Jay Bakker, son of Jim Bakker. By following a link on the ministry site of Jay Bakker, I was led to this image at a time when I had just begun to consider the origin of the heart symbol. I was immediately struck by the profound resemblance of the female sexual organ with the labia pulled back, and that image we now refer to as a heart symbol.
It is evident that although the heart symbol is a poor match for the shape of the human heart, it is a perfect match for the shape of the female sex organ opened invitingly for the act of sex. However, there is more evidence that this symbol was used for thousands of years in this manner.
In the ancient city of Ephesus a marble paving stone was found that is described as being the world’s oldest surviving example of advertising. On this marble stone is a picture of a prostitute holding a sign with the name of a sex house in ancient Ephesus. Along with the prostitute is the depiction of a man’s footprint, believed by some to indicate the direction to the house. There is also found on this same stone what we refer to as the heart symbol. Following are a few pictures of this marble paving stone.
Section of Pavement Where Symbols are Located
This paving stone can still be viewed as it was originally laid out on a sidewalk of ancient Ephesus. The Ephesus brothel and public latrine were both located a short distance away. That you might be incredulous to think that the Ephesians would have a depiction of the female sex organ on their street is understandable. Yet just outside the brothel on a public well was found a statue of the god Bes. It is pictured below.
The Ephesians openly flaunted their excessive focus on sexuality. It was a common thing to go to a brothel to engage in sexual activity. Many of the temples of the day employed prostitutes to engage with the devoted followers of various fertility gods and goddesses in sex rites. The statue of Bes pictured above is rather tame in comparison to much of the sexual paraphernalia and artwork found in the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
It was not just ancient peoples who understood the significance of what we now refer to as the heart symbol. The female sex organ is often associated with this shape today. One slang reference to the female sex organ is a cherry. The images shown below reveal their great similarity of form.
The website “answers at Yahoo.com” gives the following information regarding the symbolism of the cherry.
Certain fruits have strong fertility symbolism, and a deep red, ripe, juicy cherry is no exception. The cherry has come to represent chastity and purity as the fruit ripens on the tree. Once plucked, a cherry represents the loss of innocence and virtue. A cherry tasted is a virgin no more.
A cherry surrounded in flames speaks of unquenchable desire or passion.
[Source: answers at Yahoo.com]
Another common depiction of the heart symbol at Valentine’s Day includes a picture of a lock and a key. Following are some common depictions.
After recognizing that the heart is a symbol for the female sex organ, the lock and key then attain a greater meaning. Some have suggested that the key is another symbol for the male sex organ. The key also points to an unlocking of a female’s chastity so that she will become promiscuous with her male suitor. There were times when men so feared that their wives and daughters would engage in undesirable sexual conduct, that the women were forced to wear chastity belts.
The heart with a lock and key is simply another reference to the act of sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. Valentine’s Day originated as a debauched festival that led to a great lack of restraint among mankind, including a profusion of prostitution and orgies. Satan has simply attempted to deceive those who would object to such overt imagery today by masking them in ways that appear cute and innocent.
In a society where sexual fidelity is becoming hard to find, even among those in the church, is Valentine’s Day something that you want to participate in? And what of your children? Is it really an innocent thing when young boys and girls give one another cards and gifts on this day, and ask one another to “Be My Valentine”? Or is Satan setting our children up for a future life of sexual impurity? Will the childish request of today turn into the immoral proposition of the future? Is it proper to teach our children to flirt with the opposite sex in such a way? Do they need to be focused upon dating and sexual attraction while they are yet in elementary school? Consider the messages that children give to one another on pieces of heart shaped candy.
I attended public grade school as a child. One of the annual events of school life was exchanging valentine’s cards with all the other members of the class I was in. Even as a young boy I found it exciting to receive Valentine’s cards from the girls in my class. We also got small cardboard boxes of heart shaped candy with messages on each one, similar to the image above. Boys and girls would huddle together and talk of giving a heart candy with a particular message on it to some member of the opposite sex.
As a Christian, we should understand the power of the thoughts we entertain. Every Valentine’s Day young children have their minds directed toward thoughts of sexuality in a context outside of Yahweh’s plan for them. They are directed to embrace a mindset of flirtation and sexual suggestion. These thoughts often take root during these annual events and begin to form channels for future thoughts toward the opposite sex. A very worldly mindset is embraced, where lust, or some romantic illusion, becomes the basis for contemplation of any relationship with the opposite sex. As children get older, these thoughts turn to action.
What many view as innocent suggestions, and harmless activity, such as that of exchanging Valentine’s Day cards in elementary school, is actually establishing patterns of thought that will impact the course of one’s life. Consider the message of the following cards.
Message: “Why beat around the bush at all, or be afraid to show it? When on someone love wants to call, why not let someone know it?”
The message and the imagery of naked children is far from innocent.
This Valentine’s card is typical of many of the works of Satan. He is a genius at suggestiveness. He often cloaks hidden messages in imagery. The very practices of the advertising world are the fruit of Satan’s fallen thinking. Ezekiel 28 speaks of Satan defiling his sanctuaries by the abundance of his trade. This is seen again in his leading the people of God to turn the Temple of God into a house of merchandise and money changers. Advertising is all about stirring up some desire in a person to make them covet the thing that is being sold. Stirring up the appetites of the flesh is one of the greatest areas of Satan’s work, and he is a master at it.
Many have heard of various forms of subliminal advertising. Images formed in the shape of a cloud, or the swirls of an ice cube, can all be used to evoke thoughts and emotions even when the conscious mind does not recognize what it is seeing. I have at times studied such marketing tricks, and the hand of Satan is clearly behind it all.
The card above with the boy at the pump and the girl holding the heart is an example of Satan’s usage of imagery to evoke emotions and thoughts that the person looking at it might not even consciously recognize. The heart, as we have shown, is a representation of the female sex organ. Notice that the pump associated with the boy is also an image of the male sex organ. Even the flow of water is symbolic.
Proverbs 5:15-18
Drink water from your own cistern and fresh water from your own well. Should your springs be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be yours alone and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth.
In this Proverb, a man’s seed is depicted as a spring of water. The reader is exhorted to share this spring only with the wife of his youth. The message of Valentine’s Day is to share this spring with whomever one is attracted to. Following is another Valentine’s Card with a not so subtle message.
The word “Swing” is emphasized. Swing has become a word used to denote an open sexual lifestyle that includes wife-swapping and other forms of immoral sexual conduct. The messages that are associated with Valentine’s Day are becoming increasingly more overt as Satan finds it less necessary to disguise an open invitation to sexual promiscuity. Society is becoming more accepting of immoral conduct. There is less censorship, and even at the highest levels of government arguments are heard repeatedly that a person’s private life has no bearing on his/her professional life.
I will show one more Valentine’s Day card to lead into another item that is greatly associated with this celebration, roses.
Florists around the world do a brisk business in flower sales at Valentine’s Day. Where did this tradition arise from? Roses were sacred to Venus, Diana, and Aphrodite, all of whom are various incarnations of Semiramis.
In searching for historical information on the artifacts associated with the various fertility goddesses, I came across a site posted by a pagan worshiper of Venus. Historical information was provided on the Veneralia, one of the chief festivals dedicated to the worship of Venus. The rose is mentioned frequently in association with Venus.
This pagan worshiper has made a room in her house into a shrine for Venus, which she describes in the following way:
I have a room at home which is specifically and only Venus's Temple. No one is even allowed in that room unless I know for sure that they will show respect for the Goddess (so basically all Pagans are welcome!). In her Temple I have many statues of Venus and her altar. Her altar is decorated with sea shells, rose quartz and rocks shaped like hearts, which I gathered on the beaches of Greece. I also have the altar decorated with fresh flowers (usually roses) which are sacred to her plus jewelry and other pretty trinkets which I find fitting for the Goddess of Love and Beauty.
It is no coincidence that the images associated with the worship of this pagan fertility goddess are the same images that are observed in profusion on Valentine’s Day. This day finds its origin in Babylon, in the veneration of Nimrod and Semiramis. Like Christmas and Easter, which still bear the distinct imprint of their pagan origins, so too does Valentine’s Day. Even as there is much that is debased and obscene in the idolatrous rites of Semiramis and Nimrod, so too do we find this same spirit associated with the observance of Valentine’s Day.
One of the people I asked to review this article commented with the following remarks.
A child that has been abused and beaten by his or her natural father has a very difficult time understanding or believing the love of Yahweh that is revealed in the relationship of father and child.
Just so, the marital relationship has been trodden under foot. Even believers fail to recognize the spiritual significance of it and are thus unable to partake of what was meant as a gift to be treasured. As a living example to teach a message and a truth.
The language of symbols is a pure language - as long as the symbols remain untainted. When the symbols are corrupted the message does not come through clearly. It is garbled and misunderstood. That is why the Adversary will twist the meaning any way he can. His first appearance in scripture shows one method that he will use to blind humanity. Casting doubt on the expressed Word.
Gene 3:1 (KJS) Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
When Yahweh says, "Marriage [is] honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." Hebr 13:4 (KJS) - the enemy says, "Did God really mean that?" Then he will cast up before the mind all the filth that he has managed to wrap around it - centuries of pornography, bestiality, perversion, pagan rituals, fornications, adulteries and more. He will say, "how can something holy come out of what is unholy?"
But the answer to that is - the Holy came first.
Yahweh will eventually open the eyes of His chosen ones to see and understand.
Zeph 3:9 (KJS) For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.
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The point is well taken. Even as Satan has sought to distort mankind’s image of God as our Father by placing before our eyes a myriad of images and examples of distorted fatherhood, so too does he seek to distort mankind’s understanding of the marriage relationship. Generations have now been raised up with the television’s depiction of marriage. Over time the image in the minds of the young have become further confused in regard to what God has intended.
In a short span of time we have gone from the marriage relationship revealed inLeave it to Beaver and Father Knows Best to the wildly unfaithful relationships between men and women observed in such shows as Sex in the City. Our society has had pushed upon it by the great deceiver an image of the male/female relationship that is based completely upon selfishness. Men are seeking some never ending sexual fantasy that is seldom satisfied by one woman, and women are pursuing the man of their dreams through sensual dress and provocative language. All of these things are present in the rites and symbols of Valentine’s Day, but they have often gone unrecognized by a society who has lost the knowledge of Yahweh’s true desire for the lifelong unselfish union between a man and a woman, a relationship that basks in heartfelt communion while seeking the welfare of the other party.
Valentine’s Day not only is sowing confusion regarding male/female relationships, but it’s origin is in the idolatry of ancient Babylon. One brother who wrote a response to this article shared the following:
I do believe that this presentation is a word that the body of Christ would benefit from if we are ever going to move from mere babes and grow up into Him who is the Head, which is Christ. Most of us, including myself, do not fully realize how much the Babylonian system of worship is ingrained in our world and way of life, unless the Spirit reveals it to us...
If those with the light remain silent, then we are only companions to this delusion. We are not called to keep our light hidden. The Apostle Paul exhorts the saints in Philippians 2:15-16, "...so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life..."
Joseph, my exhortation to you is to hold forth the word of truth regarding this teaching whether or not it brings reproach. If the bride is to become without spot or wrinkle then it is necessary that all the idols (including blatant and hidden ones) be cast down and thrown into the fire. Idols, albeit those associated with Christmas, Easter, or Valentine's Day, are still alive and well in this present evil age. And just like Israel of old, His saints today are still, knowingly or unknowingly, clinging to those things devoted to destruction. It is high time for the bride of Christ to awake from her slumber and let the light of Christ shine on them. "Truly, these times of ignorance God has overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent." Joseph, you do well to admonish the saints in the words of the Apostle John, "Dear children, keep yourselves from idols."
[End Quote]
Babylon was both a place of great idolatry and great immorality. Satan is working ceaselessly to re-establish Babylon upon the Earth and to destroy everything that God has called holy. The Spirit of Christ is calling out, “Come out of her My people, lest you participate in her sins and partake of her plagues.” May He have an obedient people.
Credit to Joseph Herrin
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