Seeking Sanctuary

December 2010 Sky Watch

2010-11-30T16:20:00.000-05:00

Sky Watch for EST Virginia USA

December 2010 Moon Dates

New Moon 5
First Quarter 13
Full Moon 21
Last Quarter 27

Don't forget to visit SPACE.com to check out their calendar for more celestial events.

Acknowledgments:
Some date inferred from http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=904&month=1&year=2010&obj=moon&afl=-11&day=1 and from http://www.tutiempo.net/en/moon/phases.htm

I just jumped off the deep end.

2010-11-01T11:33:00.001-04:00

I think I’m officially nuts. I just signed up for NaNoWriMo. The goal is to write 50,000 words by Nov 30th, a novel. I feel like I just signed up to test drive a brand new roller coaster without a helmet. 1,700 words a day doesn’t seam like too much. I don’t think anyone is going to see me much online for the rest of the month, maybe.

Somebody, please rub Buddha’s belly for me!

November 2010 Sky Watch

2010-10-31T16:18:00.000-04:00

Sky Watch for EST Virginia USA

November 2010 Moon Dates

New Moon 6
First Quarter 13
Full Moon 21
Last Quarter 28

Don't forget to visit SPACE.com to check out their calendar for more celestial events.

Acknowledgments:
Some date inferred from http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=904&month=1&year=2010&obj=moon&afl=-11&day=1 and from http://www.tutiempo.net/en/moon/phases.htm

10 Ways to Turn Halloween to Samhain

2010-10-27T09:58:00.001-04:00

1. Plan to stay up till midnight. It is a New Year’s celebration after all.

2. Replace the spiders and cobwebs with black cloth and candles.

3. Give all the skeletons family names and attach a picture name tag.

4. Plan a family dinner and leave an extra place setting out and empty chair. Invite your dearly departed ones.

5. Replace all the spooky music with somber melodies or gentle drumming.

6. Go crazy with the candles, but don’t turn your home into a bonfire.

7. Use natural decorations. Like leaves, gourds, dried corn and pumpkins. Think last harvest.

8. Set up a seasonal altar or an ancestors altar. Decorate with pictures of loved ones that have passed the veil.

9. Tell the stories of the family and speak the names of your loved out loud.

10. Play some games. Do a little divination. Tell tall tales. Have some fun.

Have a Blessed Samhain everyone.

The witch is offensive

2010-10-26T13:53:00.001-04:00

The green skinned old woman with warty nose and black pointy hat is ridding a broom across the sky cackling evilly. Watch out! It’s the witch! It’s an image that often comes out on Halloween festooning the decorations in silhouette, little figurines of witches, sometimes flatten on front doors, or even trees. But what does this image represent and why do so many self proclaimed witches get offended by this image? Every year, around Halloween someone raises a stink about the image of the witch and ends up in the media. And then the myth making begins again.

Out comes the claims that witchcraft is older than Christianity, that the witch trials killed nine million witches, that Christianity invented the evil witch as a way to persecute the peaceful witches. All of which is folklore based on bad historical research and repeated so much that many Pagans believe it to be true. The one failing the Pagan religious movement has is a lack of historical understanding and not requiring acclaimed authors to maintain historical accuracy and scholarship.

A woman who is Being In Total Control of Herself.

I understand the power of words and how powerful the reclamation of a word can be. The best example I feel is with the word ‘bitch’ as reclaimed by the Feminists. A bitch was once viewed as a woman who was bold, loud, argumentative, nagging, and controlling. All those traits are masculine in nature and any woman displaying those traits ran the risk of being labeled a bitch. With the feminist movement, and the fight for social equality in the home, workplace and politics; woman who chose career over home have been labeled a bitch. As such the label is inaccurate and thus the reclamation began.

But the reclamation of ‘witch’ wasn’t in response to changing social conditions. Instead a group decided to become witches as they conceived them. From that group, a split occurred as they grew. One kept ‘witch’ and ‘witchcraft’ and the other became ‘Wiccan’ and ‘Wicca.’ That is just a super short blurb on the history of Gardernian Wicca. It’s effects on Modern Paganism has been huge.

I like the Halloween witch. I view her as a mythological creature, an archetype of the darker aspects of the feminine nature. She is the dark image of the Crone. I value the lessons that she can teach; old people are often crabby, beauty is only skin deep, actions speak louder than words, that the pursuit of power often leads to a bad ending, what looks too good to be true often is.

I don’t understand the offence that modern witches feel with the image of the Halloween witch. It’s one thing to claim that one isn’t evil and bad. But it’s another thing to take on an image and turn it on it’s head and to do so without any understanding of that image and it’s role within mythology. It’s akin to taking the image of the troll and forcing everyone to accept that trolls are good, nice bridge keepers who only ask for reasonable payment for crossing. Therein lies the mystery.

Modern witches are magic practitioners and that is the only similarity they have with the archetypical witch. Despite the views of the Only One God religions that all magic is evil and therefore any who practice magic is evil and the tendency to label magic users as witches, I do not feel that reclaiming the ‘witch’ is the proper way to go about carving acceptance in the mainstream mindset. Education is a better tool, not picking up a club and beating everyone in the head with it.

The witch belongs in mythology, not reality. Around the world there has been increased reports of witchcraft, abusing women and children for things that are beyond their control. The idea that the witch is real is having negative consequences. One that I wonder if the reclamation of the word had caused. It’s easy enough to do a web search and see that there are people who do claim to be a witch and that they practice magic.

I practice magic, but I don't claim to be a witch. The negative stereotypes don't bother me because I never accepted the reclamation of the word 'witch.' I understand the power gained from such reclamation but I feel the stereotype is useful and therefore should not be erased. The whole myth of the witch grew out of the the Middle Ages and the Inquisition and it's to the level of the boogeyman. These mythological creatures play an important part in myth making and in human psychology. What better represents the darker side of humanity; the power grasping, backstabbing, selfish, black hearted, sneaky, evil intentions like the image of the witch?

But that image is not what modern Pagans are or strive to be. We need a different a label for those who practice magic.

Don’t forget… Have a Happy Halloween and a Blessed Samhain!!
Be Safe.

October 2010 Sky Watch

2010-09-30T16:15:00.001-04:00

Sky Watch for EST Virginia USA

October 2010 Moon Dates

New Moon 7
First Quarter 14
Full Moon 22
Last Quarter 30

Don't forget to visit SPACE.com to check out their calendar for more celestial events.

Acknowledgments:
Some date inferred from http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=904&month=1&year=2010&obj=moon&afl=-11&day=1 and from http://www.tutiempo.net/en/moon/phases.htm

Where were you on 9/11?

2010-09-11T09:07:00.000-04:00

I got a phone call from my husband to turn on the TV, right after the first plane hit. I watch the second plane hit and watched the buildings fall in horror. I remember screaming at the TV when the towers fell but there was nothing anyone could do but wail. I was on my knees crying and screaming. So much senseless death, for what? I ended up pulling my sisters out of school that day, one of which was in ROTC uniform. I was afraid that there would be more attacks and direct attacks on service personal. But the streets were just about deserted. I’ve never seen anything like that before. The schools was keeping all the kids in the dark, and it was both Middle and High School too! The nervousness everyone had was freaky. I had to prove I was the parent just to pull them out, ID check, full name and kid’s social check. But none of the kids knew what as going on, just that kid after kid was being pulled out of school. The bases here in Virginia were on lockdown. There was no telling what was going to happen next. That's when I knew we were at war, but with who?

All anyone could do was watch the news for hours. Hoping some good would come out this tragedy, that maybe some survived that fall. I think I watched the news for a whole week before I had to turn it off and step away from it all just to gain some normalcy. Even after all this time, I cry when I think about this event. I saw the jumpers. I saw the plane impact the building. I knew death had happened right in front of my eyes. I knew it was murder, an act of war. Innocent people died that day for no damn good reason. I cried for them and their families. I grieve for them.

9/11 We will NEVER Forget!

We didn't start the Fire!!!!!!!!!

2010-09-10T08:27:00.003-04:00

This song is how I feel about the new developing suitation with the whole flack over the Koran burnings and the whole Ground Zero Mosque to be moved.

Yeah, it's old school but yeah....America needs to rise up and protect our freedoms!

This is the America I love. Freedom unlike any other nation. Freedom to be yourself, to be whatever you are. I want to be free!

2010-09-09T17:12:00.001-04:00

Breaking News: Koran burning cancled. Ground Zero Mosque to be moved to another location! WOW!!!!

My thoughts on the “International Burn a Koran Day” by the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida.

2010-09-09T15:05:00.001-04:00

It's a masterstroke of media genius. Pastor Terry Jones is getting his message out to the world audience for free and it looks like his message is going to be proven, sadly too true. He wants to prove to the world that "Islam is of the Devil" and what better way to do that by exercising our US constitutional right to free speech by speaking out against Islam and by demonstrating his convections in the most effect way, i.e. burning the Koran. If and when all hell breaks loose, he will have been proven right if you believe that such violence is from the Devil. The only correct response to his speech, to his protest is not violence but peaceful counter protest and I have my doubts that the Islamic world especially the radical and militant Muslims will resist being whipped up in a blind fury....just like what happened with the Mohammad cartoons, the violent protests and the killing of several cartoonists that participated. Sadly though, I don't think this pastor will live much longer after the burning, just like those cartoonists who were murdered in cold blood.

He's not the one inciting violence. He's not going out there and saying that "Muslims need to die." His whole message is simple.."Islam is of the Devil" and that message no matter how offensive is not one of violence. Those that are protesting and chanting "Death to America" and "Death to Christians" are the ones that are inciting violence. I don’t understand why Pastor Jones is getting the entire blame for the elevated threat of violence from the Islamic community. This is not a case of yelling fire in a theater. This is not a case of poking a hornets nest and getting stung for it. This is a case of one religious minority, one minority view having the right to speak without oppression, without legal sanctioning and bureaucratic red tape, without being silenced for it. The message doesn’t matter when you look at the rights. If Pastor Jones is prevented from protesting, then all Americans have lost a little bit more of our rights to free speech.

I don’t really care if anyone burns the Koran or a Bible or any other religious text or even the US flag. It's a matter of free speech to burn whatever they want to burn in protest as long as they own it. I'm more concerned with protecting the American right to free speech than I am concerned with offending others even on the world stage. If this country somehow shuts down the planned burning of the Koran by the Dove World Outreach Center and yet can not stop Westborough Baptist Church from protesting at our serviceperson’s funerals, then something has seriously gone wrong with this country and will have lost sight of WHY the Constitution is what it is.

Why in the world is anyone allowing and pushing for public opinion to hijack our rights, and the rights of those who plan to do the burnings?! They do have the right to burn the books. It is a protest. It is free speech. But pacification is not called for in this case, let them burn. If the Islamic world loses it's head over a few books, then it will show the stupidity of those who follow offence with violence. It is stupid and no one should ever give in to avoid violence and to gain peace. Appeasement in the face of Fascism in never a good idea! Once you give in, they will demand more all on the threat of violence, until you stand up and defend your rights.

For me this is no longer a religious issue. It’s become an issue of freedom, of our rights to free speech, to protest, to call out the very things we view as wrong. We as Americans have the right to say offensive things without the government throwing us in jail for it or worst, executing us. We as Americans, have the right to counter protest such things that we find as offensive, but we do not have the right to respond with violence to the very things that we find offensive. And we should not ever back down from exercising those rights all because of the threat of violence be it at home or abroad. It’s a simple case of use it or lose it.

September 2010 Sky Watch

2010-08-30T16:00:00.000-04:00

Sky Watch for EST Virginia USA

September 2010 Moon Dates

Last Quarter 1
New Moon 8
First Quarter 15
Full Moon 23
Last Quarter 30

Don't forget to visit SPACE.com to check out their calendar for more celestial events.

Acknowledgments:
Some date inferred from http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=904&month=1&year=2010&obj=moon&afl=-11&day=1 and from http://www.tutiempo.net/en/moon/phases.htm

Christian Concert or Barracks cleaning? What a choice.

2010-08-22T14:41:00.000-04:00

Ft. Eustis soldiers claim they were punished for skipping a Christian concert

Maj. Gen. James E. Chambers Hazes Soldiers in his Command

Back in May of 2010, soldiers at Ft. Eustis were marched in formation to the front gates of a “Spiritual Fitness” concert featuring the Christian group, Barlow Girls

This bit of news broke out to the mainstream press yesterday. But for the local area, this is nothing more than a reaping of what you sow. Two years ago the “Spiritual Fitness concerts” were restarted by Maj. Gen. James E. Chambers. Rumor was that this commander was a hard nose, not a bad thing for a military commander but also a vey active Christian with a bias. I remember speculating with my husband about this extremely evangelical Christian commander, his concert program and the impact on religious freedom for the local area. There was a lot of speculation about how close to the edge of abusiveness it could get, that it would take an incidence of clear force to finely cause the military to protect religious rights of the troops. There is a difference in religious accommodations and compulsory religious activity and the military and their commanders need to learn this.

I hope that now this story has hit the mainstream press that real policy change will occur. And maybe, for once my local area can go back to being a quiet, religion is personal kind of place.

The price of freedom is vigilance.

2010-08-19T17:52:00.001-04:00

I'm at the Red Cross waiting to give blood. I encourage everyone who can donate, to do so. Save a life, Give Blood.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-18T23:13:00.002-04:00

Isaac Bonewits 1949 - 2010

2010-08-13T21:39:00.001-04:00

As I’m sure most of the Pagan community knows, Isaac Bonewits passed away August 12, 2010. I cannot offer a better tribute than Jason over at The Wild Hunt, so please stop by and visit with them. If you would like to share memories of Isaac, please stop in on Isaac and Phaedra Bonewits Facebook page and leave your memory in the discussions.

I would have loved to have met him in person. Even so, he has influenced my life and my path. I have enjoyed his books, his writings and his humor all from the comfort of my home. It feels like I have met him, at least a part of him that comes across so strongly in his words.

I found acceptance in actions, in his life and his deeds. I found rational discussion about Polyamory. I found the magnifying glass to examine groups, networks and organizations. I have found tools for my practice. I have found wisdom and earnest humor. I found a dedication to scholarship and historical accuracy as applied to religion. I found a genuinely good man; a bodhisattva.

I have hear the stories from the travelers' who tell his tales. I have heard the call, to help the elders. I have heard wisdom from the mountain peak. I am not alone. I am not the only one who hears. I have heard the call to action.
“Hate is NOT a Family Value.”

I will remember. I will teach my children. I will live by example.

Isaac, you have earned a place of honor among the ancestors. This Samhain and all others after, I will honour you as my own. For if you are not by blood, you surely have forged a kinship of the mind. Never will you be forgotten.

At trails end

Trail blazer, star bright
like a comet in the night,
hitter come and hitter gone
as far as dragons roam along.
Never-ending dreams a man
of a magical land.
By thy will
this life is lived
with love and passion
deeply fulfilled.
Upon this twilight of a new dawn
one’s man’s life
reflects it all.
Dragon hearted and loyal too,
This world will miss you.

Isaac Bonewits, may your star burn forever bright.

August 2010 Sky Watch

2010-07-31T16:10:00.000-04:00

Sky Watch for EST Virginia USA

August 2010 Moon Dates

Last Quarter 3
New Moon 9
First Quarter 16
Full Moon 24

Don't forget to visit SPACE.com to check out their calendar for more celestial events.

Acknowledgments:
Some date inferred from http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=904&month=1&year=2010&obj=moon&afl=-11&day=1 and from http://www.tutiempo.net/en/moon/phases.htm

July 2010 Sky Watch

2010-06-30T16:09:00.000-04:00

Sky Watch for EST Virginia USA

July 2010 Moon Dates

Last Quarter 4
New Moon 11
First Quarter 18
Full Moon 25

Don't forget to visit SPACE.com to check out their calendar for more celestial events.

Acknowledgments:
Some date inferred from http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=904&month=1&year=2010&obj=moon&afl=-11&day=1 and from http://www.tutiempo.net/en/moon/phases.htm

June 2010 Sky Watch

2010-05-31T16:07:00.000-04:00

Sky Watch for EST Virginia USA

June 2010 Moon Dates

Last Quarter 4
New Moon 12
First Quarter 19
Full Moon 26

Don't forget to visit SPACE.com to check out their calendar for more celestial events.

Acknowledgments:
Some date inferred from http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=904&month=1&year=2010&obj=moon&afl=-11&day=1 and from http://www.tutiempo.net/en/moon/phases.htm

May 2010 Sky Watch

2010-04-30T16:05:00.000-04:00

Sky Watch for EST Virginia USA

May 2010 Moon Dates

Last Quarter 6
New Moon 14
First Quarter 21
Full Moon 28

Don't forget to visit SPACE.com to check out their calendar for more celestial events.

Acknowledgments:
Some date inferred from http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=904&month=1&year=2010&obj=moon&afl=-11&day=1 and from http://www.tutiempo.net/en/moon/phases.htm

Sunshine Award

2010-04-24T13:39:00.002-04:00

I’ve been Sun Showered!!

Wow, I just received my first award from Mama Feoneafey of Mama Feoneafey’s Kitchen Witchen World. Thank You, Moma Feoneafey!

She received the Sunshine Award from two fellow bloggers and has passed it on to me. It’s my first blog award and it has brighten up my day. So please stop by her blog and sit for a spell. I’m sure it will brighten your day like it does mine. Thank you so much, Moma!!

Here are the rules:
1) Place the award on your blog or within your post.
2) Pass the award on to twelve Sunny Bloggers -- those whose positivity and creativity inspire others!
3) Link to the nominees in your post.
4) Tell the nominees they've received the award by commenting on their blogs.
5) Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.

12 Sunny Bloggers….
In no particular order:

1. Cafe Philos: an internet cafe
2. Dancing in a Field of Tansy
3. Earthenwitch
4. KALLISTI: An Apple in Pandemonium
5. Pearls and Pentagrams
6. The House of Vines
7. Between the Ticks
8. The Soccer Mom's’ Guide to Wicca
9. In the Liminal Realm
10. Pagan Blog Prompts
11. Pagan Side of Me
12. Gypsie

April 2010 Sky Watch

2010-03-30T16:00:00.000-04:00

Sky Watch for EST Virginia USA

April 2010 Moon Dates

Last Quarter 7
New Moon 14
First Quarter 21
Full Moon 28

Don't forget to visit SPACE.com to check out their calendar for more celestial events.

Acknowledgments:
Some date inferred from http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=904&month=1&year=2010&obj=moon&afl=-11&day=1 and from http://www.tutiempo.net/en/moon/phases.htm

2010-03-30T10:32:00.001-04:00

It's a nice spring day. Maybe my winter blues are gone for good.

Just not feeling it.

2010-03-17T00:36:00.001-04:00

I haven’t been feeling very springy. The winter weather hangs tightly on the earth. The clouds are hanging low and gray. The air is still too cold for my blood. I am awaiting the spring but I feel like I’m waiting and watching from a cage. Outside my windows I have watched the Elm tree buds swell and grow. They are a beautiful bright red now. The daffodils have popped up and bloomed and there is growth and movement in my garden beds. With all the rain we have, it should be a spectacular spring season. I am definitely not looking forward to the pollen. As much as I love receiving the blessings, I don’t appreciate the sneezing, wheezing and watery eyes too.

I feel the need to hibernate a bit longer. I’m not ready to bloom.

March 2010 Sky Watch

2010-02-28T15:59:00.000-05:00

Sky Watch for EST Virginia USA

March 2010 Moon Dates

Last Quarter 7
New Moon 15
First Quarter 23
Full Moon 29

Don't forget to visit SPACE.com to check out their calendar for more celestial events.

Acknowledgments:
Some dates inferred from http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=904&month=1&year=2010&obj=moon&afl=-11&day=1 and from http://www.tutiempo.net/en/moon/phases.htm

It's just not my day....

2010-02-11T14:18:00.001-05:00

I have a problem with Imbolc / Candlemas / St Bride's Day / Groundhog Day. It's not a holiday that I relate to very well. I prefer that my holy days have deep personal meaning. It's hard to worship when I can't find that deep heart connection. Without that connection, I tend to forget the dates.

I don't relate to the Great Goddess becoming purified after recovering from the birth of the unconquered son and transforms from Mother / Crone to the Maiden. I don't personally worship a Great Goddess with this mythology. The association with the agrarian cycle and lambing season doesn't work for me. As great as Lady Bride is, I'm not moved to include Her in my worship even if I find the keeping of the perpetual flame fascinating. Predicting how long winter lasts just doesn't seam enough to justify making a religious holiday out of it. I'm in a pickle over this.

For me, Imbolc is rather..... just not mine. But for this point in the wheel my thoughts turn toward one of my Gods rather than one of the Goddesses. I find the divine masculine extremely worthy of my worship. Particularly at this cusp of winter and spring, between life and death and the budding potential of fecundity, I am moved to ecstatic worship of my God.

For many years I've celebrated this season by lighting a sacred flame, offering song and prayer to my Lord and milk and incense to the trees. I've always milked my trees. grins I'll admit that I'd often miss the Imbolc Sabbat and go for one of the moon phases. But over time the phase of the moon has changed the mood for me. I've found that I prefer the celebrate on the New moon in all that glorious darkness of night.

This little preference doesn't seam like much at first but for me it's huge. I had been doing some research on phallic deities and I came across information about Lord Shiva and the Maha Shivaratri Festival. It so happens the Maha Shivaratri Festival falls just before the New Moon. This year the festival is on February 12th and for my area the New Moon is on the 13th. I found that my personal rites and the puja for the festival, shared a few common elements.

This discovery is perplexing. Perhaps I should be reassured that human nature is itself cyclic. I'm not sure if this coincidence is a calling to a greater awareness of Lord Shiva or not. I really adore Lord Shiva but many of my ideas about Him are unorthodox. I'm not sure I'm willing to place my UPG beneath doctrine, even if it is about Lord Shiva.

But in all of this, I feel reassured that I'm on the right path, that my worship is genuine and heart felt. The more I learn about my Lord, the more He changes and the greater He becomes.

May this season poke you and fill you full of buds.
;)

Thoughts to Ponder.

2010-02-08T08:58:00.000-05:00

One man's sin is another man's virtue.
One man's hell is another man's paradise.
One man's God is another man's Devil.
One man's trash is another man's treasure.

Question of the Week #12 – Is it just a word

2010-02-05T10:00:00.000-05:00

So what does the word Pagan mean to us?

Being Pagan is about being a member of a modern religious movement:

that's not rooted in Abrahamic religious tradition,
that has romanticized the past and other ancient religions,
and focuses on exploratory worship and ritual.

I like Isaac Bonewits's breakdown of the definition of Pagan; Paleo-Pagan, Meso-Pagan and Neo-Pagan. This sub-sectioning kinda fits my views. So often when I say or read Pagan it really refers to the Neo-Pagan. But for me there is the Classical Pagan which corresponds well to Bonewits's Paleo-Pagan. This would include the ancient religions of the Middle East, the Far East, the Classical religions of the Mediterranean, the indigenous tribal religions of Europe, the Americas and Polynesia. I feel a good cut off is somewhere in the 1800's as I don't recall any minor religions attracting the attention of history. It is this lull that I think prepares the way for a new view of things. And I'm viewing this very organically, open to change and revision.

The biggest dividing line that I see are religions before Christianity and religions after Christianity. And Neo-Paganism has maintained it's roots outside of the Christian story but it has been influenced and in some cases stunted by the presence of the dominant religion.

The Neo-Paganism seen in America today is a mixture of Eclectic Wicca, Native American icons, myths and traditions; Reconstruction and adaptations of Classical Pagan religious; New Age methods and ideas and even Eastern religious influences. Even political sub-movements are finding the freedom of expression within Paganism such as deep ecology, feminism, and LGBT Pride. It truly is a melting pot of religious ideas and almost a direct reflection of the faces of America today.

This QtoW was brought to you by The Modern Pagan.

Am I a Pagan heretic?

2010-02-05T09:13:00.003-05:00

I am .....
Neo-Pagan. Eclectic. Non-Wiccan. Hellenic. Non-Reconstructionist. Polytheistic but not Pantheistic. Ex-Christian that was Christian. Unitarian Universalists. Liberal. Feminist that believes is gender equality rather that superiority. Free thinker. Non-Monogamous. Bi-sexual. Pro-sexuality. Polyamory. Free Speech.

Neo-Paganism is an interesting theological idea and is an interesting path. But there are times where I feel like I'm traveling down this road alone. I don't seem to belong anywhere. I don't fit in Wiccan circles. I don't really fit in Dianic and Goddess centered groups. I don't fit in the strongly conservative religious traditions, be it mono or poly theistic. And I surely don't fit in the New Agey guru life coach groups. I don't fit anywhere that I've looked and tried.

Those labels in the opening paragraph are incomplete, both as a list and as a total picture. They pigeon hole me rather than explain me. And perhaps my fondness for labels is limiting me or at least limiting my view of the whole issue. But even still I don't feel a sense of belonging within the Pagan community. Perhaps that's due to the complete lack of community in my local area.

I'm outspoken and blunt, when I do speak. I look normal. I don't have extra holes or tattoos. I don't have an over abundance of black clothes. I don't wear wacky hair styles or outfits. I enjoy going to church. I'm a Pagan that likes to go to church. Gasp! I attend a UU fellowship and I love the Hel out of it. I enjoy being in a religious community that UU builds. But I still feel just a bit separate like I'm just a single step out of pace of everyone else.

I've often found myself biting back words, some hasty and some not; in public discussions. I hold back because I feel that my opinions and views are uncommon and can easily bring an unwanted confrontation. Not that I don't enjoy a measure of confrontation, I do. I just prefer rational debate that is conducted with a measure of emotional aloofness that rarely occurs in face to face discussions. Or online discussions for that matter. It is much easier to gain that necessary aloofness if the engaging parities know the rules and framework before hand, as it is within structured debate. I really enjoy a good debate.

I guess the thing that causes me to feel like a Pagan heretic is that I rarely walk lock step with the trends in the Neo-Pagan movement. I find myself shuddering at the gross misconceptions about the historical-ness of Wicca that is so often repeated and rehashed ad nauseum. I bite my tongue when I hear other Pagans and Pagan friendly folks speak of the Goddess as that all encompassing All-Mother of the duo-theistic variety found in Wicca. My eyes roll back into my head when I read another Wiccan-ism being touted as the mainstay for all of Paganism. I want to go a bit berserk when a Recon denies the validity of UPG in personal worship. Many New Agey ideas that are whole heartily embraced seems like pointless ego stroking. And all these sub-cultures that are springing up...it feels like a new one emerges every day. It's all fantastic bull so folks feel special because they are different but still in a group. Well that's great..pats a few heads...everyone's special.

I can not embrace all the ideas that are attempting to huddle under the banner of Paganism. I don't expect anyone to do so. Attempting such is tempting vile madness. But to me it feels like each sub-group, movement, idea and agenda are all vying for awareness and acceptance from the majority. And I've had it. I won't do it and I'm tired of keeping my trap shut or at least my fingers from typing. I've grown a thick skin and I have a mind of my own. I'm using it.

February 2010 Sky Watch

2010-01-31T15:56:00.001-05:00

Sky Watch for EST Virginia USA

February 2010 Moon Dates

Last Quarter 5
New Moon 13
First Quarter 21
Full Moon 28

Don't forget to visit SPACE.com to check out their calendar for more celestial events.

Acknowledgments:
Some date inferred from http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=904&month=1&year=2010&obj=moon&afl=-11&day=1 and from http://www.tutiempo.net/en/moon/phases.htm

Late Winter Gifts from Google

2010-01-27T21:59:00.008-05:00

I often Google my name. Sometimes I'm looking for a site that I had posted on ages ago or I just want to see what is ranking where. The changes over the years are interesting, at least to me. I like to mine out the details. But tonight I was given a surprise. One blogger mentioned me and this blog. Yeah! Doing a happy dance. lol

I'm impressed. Gena Haskett on blogher posted What Do You Really Know About Pagans? in which she quoted me and referenced an nice list of Pagan bloggers. I know it's just a bit silly to get all excited about someone taking the time to quote me but I'm delighted. Her article was published during the '09 winter season; the usual Pagan bashing season. I'm delighted that it's not negative piece.

It's not often to hear an outsider trying to figure 'us' out from an open position. An honest seeker is a rare and precious thing to behold. I'm honored that she took the time to dig into my blog's archives to find the one jewel that I hold myself up to. My Personal Creed is much more than what Paganism is to me but it is what my personal ethics are.

Gena asked a lot of questions. How are we doing as Pagan bloggers to answer her questions? Can we make our beliefs more transparent, if that is desirable? Do we ever answer her questions and those like her, those rare honest open hearted seekers?

Just a few thoughts to ponder.

Altars

2010-01-20T21:05:00.004-05:00

I've had different altar setups over the year. The impulse started as an artful arrangement of rocks that evolved to finding and placing meaningful objects (more rocks) in pleasing arrangements. I feel altars are a visual reminder of ideas through the symbolic objects placed on it. Everything on it is meaningful to me or has a specific ritual purpose.

On my altar in the center I have a small garden statue of a Chinese Buddha that's flanked by candles and sea shells. I have a statuette of two figures intertwined that's called "The Lovers" on the left. I have a blessing bowl set in the back right corner. There is a crochet bowl in the left corner that holds my stones. I have a pair of sun shaped glass containers behind Buddha. One contains sea salt and the other is used for Holy Water and is kept empty until needed. Directly in front of Buddha is my little cast iron cauldron. Normally it's not kept on the altar but it's being used in a working.

Eventually I hope to have icons of my personal Deity's to display. I'm working on drawing a few of them. They're just not quite right yet. I'm not willing to place just any ole symbol on it. It has to be the right one. I'm willing to wait.

Can you pick five...?

2010-01-19T12:03:00.005-05:00

A friend of mine posted the following questions in a group we are both in. It has taken me exactly 19 days to answer it. I'm not proud that it has taken that long to do so. But I am happy that I have answered it. This kind of self reflection is a needed exercise. After answering it I felt like I needed to dunk my head in ice water just to put out the fire.

1) If you could study with any 5 people in history, who would they be?
2) If you could study with any 5 fictional characters, who would they be?
3) If you had to narrow the above list of 10 down to only 5, who would they be?
4) what insights, if any, do these lists give you about yourself and/or others?

Historical:

Plato
Pythagoras
Hypatia of Alexandria
Dr. Ruth Westheimer
Siddhārtha Gautama

Fictional:

Ender of Enders Game
Wolverine
Hall 9000
Elminster Aumar
Ayla of Earth's Children

The Top Five Only:

Dr. Ruth Westheimer
Siddhārtha Gautama
Elminster Aumar
Ayla
Plato

So, what's your Top Five?

It shouldn't have happened, not like this.

2010-01-17T22:23:00.004-05:00

The tragedy in Haiti is more that I can imagine. And the daily news coverage is way more that I can handle. This event has me scrambling away from the TV and from all of my new sources. When I dwell on it for any length of time, I feel very helpless and very sad for those survivors. There is a spot in my heart that hurts when I think about the few pictures I saw. The lost of life is so unimaginable. I feel like I am mourning for the lost. This event is bringing me to tears.

I'm not sure what more I can add to all the talk about Haiti that's going around in the news and in the blogs. Pat and Rush so far are the two pieces that made it past my self imposed firewall. I was able to catch Pat Robertson's outrageous comments about Haiti on YouTube and was unsurprised by it. His kind of shock factor has wore thin over the years.

Roberson was repeating what many conservative Christians had read and believed. I remember having these kinds of discussion with my own father about the situation in Haiti. The whole Haiti made a pact with the devil was one of those unquestioned stories that float around. What I guess shocked the media is that he let out one of the "secrets." I don't get what makes it such a shocker. From a Conservative Christian world view, wouldn't any prayer to any deity but their own seam like a pact with the devil to them? It makes sense to me. They just don't have a tolerant bone in their belief system and it shows.

Reading about Rush Limbaugh's gaffs makes me wonder if anyone in the media has a attention span longer than a soundbite anymore. Lifting a single sentence out of a conversation is akin to eavesdropping and catching less than every third word said. Read the transcript for yourself and then make up your mind. It takes more work to exercise the mind that to fall in line, but I promise it's worth it in the long run. The worst that could happen is that you would learn something. And is learning really that bad of a thing?

But what really angers me is this tragedy was preventable. You can not stop earthquakes but those shoddy, poorly constructed and badly designed buildings were preventable. There is no excuse for this. The knowledge exists. Earthquake building codes exist. It is possible to build safer buildings even in the poorest of countries. You just need the law, the code enforcement and a stable government, basic infrastructure; all of which Haiti did not have. And why did Haiti not have this?

That question is going to be analysed in the days to come by government agencies, the media and eventually by history. Whatever the answer is, the bottom line is that you can't help someone until they help themselves. It's a tough fact to face, especially in the light of this tragedy.

But right now Haiti needs help. They need medical care, food and water, and some direction while everyone is in shock. At some point they are going to have to take control of the situation themselves. Not today, and not tomorrow or even a few months from now but at some definable point in the future. And when they do I hope, nay I pray that the mistakes of the past that led to this is over and done with. I pray that Haiti stands stable, strong and noble in spirit.

But in the meantime, I'm going to visit my local Red Cross and donate blood. I encourage everyone that can to do so, please. You can save a life.

Callisto

2010-01-12T14:36:00.001-05:00

I love exploring the different Goddesses of the world and it helps that I'm in a group that does just that. Once a month we come together to discuss a Goddess and to pick the next month's choice. January's Goddess focus is on Callisto. She is described as a Greek goddess of instinct, protection, and flexibility. And that Her symbols are a mother bear, a willow branch, and the constellation Ursa Major.

I'm finding out that Callisto's story is far more complicated that it first appears. She is a beloved follower of Artemis who becomes pregnant, is turned into a bear and bares a son and upon her death is placed in the stars. Her story drastically varies in all other details but those and in each variation there is a shift in cause and response to her plight.

I had done some brief reading before the meeting and had a basic over view of Her story. But siting in circle with other women, I found it surprising that no one really focused on the rape mythos surrounding Callisto. They focused more on seeing Her story as another mother's myth; as metaphor for leaving maidenhood and entering motherhood. To me that view is a unequal fit.

It bothered me because I see in the story of Callisto a way to explore the emotional consequences for a woman who has been raped. I took the group's avoidance of the rapes issues in the Callisto myth as a symptom of our society's typical avoidance to openly address rape. Granted that ancient Greece was a strongly patriarchal society and this myth is colored by that perspective, I don't feel that perspective is too different from our Western society today. Too often a sexual assault victim is blamed for the actions of the aggressor. And too often there isn't a spiritual way to absorb and negate the feelings and trauma of rape.

For the modern women, I think it is possible to view Callisto's life as a metaphor of a woman's emotions who has endured a rape and the social pressures and responses of acknowledging that such a crime has occur to her. There still exists a social banishment from the ranks of the chaste virgin and the uncompassionate reception of a unwed mother. At the very least, I think Callisto's story shows just how long the rape culture has existed and has become second nature in Western society.

But in looking deeper on the net for information on Callisto, first appearances are deceiving. Not only is the story of Callisto a way to explain a constellation Ursa Major but it is also adds to the continuing historical saga of Arcadia in which her son Arcas may have given his name to the region. Just glancing back to who Callisto's father is and the myths surrounding him, I see echos of a familiar flood myth. Irreverent Lycaon sacrificed a human baby on the altar of Zeus and incurring his wrath which flooded the world, which I find eerily familiar to the story of Noah. And with Zeus turning Lycaon into a wolf, I wonder what the implications of this has on the modern mythos of the werewolf.

Historically, Callisto is considered an immortal as she is the stars of Ursa Major. But I don't know if she really was viewed as a Goddess instead of an attribute of the Goddess Artemis. I do sense that to get a better understanding of Callisto I need to gain a better understanding of Artemis and her band and their role in the ancient Greek society.

Additional Links:
Google Books: The Callisto myth from Ovid to Atwood: initiation and rape in literature
Callisto: The Tale of Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Bootes and Lupus
Pantheon.org : Callisto
Theio.com : Kallisto

Arcadia: Greek Mythology

Walking the Path. A Tarot Exploration.

2010-01-06T23:09:00.000-05:00

I've been working with tarot for too many years to count and I still consider myself a rank novice. I've taken an haphazard approach to it all these years. I'm looking to change that.

I started with a deck of playing cards, basic numerology and intuition for my first few readings. Never considered them to be anything more than entertainment until friends started taking them seriously. That's when I knew I was on to something and needed more study. Over the years I've been slowly learning, a little bit here and little bit there. Now I feel it's time for me to do a structured self study on the tarot. This is what Walking the Path is about.

I use the Rider-Waite deck exclusively. I've owned other decks but none has ever felt right like the Rider-Waite. I intend to go through the deck, card by card and focus on what each card means. I want to investigate the historical meanings, popular meanings, symbols used in the art work and my own intuition's interpretation. By no means do I think I'm going to be able to write all of that up. But I do intend to post my notes and thoughts on the cards.

I am hoping that by the time I've gone through the entire deck that I will be better acquainted with the cards and their meanings. What I really hope is that I'll be able to do a reading without having to refer to some book for each card.

Now all I got to do is pick a card.

LINKS:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/tarot/index.htm
http://www.learntarot.com/course.htm#lessons

Question of the Week #8 – A burning question

2010-01-04T10:00:00.000-05:00

Paraffin, Bees Wax, or Soya - what do you burn and why?

I'm a skin flint at heart so you'll find in my altar stash most often paraffin candles. But in my heart of heart I prefer the light of oil lamps over any light given by a candle. I've made small oil lamps from clay before and after a while they cracked and broke from the heat of the wick. I had problems with the oil seeping through the unfired clay. I hope to eventually obtain some high quality clay and kiln fire a few pieces.

This QtoW was brought to you by The Modern Pagan.

2010 New Year Contemplations

2010-01-03T22:50:00.003-05:00

Am I getting what I need?

This questions has been ringing around my head instead of the senseless listing of resolutions that are forgotten in 60 days. It's stating to bug me. Sitting in my UU church, it came across again. Am I getting what I need? It's happened at home at the most mundane moments. I know I need to pay attention to this and to answer this pressing question.

Lately I have started a new regiment for the days end; recapitulation. It's a roll back technique that has been used to help increase communication between couples and to increase awareness of both the body and the mind. I simply rewind the days events in my mind, from the last action to the first just before I fall asleep. It's very simple but I think I might need to actually write things out.

I'm already noticing a variety of behaviours in myself. Everything from parent tapes to automatic response behaviour. It is good to see the problems within myself. It is good to have a chance to repair.

But am I getting what I need from my church?
from my family?
from my husband?
from my friends?

Are you getting what you need too?

http://www.energy-body-work.com/index_files/recap.htm

January 2010 Sky Watch

2010-01-01T15:44:00.008-05:00

Sky Watch for EST Virginia USA

January 2010 Moon Dates

Last Quarter...........7
New Moon..............15
First Quarter.........23
Full Moon.............30

Don't forget to visit SPACE.com to check out their calendar for more celestial events.

Acknowledgments:
Some date inferred from http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=904&month=1&year=2010&obj=moon&afl=-11&day=1 and from http://www.tutiempo.net/en/moon/phases.htm

2009: A Blue Farewell

2009-12-31T15:55:00.004-05:00

It's an auspicious ending of the year. 2009 ends on a full moon which happens to be a blue moon; a second full moon in the month. Surely this is not a common event nor is it very rare on the celestial scale. But it is an event that asks for celebration, a very unique Esbat celebration; befitting the last one of the year.

I'll be celebrating this Esbat tonight in addition to counting down with the ball drop for midnight and reflecting on all the events of the passing year.

Merry Meet and Merry Part and Merry Meet Again.
Joyous Salutations and a Happy New Year!

Isabella LeCour

Additional Links
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/12/30/blue.moon/index.html
http://www.earthsky.org/tonighthome/2009-12-01/url

In the spirit of Festivus and the airing of grievances....

2009-12-23T11:02:00.001-05:00

In the spirit of Festivus and the airing of grievances....

There is something to be said for integrity. There is honor in giving credit where credit is due and there is genuine pride when an original idea is truly yours. But when all verbiage is spewed uncited, no credit given when due, even original thoughts are dismissed as being from obscure sources and personal integrity has taken a mighty beaten. Tarnished is that poor soul, even if he knows it not.

summery
Be original and cite your sources.

So, anybody want to thumb wrestle? No snake, closed fist.

Kuan Yin

2009-12-13T21:13:00.010-05:00

Kuan Yin, Goddess of Mercy, Friend of Mankind
She Who Sees and Hears the Cry from the Human World.

I love exploring the different Goddesses of the world and it helps that I'm in a group that does just that. Once a month we come together to discuss a Goddess and to pick the next month's choice. December's choice was Kuan Yin, a Marion like figure, full of compassion which felt perfect for a winter season embedded with Western ideas.

But this meeting had much to offer me, all unexpected. As her names and titles and attributes were read aloud, it struck me how much of a savior role she filled. And then my very next thought was of Green Tara. It was so strong I could not shake Her calling for awareness. Both are very compassionate Goddesses and both are saviouress. Most surprisingly is that both share a common source, Avalokitesvara who was once a male Buddha who transcended gender roles. But Tara's roots are much deeper, stretching back into Hinduism as a mother Goddess figure. I don't know if it is my devotion to Gaia that brought to mind Green Tara as another aspect of my Great Lady.

For me, I now have two Goddesses to research in depth.

http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/kuanyin/
http://www.baus.org/baus/library/ekye1.html
http://community-2.webtv.net/Ace-Detective/KuanYin/
http://www.mother-god.com/kuan-yin-royal-ease.html

Paying for an Education

2009-09-17T15:30:00.000-04:00

Question of the Week #8 - Paying for an Education

So why shouldn't you be charged for Wicca? Is there anything about Wicca that comes for free? Or do you have to pay for it in some way or another all along the way? So let us say that the lessons are free will they still have the same value to you?

Money is what makes the world go around on so many different levels. Does it make our faith go around as well?

First off I'm not Wiccan. I did study Wicca when I first started down this path but that hardly qualifies me beyond my own opinions. In another post I stated that I feel Wicca should remain coven based. If Wicca stayed coven based the whole question of charging for money takes on a new light; one covered in greed.

If a supplicant is learning Wicca; from the prospective coven, charging for the teachings becomes nothing more than exploitation. Now, I'm not talking about charging for supplies. Those costs incurred must come out of someones pocket, often the students. Those charges are reasonable. A responsible student should expect that all teachings have a cost of some sort.

The coven is much more than a Church or a fellowship circle but more of a family. Charging my family for teaching them how to do something that I know well just feels wrong. It's not in support of the family to do so. In fact it can hold back the family by using money as the criteria for teaching.

Outside of the coven, charging for teachings start to make a little bit of sense. It is still tainted with greed but a more acceptable form. Time and supplies cost. Teachers are plentiful and credentials questionable. The buyer; in this case the prospective student, must be ware. At best these teachings would be the basics; not the mysteries and not tradition specific teachings. At the worst, the teachings could be harmful.

By paying for lessons, you are affirming a lack of loyalty. You have no loyalty to the teacher beyond paying for the next lesson. The teacher has no loyalty to provide an unpaid for lesson much less offer another lesson. It's much like attend collage, where one pays for the parchment. Knowledge isn't necessarily transmitted just because you paid for the lesson.

It is an Outer Court thing to charge for teachings. It does not touch on the heart of Wicca.

This QtoW was brought to you by Between the Ticks.

Question of the Week #9 - The Great Rite

2009-09-15T13:41:00.005-04:00

Question of the Week #9 - The Great Rite

This weeks question comes from a discussion I had with a friend the other night. The Great Rite is a beautiful, symbolic or real act in circle and can have great power behind it. But is it something that you do? Lately I've been talking to many pagans as of late and it seems to be less and less common. Is the Great Rite a part of your own spiritual practice? Is it something that you do in every circle you hold? Maybe it is something that you reserve for Full moons or the Major holidays?

Regardless of how you work with the Great Rite or if you do at all. How did you come to the decisions you did surrounding it?

Hieros Gamos, The Great Rite, The sacred Marriage, Holy and Divine Union, Sacred Alchemy.

In many ways it is the core to my ritual practice. It is the foremost rite and it is the most important one in my practice.

There does seam to be a lack of interest in performing even the symbolic Great Rite - Wiccan style. I have never seen it done in public circle. I don't know if it's because it is thought of as strictly Wiccan, which it is not. Or if it is an after effect of the PR campaign to appear acceptable by the mainstream public by sanitizing the interesting bits like this rite.

This QtoW was brought to you by Between the Ticks.

Question of the Week #7 - Life and Death

2009-09-15T12:41:00.003-04:00

Question of the Week #7 - Life and Death

He decide to step up and face his death in a noble fashion defending his people. Have we lost this option [Euthanasia] in the modern world? .......

As a pagan how do you feel about it? Should we have more control? Should we take more control over the last part of our life? If as pagans we believe in Reincarnation should maybe Euthanasia not be an option for us since we believe that we will just come back again for another life. Is it to easy of an out for us?

This question has been particularly hard for me. I've lost a few loved ones in my life, my mother and my husband's brother. Both died far to young and left behind many who dearly loved them. I've had to step back a bit and let the question percolate.

For Pagans, the question of death is multifaceted. There are so many different ways to view and approach death in a religious sense. I don't believe that my views about death are particularly Pagan rather than being my own. Perhaps it's my age that shows in my attitudes towards death and more importantly my own mortality. Or maybe it's my facing the facts that I've survived life threatening medical conditions and confronted my own mortality. Either way, it's not death that needs to be noble but life and one well lived at that. Somewhere I've read that one ought to aim at living well and when death comes, go sliding in towards home plate, body all used up and saying "What a ride!" I like that idea.

That's how I want my death to be, with a smile on my face and have had enjoyed every possible minute alive. Knowing what my ideal is makes it easier for me to keep focused rather than get swept away by the whole medicalised process and make better informed decisions. I know there comes a point where the medical industry can no longer help but hinders instead. One can not save the dying. The point of where that is differs with each person. And there needs to be a process of letting go, of letting go of attachment, of the body, of life, of fear, of sorrow and allow acceptance of the process of death.

I really think that this society, Western society has become so frightened of death that most of us can not accept it, neither for themselves or for their loved ones. Too much unhealthy unrealistic obsession with life has caused us to lose control of death. Or maybe it's the first time in human history that a natural death of old age, illnesses and so forth are outnumbering sudden deaths. Perhaps this slower path to death has naturally raised the alarms, so we attempt to prolong life.

Death and life are cyclic process and for some Pagans, reincarnation is a part of it. I don't think society will tank if a majority of it's members supported reincarnation and ethical euthanasia.

Some of us will never go quietly into that dark night. Some of us can not imagine anything but fighting unto the bitter end. And then there are those who don't have that spirit to fight and view the inevitable with calm. Both should be allowed to approach death with the philosophy their choice.

After a wrong click of the mouse this whole post vanished into cyberbits. It's resurrection can be attributed to the best browser I've ever used. Mozilla Firefox. Right now I'm beyond thankful.

This QtoW was brought to you by Between the Ticks.

Please Forward .. Please Take the National Pagan Census

2009-09-08T10:40:00.005-04:00

Would you please help get the word out?

This is an international survey of the pagan population, and it is a VERY exhaustive and well-constructed analysis.
Feel free to repost it to any and all groups you are on, and definitely take part in the survey if you can.
These are reputable people doing the study.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=WYCq4kaxG_2bYrJ8xnemeR3A_3d_3d

Voices from the pagan census: a national survey of witches and neo-pagans
By Helen A. Berger, Evan A. Leach, Leigh S. Shaffer

Book overview
Keenly anticipated by the academic and Neo-Pagan communities, the results of the census provide the most in-depth information about the group yet assembled. Comparing Neo-Pagans with American society at large, Berger, Leach, and Shaffer show that although the two groups share certain statistical characteristics, there are differences as well. The scholars also identify variations within the Neo-Pagan population, including those related to geography and to the movement's multiple spiritual paths.

This came across one of my groups yesterday. I took the survey and it's very interesting. It felt like the researchers are trying to figure out what side of the political spectrum most Pagans are on.

Editing to add: 2:33pm 9/08/09

Just saw a notice from a CUUPS group talking about this survey. Turns out that the WildHunt Blog has post on this. ► Look Here.

Autumn's Twilight A collection of poems.

2009-09-02T08:11:00.006-04:00

I've started a new blog; Autumn's Twilight. It's a collection of poems that I've written over the years plus whatever new ones percolate out of my brain.

Two months ago, I was able to get out of storage my old handwritten poems and I've been slowly typing most of them up and posting them. I've got about two hundred poems to go through and post . But the biggest change this new site has on this blog, poems will no longer be a feature here. All of my poetry will be posted on Autumn's Twilight. So please, stop on by and take a look.

We need Lunar One.

2009-09-02T07:27:00.002-04:00

Between reading Stranger in a Strange Land and watching the History Channels' show That's Impossible: Death Rays & Energy Weapons last night; I came to the conclusion that we need Lunar One. We must have Lunar One.

In Si-Fi terms, Lunar One is the Moon base. It's the first outpost we should build and it's the first major step off the planet towards Mars. And I think the technology is just about ready to make Lunar One a reality. The last frontier is outer space and our solar system. I really want to see society push for expansion. I really want us to get to Mars.

Scientists have been working for decades now trying to work out the problems on the technology. Now we need a proving ground, to show the world that we are ready to jump off world. That is where Lunar One comes in. It close enough to provide possible rescue and far enough to truly be on it's own. It will be the first step to human colonization of Mars.

We need Lunar One.

Get My Battle Gear Ready....The Need for Pagan Debate.

2009-08-25T14:23:00.005-04:00

In one of the sites that I participate in, there is a group devoted to Pagan debate and it's on the verge of collapse. It's never grown very large or had many discussions. What it did have was some very intelligent conversations about Pagan issues. I never thought the group had a problem with it's name or generally stated goal and yet I have a hard time explaining why there isn't much interest in the group. I thought it was a great idea and I still do. Pagan Debate as an ideal is a valuable hammer stone for refining ideas.

But why is the group going under? I don't think it's a traffic issue, but something more sinister. Pagans don't want to be seen disagreeing or auguring with each other. Especially in public, and what is more public than the web.

I've noticed this on other sites that are not devoted to all things Pagan. The hard fought for sections lay dormant and underused. Mild disagreement is admonished in favor of Pagan Unity. Or worst of all, the total lack of debate from the site participants.

But....., Do fish count as pets?

2009-08-25T12:24:00.005-04:00

Question of the Week #6 - Pets and Circle

This week the question is about what we do with our pets for ritual. And I'm at a marked disadvantage with this question; I don't have any pets. But..., do fish count as pets?

Long long ago I used to be a cat lover. I admired their intellect, their individually and they need to be petted, but I wasn't willing to be a top notch owner. I just hated changing the litter pan and ugggh...giving them their flea baths and oh, all the other things that needed to be done that cost time and money. For me having a pet wasn't fun and it showed.

Why am I telling you this? Because if I ever have another cat or some other creature, chances are I'm not going to want animals out and about while I'm trying to reach the Gods. I could analyze this to death and come up with all sorts of reasons. Maybe I'm just a perfectionist, maybe I'm a little controlling, maybe I really don't like to trip over animals, maybe I just think animals don't belong in worship...unless it's a seeing eye dog that's helping you walk the circle.

I'm not a devote to Bast, that Great Lady of the Nile and of Cats. That Great Lady will swamp you down with cats. Maybe that's the whole reason after all.

This QtoW was brought to you by Between the Ticks.

Daily Practices

2009-08-16T13:28:00.001-04:00

Question of the Week - Question # 5

So what are your Daily Practices? Why have you chosen to make them such an important part of your life? Finally how did you go about turning them from just something that you did and making them a regular daily practice?

I don't have many daily practices. I have quiet a few still on my struggling to incorporate list. When I started down this road, I think I tried too much all at once and boy did I fall hard. Eventually I slowed down and started doing things that felt natural to me. Over time my habits have changed and even my dailies have changed too. Nowadays I take a few minutes every day to stop and reflect in front of my altar. Every evening I stop and pray and kiss my altar stones. For me, at this point in my life it is enough. I'm a stay at home mom of a two year old and a two month old and it's enough.

I still want to pray the Five daily. I still want to do yoga, and deep meditation. I still want to journal and explore my dreams, walk in the woods and contemplate on the deepness of everything. But I don't have that kind of time or freedom. I have duties, sacred duties of motherhood. For me, I am walking in Gaia's footsteps by taking care of my children each and every day. By giving them myself, wholly and without regret for all the things I could be doing.

My biggest daily practice is loving my family, each and every morning, noon and night.
For me, it is enough.

This QtoW was brought to you by Between the Ticks.

Keep Wicca Traditional, Keep Wicca Coven Based

2009-08-06T11:36:00.010-04:00

I'm Pagan, not Wiccan and like most of us in the US, Wicca is what I cut my milk teeth on in Paganism. Even though I'm not Wiccan, it still influences me and I stay abreast of the issues within the Wiccan community at large.

I am for keeping Wicca Traditional. But Wicca is sorely misunderstood even among those who practice it. Wicca has an equal duality; being a magical lodge and a religion at the same time. One nestled within the other. It is a beautiful dance, as one can not exist without the other. Both are needed and both serve a purpose.

When I hear that someone is Wiccan, I'm often guilty of assuming that they are the book raised, eclectic based, solitary variety. This is the general makeup of Outer Court Wiccans otherwise know as a insta-wicca, fluffy bunnies, "I read a book (or two) Wicca", the derided Eclectic Wiccan, Solitary Wiccan and any number of other slurs and labels. Most are just beginners and are still learning and don't deserve the accusation of "ruining Wicca" nor the labels that gets attached. This isn't all that Wicca is nor all that Wicca can be. The Outer Court is just the starting point.

The Outer Court is a great stage to grown and learn. Those who are dedicated to learning are those who are desired for the Inner Court, a coven, the magical lodge, even if they never choose to do so. But learning is the goal and it shows they are truly dedicated to Wicca, the religion. It is in the Outer Court where a seeker can determine if Wicca if for them.

The Outer Court serves a unique purpose. It acts as a filter, sifting out the rough diamonds from among common stones. In a Coven, it is necessary to have individuals that are functional, dedicated, disciplined, mentally and emotional stable. It is necessary to maintain a functional Coven, to practice magic smoothly and to maintain social cohesion among it's members. The Outer Court is a vast pool from which to pull the appropriate candidates for the Inner Court.

I have no problem with the Outer Court calling themselves Wiccan. It does not take away anything from the Inner Court. Do not the laws say to stay hidden? How else is best to hide but within a large Outer Court? But I do prefer to see covens stay traditional, with initiation, dedication and training. This is where tradition counts the most.

The Inner Court is coven based Wicca and it is a magical lodge. As such an apprenticeship (a year and a day), makes sense as it teaches a practice rather than a belief. This is where the mysteries are preserved and are passed down. This is where consistency is needed. It is for this reason, tradition trumps eclecticism. Tradition offers stability. Every religion eventually forms a stable base in a bid for longevity. In a religion that's based on magic, stability is desirable even necessary to maintain perspective and to sustain magical growth. It is the Inner Court; the covens, that is the driving core to Wicca.

If I really wanted to I could claim to be Wiccan, but it would be nothing more than Outer Court, surface gloss only. I celebrate the eight Sabats and occasional Esbats in public ritual. And I celebrate the Sabats with ritual based on generic Wiccan format. I am also well aware of Wiccan mythology and magical practices.

But I don't consider myself Wiccan because of several issues. I have no desire to be a part of a coven. I don't see the Gods as a singular duality. I find that I prefer to keep magic and religion separate. I don't have a desire to learn and collect magical "crafts." I've been relying on UPG to long to abandon it now. So am I really Wiccan? No. What I am, is honest. I could not call myself a Wiccan as I was not called to pursue the Inner Court nor do I believe or mesh with the practices.

But for those seekers who grabbed the first label that came floating by, Wicca isn't a bad one to grab. There is so much to be learned. And for me all the talk about keeping Wicca traditional isn't about keeping lineages, having a initiation instead of a self dedication or weither one is a Gardnerian or an Alexandrian or even a Dianic. It's about keeping the covens alive, maintaining the mysteries, caring for the greater community and honouring the elders who have walked the path before us. The covens are the heart of Wicca. Without them, Wicca is no more than a leaf blown around in the wind.

Becoming Human

2009-07-31T15:36:00.010-04:00

What is being human? I propose that being Human is much more than the species of our birth. It's about striving for that unique Human quality that sets us apart as a species. It's about striving for greatness and compassion, intelligence and reasoning, humility and passion while leaving behind our baser instinctual selves for a loftier goal; the greater good of all life. Becoming human is about being better than our beginnings, being more than we are, being and acting unlike the animals that we are but to think and reason and strive for all of us, for all of life. It's about enlightenment.

"We are no better than the animals." We've heard that phrase before. Often it's the beginning of a guilt trip or an even longer lecture. It's almost like a mantra but it's more of a meme. And I agree that we are no better because we are animals. And that is not a bad thing, as it's often implied. The phrase is a ethical value judgment. Underlining it, is the idea that we should be better, that we shouldn't just accept out condition, our fate. In not accepting this, we cause, we seek out change. This quality has us becoming Human. Seeking change. Embracing change. Seeking love. Embracing compassion.

Every species has compassion in some measure. Compassion is often confined to member's within the species. For the offspring, for the mothers, for the injured and for sick and dieing. But it is extraordinary when one species renders aid and shows compassion to another member of a different species. It is even more remarkable when this occurs between competitors or even between prey and predator. It goes against instinct to concern one's self with a different species, culture, religion, tribe or family. Even more so when no benefit can be seen.

We are capable of having compassion for all of life, being able to see our interconnected whole, becoming the caretakers of life, having the ability to cause change world wide. It's a religious impulse...this sense of being more than what we appear to be, almost a sense of our evolution, a sense that we are becoming something that we weren't before. Our physical attributes, tool making, language,has propelled us forward. But it is compassion that makes us Human. Often we are only Human for moments at a time. It is in those moments that we truly live, truly being Human.

But if you believe in evolution, then consider this: If Homo sapien is what it means to be Human then what will our next step of our evolution chain be? Will that species still be Human?

To Love is to be Human.

Our Local Pain in the Gluteus Maximus.

2009-07-06T23:51:00.002-04:00

Again there were out in force, preaching in the streets and into the evening news. But I love this area. People here don't put up with this CRAP without heckling them back. Freedom of speech, got to love it!

Edit to add for those who don't know and could use a little background info:

Pastor Gibson of the Norfolk True Vine Baptist Church is a member of Street Preachers. I was a young girl when his group came to my hometown, 23 or so years ago and created quite a stir. Although my father had minor disagreements with Gibson's teachings, he did disagree with this approach to "the great commission." At first they tackled the abortion clinics and then tackled the free speech issue, won and stayed.

Now the entire metro area has seen street preachers of all shades. But it's taken long enough for the locals to gain their teeth and confront these idiots. This area is full of extremist. From the headquarters of PETA, to Pat Robertson's 700 Club to the Edgar Casey's ARE Center; I'm shocked we haven't exploded from all the diverse and opposing views.

I am a Sex-Positive Feminist

2009-03-30T13:39:00.002-04:00

Yes, I said it. Sex positive Feminist. What does that mean? Sex positive movement is about the freedom of choice, specifically the freedom of sexual choice, sexual education, sexual pleasure and sexual identity for woman. It's about a woman's freedom which includes sexual freedom. It's about getting rid of the tired chains of a sex negative culture and society. It's about reshaping our ideas of sex into a more positive role and position in our lives. It's about loving our bodies and accepting that we are sexual creatures, and it's OK.

For me this means I support pornography, sex education in schools, sex workers, condoms, birth control, the right to buy, sell and manufacture sex toys and products, pro-choice on abortion, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals (did I miss anyone), alternative marriage (group marriages, line marriages, etc, including gay and lesbian marriage) and a whole variety of consensual sexual practices, between adults of course.

A woman should have the right to work as she chooses without having to explain it to self righteous busy bodies. Too bad this isn't a live and let live world.

If she wants to be a stripper...more power to her.
If she wants to work at a brothel...more power to her.
If she's a street walker......more power to her and I'll push for legislation and regulations so that its a safer job.
If she wants to work in the porn films...more power to her and she shouldn't have to put up with the pushy directer and the casting couch.
If a woman is being sexually harassed at work she should have the right to make it stop without repercussions.

A woman should have the right to choose whom, when, where, and how many she want to be sexually active with. It's her choice and it doesn't need someone else's negative judgment. Too bad this isn't a live at let live world.

If she likes monogamy....more power to her.
If she likes polyamory......more power to her.
If she likes celibacy........more power to her.
If she likes open marriage.....more power to her.
If she likes swinging, BDSM, or any other alt. sexual practice....more power to her.
If she likes to have sex.....more power to her!
If she likes sex toys and porn.....more power to her!
If she wants to use a condom...she should have them.
If she wants to use birth control...it should be available to her. Without judgment, without condemnation.
Too bad this isn't a live and let live world.

A woman should have the right to say "NO" and have it respected. A woman should be able to report sexual crimes without negative scrutiny that's without justification and merely being a woman isn't justification.

Rape is a crime. Molestation is a crime. Date rape is a crime. Coercion should be a crime!! It should not be tolerated or swept under the rug by anyone; be it family, police or community. I support anti- rape education and rape awareness and support for victims of rape and their families. I support tougher jail terms for rapists. They do not deserve the slap on the wrist they often get!

The thing is sex is a natural and beautiful. There is no need to view it as degrading, sinful, shameful, or any of the host of negative words that contribute to having a sex negative mindset. It's a shame that a woman still has to justify her choices that are her's to make.

Local Satanic Panic

2009-03-13T16:38:00.002-04:00

My local news station aired a segment Thursday at 6pm that they had been promoting all week about Vampires. I made sure I was watching when the spot aired. I about laughed my ass off with all the misconceptions they were giving the public. It's a shame really, scaring all the folks who don't know a thing about it. And we have a fairly strong Vampire sub-culture here too so eventually there are going to be repercussions. I found an article with video that is a basic transcript of the clip. What do you guys think about this? Is there something in the water this time of year for these kind of sensational news stories?

http://www.fox43tv.com/dpp/news/local_wavy_hamptonroads_vampiresandoccult_200903122253082

Local station that aired the segment.
http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_wavy_hamptonroads_vampiresandoccult_20090312

Mar. 26, 2009 at 12:35 PM

I have to add an update to this. I ran across a favorite blog of mine that tackled this issue, The Wild Hunt.
http://wildhunt.org/blog/2009/03/the-return-of-don-rimer.html#respond

I'm glad this has gotten some notice by the bloggers and dissected much better than I ever could do.

Gaia Loves Me!

2009-02-10T15:00:00.005-05:00

I was inspired by a post in one of my groups to pen out a parody to the song "Jesus Loves Me" and I came up with a simple alteration. Without further ado.....

Gaia Loves me! this I know
For the Earth shows me so
Children all to Her Belong
of the Earth an we are Strong

Yes, Gaia Loves Me!
Yes, Gaia Loves Me!
Yes, Gaia Loves Me!
For the Earth shows me so.

Lots and Lots of Bunnies

2008-10-16T15:14:00.003-04:00

I found a bunch of bunnies re-enacting various movies. Thought I should torture everyone and pass it along. Enjoy!

http://www.angryalien.com/

One Warning:
Very Adult Humor.

We Pagans......

2008-10-14T15:03:00.001-04:00

I'm annoyed and I'm admitting this first off.

The phrase "we Pagans" really pisses me off. Call it a pet peeve of mine. Doing it might be a newbie's mistake, or it might not be. Either way, extreme use of "we Pagans" makes my blood boil.

It's bad enough that there isn't enough in common with Pagans already and the use of "we Pagans" just makes it worse. All I want to see follow "we Pagans" is a dose of truth.

We Pagans don't all agree.
We Pagans are not all Wiccans.
We Pagans don't all follow Esbats.
We Pagans don't all use magic.
We Pagans don't all follow the same Gods.
We Pagans don't all have the same beliefs.

When using "we Pagans" stop. Consider all the other Pagan paths out there and if what you wrote can not include all Pagan paths then don't use "we Pagans." Use "I" or "me" or "this path often does x y and z."

Frankly I'm beyond offended when I read "we Pagans celebrate Esbats." I don't and I'm still a Pagan!!

Turducken

2008-10-11T12:38:00.009-04:00

Sometimes a subject drops right out of the sky and into my lap.

Our little family got to talking and the subject of turduckens came up, It's really simple how it came up. Talk of the upcoming holidays send the minds thinking of food and the meals it usually brings up.

All the choices one might have to spend time with all the family members. As the elders get older different choices come up. From home cooked feasts to frozen dinner or to even having a dinner out has been mulled over. In the midst's of all seriousness a gleaming light shines up, turducken. What an icebreaker!

How about those turduckens?
What's a turducken?
You know, one of those turcken stuffed with a duck stuffed with chicken?
What? {in great disbelief}
{furious typing..googling..a low and behold. There it is.}
Oh wow!

TURDUCKEN

Be Amazed or Appalled as the case may be.
Cheers!

Rant On - Devotion of Deities and UPG

2008-09-29T12:16:00.011-04:00

I'm posting this in rough draft form. I need to chew on these ideas some more.
~~~~
I've noticed something within Neo-Pagan circles that really bothers me. Anti- Eclecticism and a serious lack of devotion to the Deities.

Anti-Eclecticism has been around for a long time and it surely is just a part of the new Neo-Pagan movement. Its the same thought pattern/ philosophy/ trend that led to the ideas of Heresy..

I find it odd that someone trying to create a workable religious framework for themselves would be met with derision when Wicca, the loudest Neo-Pagan religion was created from various parts, which is accepted without such disdain. Or the Gods above help you if you try to organize an Eclectic Circle. It's often met with derision and disdain and plenty of side swipes of fluffy bunnyism.

UPG is Religion
Unverified Personal Gnosis is the basis of every religion. Someone had an extraordinary insight and communicated well enough to gather a following. Take a quick look at Buddha, Jesus and Paul for Christianity, Mohammad for Islam, and all the other teachers and preachers that achieve success.

The whole argument of Recon being more valid that Eclecticism, ignores the entire fact that everyone takes what's best to them and ignores the rest and it ignores the fact that it's a part of the wider power struggle that exists in all religions. Recons and the bashing of Eclectics are a pure example of classic power-over another individual. This movement claims that there is no validity at all in personal revelation. That is wrong and dangerous and seeks to devalue the individual to force compliance in an existing system.

The / Recon stance / Recon vs. Eclectics argument / does have some valid points. Honesty is important in both the labeling oneself and in the use of labels for the rest of the world.

Scholarship is important in religious studies and history. "Recons do not believe or follow any practice unless there is historical or archaeological evidence to support it." 1 So they are nothing more than the Pagan version of The People of the Book. Except that they have a ton of books and argue endless over what's valid, what's historical, what's kept in context, ad nauseam. In gamer terms, a rule lawyer's heaven!

Decontextualism as an abhorrent practice is an dishonest view of a natural process that occurs/ it represents. Consider it as the slow erosion of data over time as the typical process. This can be applied to myths which were yesterday's hot news which is now jumbled myth and superstitious stories. This process can be accelerated but on a local scale while at the same time preserving the "meat" of the data being transmitted.

Metagenetics....what the fuck? A deity that demands only one race of people to worship? That's as outdated as racism. In fact it is racism in disguise. There is only one human species on this earth. When is the rest of the world going to catch up to this fact?

"Metagenetics"

McNallen has coined the term "Metagenetics" in a 1985 essay outlining the philosophical principles of AFA, stating that "there are spiritual and metaphysical implications to heredity". In a 1999 article,[3] McNallen restated his position, invoking Rupert Sheldrake's morphic fields and Carl Jung's collective unconscious as "very close to the Germanic ideas surrounding the Well of Urth", and presented a definition of "metagenetics" as Rupert Sheldrake Rupert Sheldrake, Ph. ... A morphic field (a term introduced by Rupert Sheldrake, the major proponent of this concept, through his theory of Formative Causation) consists of patterns that govern the development of forms, structures and arrangements. ... Jung redirects here. ... Collective unconscious is a term of analytical psychology originally coined by Carl Jung. ...

"the hypothesis that there are spiritual or metaphysical implications to physical relatedness among humans which correlate with, but go beyond, the known limits of genetics."

Source: http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Metagenetics

No matter what the argument is, both stances offer an unbalanced view.

Devotion of Deities
Having come from a Christian background into the Neo Pagan movement, I'm still surprised about the lack of devotion to the Gods. It's as if the pursuit of magic and spell craft is more important that the Gods. AT first this wasn't a problem at all. I bought into the whole ritual will bring you closer to the Gods bit but I've found that there really is a lot more that needs to be done before that step should take place. I also know that some Gods really don't like the a-typical Wiccanequess rituals; not withstanding my own dislike of Wiccan styled ritual.

What makes me Pagan isn't the pursuit of magic and spellcraft or the use of Wiccan lite religious and ritual elements. Those/Magic and spellcraft can/ could still be done as an heretical Christian. It's my devotion to my Gods that makes me a Pagan. And I've not found a good resource in my pursuit of the Gods.

I don't have the resources to research and investigate all the sources I've even found on my deities. Knowing this lack has made me extra cautious and more inclined to trust and rely on UPG...unverified personal gnosis.

It's because of the prime importance of UPG that makes Neo-Paganism so attractive in the first place. Last night I went to Barns and Nobles Booksellers. I did a lot of walking around and lot of comparison. I think I disturbed myself with some of the conclusions I came up with. Taking a causal look at the religious section and Christianity in particular, its clear they have a large market share. But taking a look at what types of books were available was either uplifting personal accounts, historical works of theology or the many study guides to the bible or even the large growing segment of religious fiction, a la "End Times" series.

Just to pull a comparison....all Neo-Pagan books are labeled under New Age and it has a much smaller market share, as classified by shelf space; with fewer publishers producing mainstream books. The varieties of books available are of the Wicca 101 kind, more ritual oriented, a few Sabbat books and the rest dealing with one of the various religious arts. All the historical source books were in Mythology and scattered all over the Fiction section. There were very few good books about the divine and just a few anthology's on various mythology's. On this outing I didn't even find the religious fiction for Neo-Paganism but I suspect that it may have been mixed into the Teen section which does this religion a huge disfavor.

How does one connect with the Gods when all one has is a name and a general description of attributes? This is all too often what is in Wiccan 101 books. Even when you move past that and start searching for source texts...you run right into things like bullfinches mythology which has its fair share of flaws and disadvantages.

So I'm back to relying on UPG again. And so it seams is everyone else or they are relying on someone elses UPG in the form of a book or even a method of ritual. So this is where I think the next generation of 102 books should start, how to make connections with the divine and even if they did...everyone would still be relying on someone elses UPG.

CUUP's Autumn Equinox Ritual.

2008-09-24T22:45:00.007-04:00

Last Friday night I attended a CUUP's ritual for the Autumn Equinox. I had totally missed out on the planning meeting so I had no idea what to expect. First it was re-scheduled due to Hanna and then then my daughter was rushed to the doctors the following Friday so I never made it. Which turned out to be a good thing as this time I got to see the magic without being a part of its creation. It's a very different POV.

It was a great ritual. A bit Wiccanequess for my taste...casting circle, calling quarters, a little bit of theatrics, fire-fire; yeah all the good stuff. This time the Goddess was the focus. It was as if the Great Goddess came and walked circle praising us and admonished us for the harvest, both of the great table laden with the pot-luck dinner and of the harvest of the soul and our lives. We were praised, encouraged and blessed. It truly was a time of thanksgiving and of reflection.

It was an amazing night. The ritual started off with the traditional smudging of sage and the gifting of harvest gifts which consisted of a necklace of seeds and seed pods. We were led into the circle and sung (as we were able)the chant "She changes everything she touches. And Everything She touches Changes." It became a very powerful meditative element. The lighting of the sacred fire was spectacular. There was an upright bundle of dried corn stalks in the middle of the fire pit. It went up very fast and died down to embers almost instantly. Afterwards there a good moment of self reflection while holding hands in the Great Circle.

The sky was overcast at the beginning of the ritual and by the time the ritual was over the sky had cleared. We sang, danced and feasted under the stars. I was moved unlike I had ever been moved before. When the Goddess entered the circle it really felt that the Great Lady was there standing before me and talking to all who was there. My response was so strong I had both the chills and the goosebumps.

Even though I had a great time, some things glaringly need more work. One of which was the outdoor pot-luck which was served by candle light and ate picnic style at around 9:30 at night. There wasn't enough light at all to see what was there so it quickly became a game of mystery dinner. Very unpleasant. I need to bring a flash light from now on.

Even when it was over I didn't want to leave. I can't wait to see what the next ritual is going to be like.

Creative Elements in Ritual

2008-09-24T08:34:00.004-04:00

Witches Weekly September 21st 2008

What is one of your own personal creative elements that you like to add to rituals. Something that is uniquely yours.

I've recently been attending a local CUUP's group so my experience with group ritual is limited. CUUP groups are notoriously democratic. Even if one attends planning, many ideas are rejected until a cohesive ritual is formed. So far my ideas haven't made it into their rituals. However, during ritual I have found myself moved to pray and acknowledge my own deities.

Within my own practice, rituals are rare but are free form.

Thoughts of Gaia

2008-09-10T13:33:00.005-04:00

Mother Earth, My Lady, the Divine Mother, Provider of Sustenance, The deep swell of water, The Woman of the Green Veil, The Immortal Queen, She who is with us always, Consort of the Heavenly Bodies, Wife to the Celestial Helios, Our Lady Gaia, Our Mother, Lover, Sister, and Grandmothers, Our first Mother, First Woman and Ancestor.

She who is the divine Earth in all it's majesty, raw power and ferociousness. She who is soft, yielding fruitfulness, abundance in good measure. She is the fertile earth, soft, black, moist and warm. Just quivering under the plow, awaiting for the fertile seed and the warmth of the summer sun.

She is both the mother and the daughter. She is the generations of women, as we march through time. She is our past and our future. She is My Sister, My Mother, My Aunt, My Daughter, she is My life. She is every women I've ever met and will ever meet. She is womankind. The Immortal Mother, Queen, and Lover. She is Warrior and poet. She is Ursula protecting her own cubs, the wild terror of a tornado, the amazement and beauty in the golden fields of wheat.

Oh how can I respect such a resplendent creature such as this? Oh the world has forgotten thee and give such dishonor.

Open mindedness

2008-03-20T13:10:00.005-04:00

It's very rare to find a religious forum that claims to be open mined and actually be so. Recently I was disappointed in a forum that claimed such and failed miserable. Instead I found them to be very New Ageish in promoting topics while deleting and discouraging topics I found interesting.

The latest kicker for me was; while reading a thread it was locked and then deleted. The only reason I can come up with for this action was that the poster was actually questioning and seeking answers and understanding but from a different point of view. This poster was very respectful but very confused about how they site gods wanted things to occur. And then the Almighty accusation came down from above...."you need to be open minded..."

I really wish I had copy and pasted that thread. It had a lot of good info. I was wanting to review the thread in the hopes of teasing out exactly why the site gods had such an issue and why they used such a heavy hand in dealing with a very minor disagreement. This incident explains why there were no locked threads available for reading and explains why there isn't a lot of posts either. I guess I can chalk that site up as not one for free speech on the web. Things like what I watched keeps me a lurker on most forums.

So what is being open minded:
As per Dictionary.com

1. having or showing a mind receptive to new ideas or arguments.
2. unprejudiced; unbigoted; impartial.

A great blog post about being open minded:
Skeptico Blogs

A Quiz about being Open Minded:

You Are 60% Open Minded

You are a very open minded person, but you're also well grounded.
Tolerant and flexible, you appreciate most lifestyles and viewpoints.
But you also know where you stand firm, and you can draw that line.
You're open to considering every possibility - but in the end, you stand true to yourself.

How Open Minded Are You?

Just returning again

2008-02-17T14:27:00.004-05:00

Everyone around me has learned that I travel in circles. I'll drop things and interests for a while and eventually return to them. I'm now returning to the blog-o-sphere after a long absent. This time it lasted three and a half months. I've been busy again, living life and doing things. Some reason I have yet to find, I tend not to write when my life is doing fairly well. I'm working on breaking that cycle.

I've got a few topics I want to explore in the coming months. Not everything is fleshed out. Heck, so far nothing is. So here is the brainstorming...

Ritual verse Magical Thinking.
A few thoughts of Christian Magical principals.
Why Magical thinking is Dangerous.
A retreat to logical..and why I'm going.
Worship the Gods....reasons needed.

OBE's

2007-10-01T06:26:00.003-04:00

I posted this on a forum some time ago. I figured it would be good here too.
-----------------
I don't know if my experiences are what you would call OBE's. I've worked with lucid dreaming for years now. I got in to dream working because of several reoccurring dreams of both varieties. In my teens and twenties I was working with self hypnosis and lucid dreaming to deal with several deep personal scars. So I think those skills may have effected this particular experience.

I had been awake for over 40 hours and was hyped up on caffeine. Hanging out a club and fell asleep there. Something I don't usually due; stemming from issues over feeling safe. But I fell asleep and at the same time popped right into lucid dreaming, but it was something a bit more. Instead of the dream that I could change, reprogram and just run amok in, I was in the cafe as if my eyes were wide open. I could hear the folks and see the folks but I knew I was asleep. The visuals were different, sepia colored. I could even move the view around but that took effort. A lot like the effort it took the first time to intentionally change and derail a dream and change it to suit my whim.

It almost felt like I was in a balloon that was stretching out. It was the neatest thing I've ever done. But it was hard. I have even returned to my body to wake up but I couldn't do it. I have been too exhausted and I refused. The more I tried, the only thing I would do was wiggle and get comfortable.

I didn't even panic, if I was tired then I was tired. I had a lot of fun watching, moving around and looking. lol Dream watching the poker game going on was a blast. Waking up...lol now that was interesting. I felt rested and yet I knew exally what I "should have missed."

So I got safety issues. I can see that was the trigger for this event. I'd like to play around with this again but I'd prefer it not to be while asleep. Any suggestions, comments? Help?

I am opposed

2007-10-01T04:15:00.003-04:00

I am opposed to any state endorsed Theocracy.
I am opposed to any militant oriented religion.
I am opposed to any religion that asks me to leave my head behind and swallow what they teach.
I am opposed to any religion that demands me to be less than equal in rights and law to my husband, father, male kin or males in general.
I am opposed to any state Theocracy enforcing a tax on members of a different religion.
I am opposed to censorship be it political or religious.
I am opposed to a religion telling me how to dress, how to think, how to act and how to be.
I am opposed to a religion that can demand the death of another on religious grounds.
I am opposed to a religion that inspires fear among believers and unbelievers alike.
I am opposed to a religion that can't poke fun at it's self.
I am opposed to a religion that makes my art, my drawings and my sculptures unlawful.
I am opposed to a religion that can not handle with good humor and faith the critiques within and without.
I am opposed to any religion or government that does not hold up the value of freedom as the highest ideal that humanity should strive for.

Well loved Posts

2007-10-01T02:32:00.002-04:00

Describe your religion in 5 sentences or less...
1 Love is the highest law.
2 Seek Truth.
3 Create.
4 Nurture.
5 Walk the Middle Road Always.

From an Eclectic Pagan.

I've always loved this particular posting I wrote. I had to re-post it. Here are a few more well loved posts. For some reason I prefer keeping them close to me. They are my thought babies. lol They need some loving. hehe

Do you remember when the first time you cast a spell?Yes I do. It was a simple thing, of healing after the desecration of a personal talisman. I remember learning a lot more than magic that day. I learned words can inflict as much harm as actions; and it is not easy to heal those wounds. I was seventeen.

Or the first time you read someone's palm?
Or read the cards?
I was reading palms when I was eight. Call it play acting if you'd like but I was the only one I knew who read them. The very first time I faced a dilemma, to speak what I saw or to just speak happy news. It did scare me, to see, to feel something.

With the cards, it was a bit different. I didn't get interested in them until I was 14. I was only able to get a hold of playing cards and well I thought I could do just about the same thing with them. It is possible to read them. Nobody took the readings seriously at first. But one girl did, she wanted a past life reading and I gave it to her. It still bothers me, that what I told. I still see those images a clear now as then.

Do you remember the first charm you ever bought?
Or ever made?
Many of my charms were given to me and as such were later lost. I do regret the lost of one particular charm, which went missing when the friendship was over, I miss that friend. I don't recall buying a charm but I've made a few. There is something special in making one and giving it away.

Do you remember your first ritual tool?
My first tool was a homemade athame of Mimosa wood. It always struck me as a confused tool. Was it a wand or was it an athame? lol It's done alright by me.

Or first occult book?
"A Witch Alone" by Maron Green.

Do you remember your first steps in magic?
Thinking "now how do I do that."
I do remember the confusion, paranoia and anguish that came with it. Of being a fence sitter and not being sure of myself, of my faith, of my actions and my mental status. And in the midst of spiritual crises trying to do magic. I don't know what I was thinking then. There was so much going on then that magic was just a blip on the radar of life.

Mabon

2007-09-24T15:34:00.001-04:00

Happy Mabon Everyone!

I celebrated on Sunday this year.

This is time of year I get to looking for my door's autumn wreath, fix it up, add to it, give it a brand new polish and hang it on the door till winter. I've got plenty of work to do to fix it. I'm not sure if I'm going to get a new base or just add some natural features to it. lol I've got to dig it out of storage. I know I put it somewhere. Perhaps that's got some seasonal meaning somewhere....well maybe not.

I love Mabon, Fall Equinox, whatever you want to call it for the shear reason that it's an excuse to celebrate my favorite season of the year. I love the bright hues of green, yellow and orange. I love the crisp cool dew filled mornings. I love the cool wind that brings out the kites for the last fly of the season. Oh, the sent of wet leaves in the morning, the heavy perfume of mushrooms, and a hit of sea breezes. It's my season....a sweet reprieve from summer.

Witches Weekly - First Group / Fellow Pagan

2007-09-19T00:06:00.001-04:00

From Witches Weekly

First Group/Fellow Pagan -September 10th 2007

What was your first experience like meeting a group of pagans, whether it’s at a festival, a local group organization etc. If you’ve never been to another group, talk about the first “pagan” you’ve met, how you met them, and the experience.

I realize pagan is not always a suitable word for everyone to describe their path or faith. But it’s a universally recognized term and just makes it easier when trying to target a specific audience.

I've had quite a few "firsts" with the Pagan community. One of the most memorable moments was back in High School and my friends and I walked into the only Pagan store in my neighborhood. The place was bare; no new age books, no candles, and no trinkets. The book case included the Bible, Book of Mormon, Satanic Bible and other older texts. There was writing all over the walls, floor and ceiling. I did recognised the Hebrew on the pillars and could see what just how purposeful they were placed. This wasn't just any old Pagan shop, it was a old shop of ceremonial magic.

That building had gained such character that it had a feeling that wasn't exactly the friendliest. Not many people walked on the sidewalk in front of it. People would cross the street to avoid that building. Only the desperate or fearless ever used the bus stop in front of the entrance. Eventually the shop owners sold and the building was renovated. I still get a feeling from that spot that is just uniquely different and alive.

I've been in other Pagan shops sense but none has ever had such a living building as that old Pagan Shop.

Elemental Change

2007-09-19T00:00:00.001-04:00

Twilight falling
twilight fading
summer's coming to an end

twilight falling
twilight fading
fall is almost here

winds still breezy
leaves are turning
colors changing
fall is almost here

feel the weather
getting cooler
twilight fading
summer's to an end

and fall's about to begin

Witches Weekly- Daily Piety

2007-09-03T00:03:00.001-04:00

From Witches Weekly
Daily Piety -September 1st 2007

Do you have a ritual/meditation/affirmation that you do daily? If so, what is it and what does it mean to you?

The only ritual I have at the moment is caring for my daughter who is still an infant. I want to be involved with daily ritual but I haven't done so. The only thing that comes close is the "Prayer of Five", which I previously posted. Some nights it's a struggle to remember to pray before bed.

I have trouble keeping routines. Some habits just don't stick with me. It's a daily struggle. It's odd that bad habits tend to stick but never the good ones. Either way
I shall persevere.

You Go NASA!!!!

2007-08-21T15:47:00.002-04:00

NASA rocks!!

The shuttle Endeavour touched down this afternoon after all the worry about a three inch gash in the tiles of it's underbelly. I watched with my heart in my throat as it made it threw re-entry. Frankly I disagreed with the decision not to patch the tile. What better opportunity to practice these skills when it's not so necessary?

At least now a chapter can be closed at last. We have gotten a teacher up in space and back again, safely. I'm glad they decided to let her go up.

How I became a Pagan. Part 2

2007-08-21T14:06:00.003-04:00

Lost in the Wilds

Spiritual crisis is a midfield of conflicting ideas and thoughts all battling for control. On the one hand, I could return to Christianity, on the other, I could find my own way and my own truth. For so long I dithered between both options until I realized that no choice is a choice after all.

While dithering, I explored and learned a little bit about other religions. I learned more about my own fascination with tarot cards and the Old Gods. I explored the basis of ethics in religions. I read tons more books. I can thank the Gods there is a good library nearby. I dug into Church History and even reread the Bible again.

I was still as confused and still on the fence. Even trying to change in according to my husbands wishes, or what I thought his wishes were; didn't take. Ladies be careful, some husbands will say anything if they think it will make you happy without giving any thought to it. Only much latter did I realize how much of an agnostic he is.

So I spent a lot of time just thinking and trying to figure out why I was struggling so much with something that my parents had fought so hard to obtain. I've always struggled with doing according to the rule especially when I see things so differently. And this didn't feel any different.

Repression is a bad thing. It's even worst when there is the force of trauma behind it. My crisis was reaching a head at the same time I was dealing with the trauma of sexual abuse and the fresh trauma inflicted by an ex. So many issues swirling together and playing off each other.

The short of it was that I was a mess. Some ways the only healer was time. In other's I had a lot of work to do and most of it was mental. Spiritually so much had happened I couldn't understand why I still believed in God. I just started to think that perhaps the whole world had it wrong. That God spoke to each of us, in the heart and never to hurt was the only faith I had left.

The Weaver Woman

2007-08-20T22:32:00.003-04:00

Strange that this weekend Athena has popped up several times. I had been thinking about her the other day and then my friend mentions her as one of the ways that she views me. Scary thought that is.

Now I have a love / hate relationship with her. I love her strength but I'm still a little pissed at what she did to poor ole Arachne. This is a tender spot for me as I enjoy the needle arts and I can not forget what happened to her anytime I pick up yarn. This time of year my mind tends to wander down this road as I see more spiders than normal. All of them repairing their webs in the early dew heavy morning.

I'm not sure just what lesson I'm supposed to take away from that myth but I know that the cost of perfection is so high that it's almost worthless. It makes it more acceptable to leave at least one mistake in each piece least we fall afoul to Arachne's folly.

Athena in all her wisdom perhaps was right. It's for Athena that I leave in the mistake. Believe me, you will have to look careful to find it, but find it you can.

It's Time Now.

2007-08-16T00:37:00.001-04:00

Time is at an end
Shall I turn around?
and hide my eyes...

Time is at an end
Shall I dance...
with you or without?

Time is at an end
Surely you must go
the tide is heading out to sea.

It's time for me
to say Goodbye.

Witches Weekly-Weather Manipulation

2007-08-15T18:30:00.001-04:00

From Witches Weekly-
Weather Manipulation -August 10th 2007

I recently ran across a situation in my Grove that I thought might make a decent discussion related to paganism in general. In Maryland we are in somewhat of a severe drought (though this week we’ve been blessed with a decent sprinkle of rain, after I don’t know how many months). For Lughnasadh last weekend, I had suggested our prayer for ritual be towards a balance in the weather. I never mentioned asking for rain, but many of my Grove mates were very paranoid and jumped in saying that we should never do rain “magic” and other such arguments.

We finally did settle for balance and harmony in all things, but what are your thoughts on even mentioning weather in your ritual/magical workings? I’ve always been under the opinion that you have to be careful what you ask for, but if you are very specific and keep in mind the Law of Balance, that you’d be fine.

My thoughts: I have no problems working weather magic. I don't have a problem trying to obtain something that I need, as in this case some rain. Working it from the perspective of weather balance is a noble endeavor but what are the consequences to that? Will the magic interpret it to balance the whole world so you can have a balance in the weather were you are at? Besides do you really want a balance to the weather across the whole world? Rain forest and deserts exist because there is an imbalance.

My rule of thumb is if I'd pray for it, then I'd do a ritual for it. Some magic is created by us and there is magic that is created by the "greater whole." what ever you may call it. Weather magic is a bit of both with a dash of chaos.

Even with the best protective clause, the letter of the workings just may not even match the intent of it. On top of it all, I don't think you can rule out all possible miss-renderings of your intentions. So, I focus on my intent and the let the consequences occur.

Does this mean that I don't think about how my actions may effect others? Not at all. What it means is that "as above, as below" has more meaning for me. The magical and the mundane is the same. How I act in the mundane world is the same way I act in the magical world. I would do the working for rain, if that is what I need. It surely doesn't mean that I'd get what I want.

God and Preemies

2007-08-15T13:57:00.000-04:00

I was just reading over at The Preemie Experiment blog about how her

"wish is that we all can have an honest discussion about how having a child born premature (or the loss of a preemie) has changed our views on prayer/religion and spirituality."

She's disabled comments to that post more likely for good reason:like having 88 comments. I haven't ran into many religious issues about having a preemie. There was the preacher who liked coming into the NICU from time to time. We chatted but not about religion. And he was more than welcome to pray for her rather than for me anytime.

The only real stinger I ran into has been online. In one of the various preemie sites there was a inspirational letter getting passed around called "How preemie parents get chosen." Now that piece of tripe pissed me off more than anything ever could. If it's helped you, fine. Just know that it was the most offencive piece of work I've ever read.

I know I'm coming from a point of view that makes the piece non-sense to me but gees....God choosing to harm children and parents is about all I can see from it. Yes, I'm not so heartless that I didn't cry when I read it...but afterwards I got raging mad. Having lived and believed within that viewpoint, it still would not have comforted me.

There are just so many different things so wrong with it from a religious pov.

Thoughts on Polytheism

2007-08-10T00:47:00.002-04:00

Polytheism:

The belief in many Gods. Not the idea of "All Gods are One God." But instead

Comes in several flavors, soft, hard and my favorite eclectic polytheism.

http://polytheism.org.uk/wordpress/?page_id=2

I am a hard polytheistic Pagan and I don't believe in a single unifying principal / deity / power / energy or God as the underlying foundation to the universe nor do I see any great power creating the universe.

I view the Gods as individuals and I don't view them as the same thing or even the same idea. The idea of deity is a catch all for beings, powers, energies, ideas, forces, archetypes, memes; anything that is more in the mental/spiritual realm and defies defining. I like the idea that deity is the pattern we see in chaos that brings greater meaning to our lives. I do see the Gods as something extra ordinary that influences, communicates and interacts in our lives through various ways. I don't see the Gods as some thing greater than us, an all powerful being that represents the ultimate super-human with all the "correct" traits that will preserve humanity.

I feel that the nature of the universe is set up on it's own rules and is a natural process that requires no super-being thought to exist. I see the universe as an infinite cyclic creation that exists and re-exists for all time. I do not see a catalytic point as required but instead see a paradox creation that caused or was caused by time.

The Gods are far more complex than any series of labels.

Today is my Mother's Birthday

2007-08-09T14:18:00.001-04:00

Today is my Mother's Birthday
and I can not tell her anything.

Today is my Mother's Birthday
but she passed away many years ago.

Today is my Mother's Birthday
and it's been 54 years from her birth.

Today is my Mother's Birthday
but she died before her 35th.

Today is my Mother's Birthday
and she would have been a grandmother.
I would have loved to have told her,
to have shown her my daughter.

Today is my Mother's Birthday.
Happy Birthday Mother.
I love you so much and miss you too.

How I became a Pagan. Part 1

2007-08-09T08:17:00.003-04:00

Leaving Christianity

Long time ago in a world different than my own, I was claimed by the Gods. lol Childhood does a lot to set what a child thinks in later years. Basically I've always had a deep seated attraction to magic, divination and the various Gods. I never did understand why there was one God who claimed to be the only God when it was clear to me that He was not. It was equally clear to me that even my parents didn't quiet follow all the rules even though they did try. Some of the rules just can't be done in today's age.

By the time I was 14 I wanted to dedicate my life to the Gods and I thought that I could do so by being baptized. At this point, I wasn't a Pagan but a struggling Christian. I struggled with the rules and the ideas and the dogma within Christianity. No matter what I did or thought; my own thoughts were just so off from everyone else, even from my family that I was living a completely different version of reality.

So time passes and at my first baptism attempt I walk out of the Church. I rejected them because they were a speaking in tongues and full of drama. I couldn't emerge from that pool without them expecting some sort of blabber. I try again when I was 20. Found a nice little church, start attending, went to bible study...ect ect. I participated in the church. The urge strikes again. So I sign up for baptism classes; complete the class and the day comes. No jitters, no nervousness, just calm acceptance. Then it was over. I was wet and I felt empty. What more could I say.

Then the urge to learn more about this religion takes hold like a fire that was banked down now stirred up. I consume books after books. I stay with bible study and still was very confused. Then I get my hands on a single book that changes my life forever. Midway through reading, I toss the offending book across the room. Now my family knows I have a deep reverence for books. For me to up and toss a book, it was serious and it was a first. It's not a habit.

I felt hurt, offended, burned and abused. That book tore the veil from my eyes and I saw what That God is. I can not go back to Him, not now and not ever. So what was the book? "History Of God: The 4000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam" If you read it, it can change your life. It changed mine, it will test the strength of your faith.

Some of my issues are from a Protestant perspective with a dash of biblical literally and inerrantincy; thanks to my parents. The rest of my issues with Christianity is because I trust my own mind and I trust my own feelings. I find blind faith dangerous.

Now I was in the middle of a spiritual crisis.

on to part two...

Rendering

2007-08-04T22:35:00.001-04:00

My dreams are nought.
Fading
fading
like twilight in winter.

Dreams so fragile
so brittle
the least harm
breaks.

Sorrow of lost
sorrow of pain
sorrow of dreams
fading.

It was a beautiful dream.
I failed I lost I am pained.
I gambled.

Why do I
want so
much?

That can not be.
Why are my dreams
Fading
fading
like twilight in winter?

Book of Shadows

2007-08-04T08:12:00.002-04:00

What is it with some in the community with thinking that the Book of Shadows is an old thing? It isn't. In fact it belongs to us, in the now; not in the past with all the romantic notion of hidden books and the danger for keeping such a tome. It belongs to us today not of the past. It's our book, our little secret that must be, can be, teasingly hidden. It's our writing that's creating it, not some mystical treasure from the past, it's a treasure of the future. Let go of the romantic notions of the past and push forward to the future. Let go and fly free, unfettered by past restrains.

What is it with romanticising the past to the point that we can't even see the truth in front of us. Look there were no ancient Wiccans 150 years ago neither were there a book of shadows. We need to thank Gerald Gardner for all of those wonderful ideas that just were a work of fiction. He created the idea and we have hung on to that and have made them real. But they are not of the past but of the future. Literacy is a gift of modern life. Our Great European Elders didn't, couldn't read and write several hundred years ago. Only the educated could, which is why education is so important to us. So we don't lose all that has been gained.

Literacy is such an important gift, such an ancient gift, reserved for the priesthood and for rulers and for the rich. Too often we are neither and yet we can read and write and create thoughts and ideas. With this gift we can change our world. We have power in our hands but we have to use it properly, with restraint, with truth and with honor.

Writing is the first act of magic. It is as it was in ancient times, it is as it is now. Words, thoughts preserved in material. We have all become mind readers.....reading, reading and reading. We must write, it is the first act of magic. Drop the keyboard and grab the pen. You must write like the ancient, with the hands touching paper, seeing the ink and the words forming. Feeling the satisfaction of changing the blank into substance, of sending your thoughts out into the world where they land you'll never know. They will have a history that you will never live to see. They are our children born of our minds.

Give birth. Make magic. Write.

Return of the Muse

2007-07-22T02:32:00.000-04:00

careful what you wish for,
you just might get it
even in your dreams
can't bring fulfillment
like the cold shot of reality

love bites hard
and love bites back
somethings shouldn't be
but are

Never mind all that
the day rises again
and the night returns and lets loose
the dreams and wants
of passions yet unfilled

It does hurt
to let go
things wanted but never had
desire becomes painful
as the heart screams
beats
in frustration

Favorite Quotes

2007-07-21T00:58:00.001-04:00

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear - From Frank Herbert's Dune Book Series

Not by hate is hate defeated; hate is quenched by love. This is the eternal law.
~The Dhammapada

Don't worry, Be Happy.
~Bobby Mcferin

The Wonder of the Universe Is that it exists.
~myself

All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
~ Edmund Burke

The best-laid plans of mice and men often go astray.
~ Robert Burns

It seems that I know that I know. What I would like to see is the 'I' that knows me when I know that I know that I know.
~ Alan Watts

Expect the unexpected.
~ Unknown. perhaps from a Red Cross publication.

Five

2007-07-11T23:25:00.001-04:00

I'd like to offer a prayer that I perform as a morning and evening devotion. I often add and change the manner of the five depending on my needs but I keep the first two verses and the last the same. I don't tend to pray "divine" but I pray using the personal names of my Patrons. I have found that this prayer is very calming to me and is often repeated with greater effect.

Five

Sacred five which I pray,
Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Divine
Bless and Guide me,
hear my voice and lend your heart.
I ask protection of the Pentagram.

Earth, upon which my feet tread
Air, by whose breath I live
Fire, that fuels my passion of life
Water, of life that ebbs in my veins
The Divine which I honor

Earth, protect me
Air, protect me
Fire, protect me
Water,protect me
Gods protect me

Earth guide me
Air guide me
Fire guide me
Water guide me
Gods guide me

Earth purify me
Air purify me
Fire purify me
Water purify me
Gods purify me

Earth balance me
Air balance me
Fire balance me
Water balance me
Gods balance me

Earth bless me
Air bless me
Fire bless me
Water bless
Gods bless me

In these five I shall rest
Protection of the Pentagram.

~ Isabella Lecour

Minor Confessions

2007-07-03T22:01:00.003-04:00

It's been ages sense I've done a full ritual. I don't have an altar set up, or even pulled out my altar box and played. I've let the Holy Days pass by with no outer celebration and with just an internal nod of recognition. I'm don't use my tarot cards on important personal issues because they are too accurate and I'm not sure I want to hear their truth. I don't do astrology and I just read my horoscope for laughs.

My homemade runes are not finished and I've been working on them for three years now. My house isn't covered in witchy poo nick knacks and stuff. Even with the remodeling it still wouldn't be covered in that; yep I'll say it...crap. I haven't bought incense in ages and I haven't burned what I have left. I haven't visited a Pagan friendly shop in months and I haven't been networking in the local community in ages either. Worst of all, I don't look the part. I dress like I always have, with blue jeans and t-shirts, typical department store clothing.

I've got a major black thumb in the gardening department. I'm minor in being famous for killing cacti. My attempts to keep an herb garden was a dismal failure. Keeping a kitchen garden met with the same fate. I study herbalism in my spare time. My view of herbalism isn't of magic but of medicinal value. I really hate some of the most recommended herbal books for beginners. I find such books dangerously out of date and extremely dangerous for beginners.

I find it hard to set aside time to do spiritual activities. I really enjoy Yoga but I don't practice. It's the same with meditation, religious studies, and personal rituals and devotions. I am unorganized both on the outer as well as on the inner. I do see the factors that contribute to my disorganized use of time. I've never been real comfortable with Wiccan style rituals and yet I feel a regret that I haven't done them. I don't cast ritualistic spells, do esbats or sabbats.

With my style of religious practice I feel guilt that I don't fit in any particular category. This is a familiar guilt. It is the guilt of being independent, of being a non conformist; in essence of being myself. It was this same guilt that led me away from Christianity because at the core I didn't fit. I don't fit in Wicca and I don't fit with other well know Pagan traditions. I know of no others who have the same Patron Gods as I.

I am self-conscious about my religion even in my home. I am not married to a fellow Pagan and I feel restricted in my ability to express my religious joys and ecstasies. I have no support from friends or family in this area of my life. I find this is the hardest challenge to deal with. I don't like feeling like a fool and at home it is so easy to feel that way with just a look from your spouse. I've learned that I can't discuss these matters with them. My family is not interested in my views or experiences and that stifles my own inclinations. I have even been requested to not teach my daughter my beliefs. That hurt but it really said more about that persons view of religion.

I am still a Pagan, more in my heart than on the outer skin. But which really matters when it concerns the Gods? In Becoming more like the Great Mother, I've done more prayer, more visualizations and pleading with the Gods for my family. I've had great mystical experiences in which I've met my personal guardians under some harrowing circumstances. I've taken control of my body and I understand that this life has greater mysteries than even all the Pagan books could ever hint. It is within the greater mystery of Motherhood that has made this possible for me.

No longer the Maiden, and now the Mother, I feel so blessed by the Great Mother that she choose to allow me this, the greatest of honors. I will continue to strive with my practice. I have plenty to work on and learn. I know that the Gods are with me in this. I have felt their presence and their joys. May The Great Mother and The Great Father and all the Gods bless and protect my family. May Gaia bless us, her daughters.

Melancholy Moods

2007-07-03T12:11:00.000-04:00

Melancholy Moods

Life has given me more than enough,
Have I had enough love?
Enough laughter?
Enough joy?
Enough sorrow?
Enough sadness?
Enough stress?

Life has give me enough

And I want more.

The desires of my heart denied

Trampled and broken.

I reached my hand out to pluck

the forbidden fruit

and I receive pain for my effort.

A pin prick of blood wells up

as poison courses through my veins.

I am destroyed.

Being a Net Pagan...

2007-06-29T07:59:00.002-04:00

I've got a few moments today so I thought I'd write a little something about myself.

For being Pagan, I'm not much active on the net like I used to be. I still have a website which I haven't updated in ages. It is Pagan orientated and mostly articles that I write. I didn't want a site that repeats every little thing that all the other Pagany sites have. I wanted original works and I've found that getting a chance to write and then code a page is a lot more time consuming than I have. So I'm starting to transfer all my articles to this blog. It's going to be slow work as I've got to finish a few of the articles and pick through the articles that was just filler for the site.

I'm also a member to a select few Pagan/Religious forums. I'm done my shopping around and I've found that at some forums I'd rather read than participate. There is only one forum that I participate in a semi-regular basis and it's a religious debates forum. It has a great admin and it's really like a second web family. Completely no non-sense and doesn't tolerate trolls and disruptor's. If you can't follow the formula of formal debate, then it's not the place for you. As much as I love that site the Pagans on it are some of the most not debate people I've every met. For some reason I can't get a good debate out of them. I'm trying but I'm starting to wonder if I'm offering the correct "bait." It just can't be that these fellow Pagans are advance enough that emotions isn't invested in any particular topic, cause or idea.

I've had my share of owning and moderating several Yahoo groups and forums. The Yahoo groups that I've had (Isabella's Grove , NNYPNO and now VPCOHR) I've closed after interest in them dwindled to nothing. I've tried to help networking for Pagans in Virginia but each time I've gotten swamped with ads for other pagan events and nothing else. No one seams to want to talk about the personal side of being Pagan and share what each of us does in our practice. Even trying to co-host the NNYPNO collapsed due to lack of participation. I know it isn't the only Meet-Up that's collapsed in the area and I know that it will be attempted again. What is it about Pagans that led us to stay un-organised and un-able to form functional and healthy groups?

Even with all of these past troubles, I'm keeping open one forum: The Virginia Pagan Community Of Hampton Roads with a Yahoo sister site. I have no members and I post whatever I want. Eventually I will post a link to Witchvox to advertise this forum but for now I'm just letting it sit. I'm slowly adding links to it all over the web. Trying to attract members without sending out personal invitations, should I send out such an invite? Please by all means, take a look and join...if you're a Virginian Pagan.

I know the Internet has really expanded our ability to express our religious preferences and have allowed us to educated others about our practices. But I think a point has been reached where everyone starts repeating the same basic information that everyone else knows. Where are the new thoughts, new viewpoints and the new teachers? Surely our practice isn't that boring that we can't discuss endlessly about it.

Where are the apologetics? the philosophers?
Who's discussing the merits of having a pantheistic view? a polytheistic view?
Who's discussing the how's and why's of practice?
Where are thinkers in Paganism?

My Pagan Beliefs and Ethics: A Personal Life Creed.

2007-06-23T00:37:00.001-04:00

I affirm my Self Responsibility.
As an adult, I am the only one responsible for my actions, thoughts, words, deeds and beliefs or lack thereof. No one but me is responsible, not my husband, nor my mother or my father or any kin nor any person of authority. I alone am responsible for me and I alone will bear the consequences of my actions, both desirable and undesirable; intended and unintended.

I affirm my Duty.
Every person has a duty, first to themselves, their family and then to the community that they live in. That is considered the first social contract. To avoid this First Duty is to fail this First Duty. Duty is not to be shirked off or ignored. No duty can be performed unless one accepts responsibility and acknowledge the duty itself. One should not, nay must not accept more duties than what one can perform in daily life.

I affirm the Golden and Silver Rule and understand the limitations of them.
I shall strive to seek for my fellow man what I seek for myself.
I shall strive to respect others as they wish to be respected.

I affirm to walk the Middle Path and understand it's limitations.
By living with right understanding, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration. By living with active avoidance of extremes in life, ever mindful of the twists, turns, bends and cliffhangers of the path of life. By living.

I am Pagan.
That means I am not Christian or Jewish, nor Moslem or a follower of any monotheistic religion. I am one of the others. I am one of the few. I believe in the Many and the None.

I am an Earth Mystic.
That means that I seek everything directly from the divine as I conceive the divine, primarily our world, the earth, nature in her all, creator and created in divine marriage. Worship is rejoice overflowing the heart that never depletes and it can not be forced from a person. Like a river, it will create it's own path, burst any dam, and erode mountains.

I believe in Divinity as manifest in/within us.
I worship Divinity as manifested in Goddesses and Gods. I acknowledge that Divinity is in no way restrict in form and is everywhere, is everything. I acknowledge that Divinity is multiple, diverse and individualist.

The Teacher, The Guide, The Messiah, The Savior is within each of us.
I believe the Gods communicate directly to our hearts, to our minds, and to our body's. No man can speak as if they were Gods directly or as a Messenger of Gods. How could they speak with a triple tongue?

I affirm that I know nothing and that I have everything to learn.
I have ideas upon which I place my faith. Those ideas are believed under faith.
May the Gods correct me when I am wrong.

Changing Direction

2007-06-23T00:08:00.000-04:00

It's been ages sense I've used this blog. I've been doing a lot of writing on the livejournal site about mostly personal family things. Most often about my daughter who was born prematurely. For a long time I've been wanting to keep a journal dedicated to religious topics and this is the blog I'm going to do that with. This blog has features that will help me in this endeavour, like the lovely save draft feature.

That want has been growing for a long time and it's reached it's peak with the birth of my daughter. I'm not so sure that I'm going to raise her without any religious guidance. I fully prefer and accept that only an adult can make the decision on what if any religion to follow. I'm just not too sure how that translates when raising a child. At some point kids ask about God and Goddess and the nature of the universe. Other kids are going to try to convert her, just because that is the way they are being raised. So what am I to do about this?

What guidance does a child need about religion? I know the values I want to raise her with and they really don't have a thing to do with deity at all. Good basic values are universal. I know she's not going to understand that mommy has different beliefs than most of her future classmates and their parents. I don't want to hide my beliefs and practices from her but I'm also a bit reluctant to share this practice with her.
I guess I'm the most reluctant Pagan parent that has ever lived.

2006-06-10T18:54:00.000-04:00

Been awhile since I last posted. I'm ok for the most part. Still working hard and fixin the house. I've gotten into the rhythm of working. I don't mind the hard physical work. I've started to enjoy it.

Jeff's got some overtime again...but it's just for paying more bills. Ugh. I'm starting to consider getting another job but we'll see. Maybe a temp service or something. Even food service again. I miss getting my hands in dough.

Got a garden. Pumpkins have swallowed the mums patch. Those old jack'o'lanterns are growing big. Well it's what I get for stirring last year jack's into a new plot of soil. It needed it. It was just a heavy clay soil that had to be amended, which it was. Some things just didn't grow in our raised vegetable bed. Peas are good, grow easy. Radishes went crazy and only gave me one single radish root. But they had large leaves and purple flowers that were very pretty. Bought a tomato plant, of course none of my tom seedlings surived March. Brussle sprouts are growing strong; eight plants left after thinning. Carrots are still growing. Got to replant soon for a fall harvest. What I haven't a clue.

We've been fishing lately. I enjoy it for some reason. A couple years ago I didn't enjoy it at all. I'd get a figgity just standing around waiting for a fish to nibble. Now I just rent a boat to fish off of. The only thing I've caught lately was today's catch; a little pan fish. It was really neat. Now only if I can learn how not to catch a sunburn. Yeah I know....Get sunscreen.

I hope to post more often. So we shall see.
Oh why, oh why do I get on this infernal machine and do nothing but read!

Darn Day started out good...

2006-05-12T16:21:00.001-04:00

I got laid this morning and twice last night. Yea!! But.....

My car is broke. About a month ago I bought a '88 BMW and until today it was running good. I even had taken a road trip to Florida just last week with it. Today it stalled out on me on I64 and I had to get it towed home.

I think it's the fuel pump that's broke but we'll see.

So I spent the day on the net catching up on my reading. I do more reading than I do working on my websites. "Shame on me!" Ah...but I am shameless. It's more fun to read.

Otherwise I'm in a really good mood. Got techno on almost all day. Good stuff. Never get much of a chance to relax and hear it play.

So I missed Beltane this year. lol Or did I? (don't ask..this is as close as I get to bragging.) Road trip took care of that. Saw my sister and in-laws. I miss my in-laws. Good folks they are. Didn't get much sleep the whole time and I won't call the trip relaxing. It was hectic but in a good sort of way. Even got to see the Florida forest fire!!

2006-02-19T02:26:00.001-05:00

This winter me and my husband have built a raised garden bed on the side yard. It's about 4 foot by 8 foot long. That bed is going to be the main vegetable bed. So yesterday afternoon I purchased seeds from Home Depot. Got a nice slection if I may say so.

My little collection so far:

Onion- Evergreen Long White Bunching
Cucumber- Bush Champion
Bean- Kentucky Wonder Green Pole Snap
Squash- Burpee's Hybrid Zucchini
Lettuce- Burppe Bibb
Lettuce- Burpee's Gourmet Blend
Tomato- Super Sweet 100 Hybrid
Tomato- Burpee's Big Boy Hybrid
Brussels Sprouts- Catskill
Snowpea- Snowbird
Pepper- California Wonder
Radish- Cherry Belle

While I was there, I just had to pick up Herbs and flowers too. So here they are...

Catnip, Parsley, Common Thyme, Garlic Chives, True Lavender, Common Sage, Spearmint, Rosemary.

Four O'Clocks, Canterbury Bells, Portulaca, Coleus- Rainbow mix, Convolvulus- Blue Enchantment, Nasturtium- Jewel Mix.

In days I'll be starting seeds indoors for all of this. I really want to get a jump on the spring season this time around.

Quiz Time

2005-11-24T12:52:00.001-05:00

You scored as Buddhism. Your beliefs most closely resemble those of Buddhism. Do more research on Buddhism and possibly consider becoming Buddhist, if you are not already.

In Buddhism, there are Four Noble Truths: (1) Life is suffering. (2) All suffering is caused by ignorance of the nature of reality and the craving, attachment, and grasping that result from such ignorance. (3) Suffering can be ended by overcoming ignorance and attachment. (4) The path to the suppression of suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path, which consists of right views, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right-mindedness, and right contemplation. These eight are usually divided into three categories that base the Buddhist faith: morality, wisdom, and samadhi, or concentration. In Buddhism, there is no hierarchy, nor caste system; the Buddha taught that one's spiritual worth is not based on birth.

Buddhism

83%

Satanism

75%

Paganism

71%

agnosticism

58%

Christianity

54%

Judaism

54%

Hinduism

54%

atheism

46%

Islam

42%

Which religion is the right one for you? (new version)
created with QuizFarm.com

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2005-11-24T11:26:00.001-05:00

It's like any other day for me. Thanksgiving is based on a cultural myth with a nice emotional note to it that makes it appealing. But I'm not going to go on about it here. That's for another journal. hehe

I spent a lot of time on the web these days. Between managing a few Yahoo groups and updating my site to participating in various forums around the web and working, I don't have enough time to do all that I want to do.
enough
So I'm here to get organized.

I know I tend to run in cycles of what interests me. It's a pain. I'm back to finish updating my site yet again. And I don't even like to colors that I picked! Yikes! From green to blue and back to green again, I go.

My To Do List for Personal site:
Finish About Me page.
Start Religion Page
Edit Links page for dead links and convert to new format.

Deadline: One Month. LOL If I make it.

To Do List for Yahoo Groups:
Add Monthly Polls for RSVP
Update event features.
Post Event outcomes.
Welcome new members.

Deadline: Repeating Monthly

Well I think that's enough for now. Will update progres as I get the time.

Quiz

2005-11-20T03:57:00.001-05:00

You scored as Shamanic Pagan. A shamanic pagan's roots are generally found in Native American faith. A true love and respect for the earth and all that it yields is central to their faith. Wisdom is most often found in spirit guides or totems, who can be animals, ancestors, or spirits. Pagans who follow this path tend to be far more aware of the delicate web that interweaves the lives of every person and thus move within that web accordingly. They're usually deeply insightful, friendly, loving people and excellent friends and parents. Mysterious and strong, as well, they are often the protectors of their friends and family as well as the moral compass for their friends and loved ones.

Shamanic Pagan

80%

Ecclectic Pagan

65%

Zoroastrian Pagan

55%

Eastern Pagan

55%

Roman Pantheonic Pagan

50%

Sumerian, Babylonian, and Mesopotamian Pagans

50%

Greek Pantheonic Pagan

35%

Kabbalistic Pagan

35%

Egyptian Pantheonic Pagan

30%

Celtic Pantheonic Pagan

25%

Norse Pantheonic Pagan (Asatru)

25%

Catholic (Pagan?)

What kind of Pagan are you?
created with QuizFarm.com

Current Web projects

2005-11-01T11:17:00.002-05:00

Personal Website
-Need to finish updates and redesign
-add articals
-Check broken links
-add NNY-PNO to the list

NNY-PNO Yahoo Group
-load moderator files
-Do some advertisements
-Redo WitchVox ad

Blogs
-Yahoo 360
-Blogger, Main blog, life blog
-Live Journal, artical format

Projects, Plans and Dreams

2005-10-30T12:56:00.001-05:00

Gardening

Potato and Compost Bin
-need pallets, straw,and manure
-need manure container

Winter building
-Raised Beds, stone or cinderblocks
-Relocate Rose or replace
-Save $50 or seeds for early spring planting

Spring Plans
-herb garden at quarter circle
-potato bin
-tomato pots
-vegges needed

Home Repair

Bedroom
-mud and tape
-paint
-floor
-trim

Living Room
-windows compleated
-wall repair, sheetrock and framing
-floors
-paint
-trim

Kitchen
-finelize kitchen floor plan
-rework plumbing

Winter Must Do's
-winterize plumbing system. Insulate, leeks fix, heat tape,
-Drain water system and hotwater tank
-Draft doddger for doors, weather seals
-purchase one more heater.
-window treatments for winter.

Self Taught Courses
-Roses
-Herbalism
-Gardening

Reutine
-Dinner planning, weekly menu
-Laundry
-Sunday Studys

Money Issues
-Save $200 for bridesmaid dress
-Save $300 for recovery money after wedding trip
-Save $300 to $600 for downpayment on a truck.
-March is a return to $250 monthly sent to apartment bill.

Updates and Goings On.

2005-09-10T17:47:00.001-04:00

It's been a while since I've posted. My sister left Wednesday morning to join the Army. I really wished I didn't have to work that day, I didn't get to see her off when the recruiter picked her up. I am a bit worried about how she will do. I wish her the best of luck and the strength to survive.

My Hubby's back is hurt. We don't know what happened to do it but we know it HURTS!! It's been a few days now and it's slowly getting better. He's not hunched over all the time now. It's just a slow recovery, plenty of icy hot and back rubs.

Now that everyone's out of the house, yet again, maybe we can make some progress on fixing the trailer. This place is just too small to have everyone living here and still get progress done. I have some big dreams for this place.

That seams to be the main highlights currently. I'm happy to say that I've got my altar items from storage. Now I just got to set it up somewhere again. lol I still don't have anywhere to place it. So at the moment my deity figures are hanging out on top of my wall hung first aid kit with everything else still in the box.

I'm so happy to have my mortal and pestle nearby. I've got a few projects that I need it for. I'm going to be trying out a few herbal ointments. Some of the herbs I think should be ground down a bit more before infusion. I shall see how it goes.

My sourdough starter is giving me fits. I started a new one in a glass jar. I got to see some wonderful action. It even rose up and nearly doubled. However it decided to grow mold, icky green mold. So I threw it out and bleaching the jar. I don't get it. My last starters didn't double and this one did but grew mold. I've got to find a way to prevent this mold growth.

I'm taking longer than I expected to finish the updates to my website. I've completely redesigned it. I'm adding new sections and articles. I just haven't found the time. Between work, housework and the herbal studying I've somehow not scheduled in the time to work on it.

I'm cleaning trash code from most pages edited in Netscape composer and still working in HTML which I have a basic grasp on. I'm getting about a page done a month for a site that's now 15 pages big and growing. I've only got two sections completed out of eight.

I'm going to wrap this up. Till next time....Good night.