I'm tossing around the idea of forming a 'coven'. I put that in quotes because I'm not really thinking of anything quite so formal. Just like minded individuals getting together for...well who knows! But I would like some other people to enjoy at least the equinoxes with.
Anybody out there interested? Any level, or lack of, knowledge is accepted, just the ability to have an open mind... is welcome!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Not Pagan related....
I do have another blog, one that is just my meager ramblings. If you're interested, please check it out.
In peace and love.
http://dirtywench.livejournal.com/
In peace and love.
http://dirtywench.livejournal.com/
Saturday, July 18, 2009
I'm baaaaack!
I was about to say that I couldn't believe I haven't blogged since February...but really, I can. I finally graduated with my Associated of Science in Paralegal studies in June. Whew!
*wipes sweat from brow*
Now I am unemployed, and actually contemplating on doing some writing. I'm sure I'll give it a try, but it remains to be seen if I have any actual talent. I might post a little here to get some feedback. Or I might not.
Anyhoo...seeing as how it is summer, and I missed posting for the solstice, I thought I would post some oft requested spells and rituals. These are from a book I recently obtained called "The Good Spell Book: Love Charms, Magical Cures and Other Practical Sorcery".
If you have any questions, let me know. I'll answer them as best as I can.
Love:
To Entice Love
*This is a spell that can be used to attract love or draw a lover closer. You should start this on the night of a NEW moon. (Google it!)
Take a salt shaker and a pepper shaker and designate one female and the other male. Then take a piece of pink ribbon and tie the female shaker to one end and the male shaker to the other. Make sure to leave about a foot of ribbon between them.
Every morning, untie the ribbon, move the shakers a little closer together, and retie the knots.
Eventually the salt and pepper shakers will touch. leave them bound together for seven days before untying them. By this time, love should have entered your life or your current partner should have drawn closer.
MONEY
*a very well known ritual in the community, and has actually worked. Just make sure you really have a need for the money, and don't just want it for greedy purposes. Remember...what you send out is returned to you 3 fold.
Find a small dish or bowl that you will use for only this purpose. Every morning, starting with a New Moon, (meaning the morning of a new moon, not the morning after), place 3 coins of any amount into the dish and repeat:
Trinka Five, Trinka Five,
Ancient spirits come alive.
Money grow, Money thrive,
Spirit of the Trinka Five.
*you can also just say Trinka Five 3 times, but I think the full ritual works better*
Repeat for at least seven days. The money should start coming in fairly shortly...however it can take some time. Have patience...the Universe will fulfill and recognize your NEEDS. I always make sure that I do not take the coins out until after the following full moon.
HOME PROTECTION
Great little things you can do to give your home extra spiritual protection. The best way to protect a person or thing from harm is to meditate and imagine them being surrounded by a bright white light. As bright as you can make it, for as long as possible, and imagining them healthy and well, safe and protected.
*Sprinkle salt around the perimeter of your house.
*You can also plant garlic around the boundary of your home.
*Pray for a circle of gold light for protection, and a circle of blue light for healing to be placed around your home.
*Disruptive neighbors who upset the harmony of your home can be easily tamed. Place small hand mirrors on windowsills facing the disruptive neighbors home. These reflect back whatever they are sending you if you say "Return to Sender". If there is no anger attached to your actions, your neighbors will respond to your influence without realizing why.
*To deter an unwanted visitor, all you need is some salt. Immediately after they have left, sprinkle the salt on the ground where they said goodbye.
****Salt is a well known purifier and protection against evil forces****
Thats it for now. Again, I'm available to answer any questions...and might even be able to take requests for certain needs.
*wipes sweat from brow*
Now I am unemployed, and actually contemplating on doing some writing. I'm sure I'll give it a try, but it remains to be seen if I have any actual talent. I might post a little here to get some feedback. Or I might not.
Anyhoo...seeing as how it is summer, and I missed posting for the solstice, I thought I would post some oft requested spells and rituals. These are from a book I recently obtained called "The Good Spell Book: Love Charms, Magical Cures and Other Practical Sorcery".
If you have any questions, let me know. I'll answer them as best as I can.
Love:
To Entice Love
*This is a spell that can be used to attract love or draw a lover closer. You should start this on the night of a NEW moon. (Google it!)
Take a salt shaker and a pepper shaker and designate one female and the other male. Then take a piece of pink ribbon and tie the female shaker to one end and the male shaker to the other. Make sure to leave about a foot of ribbon between them.
Every morning, untie the ribbon, move the shakers a little closer together, and retie the knots.
Eventually the salt and pepper shakers will touch. leave them bound together for seven days before untying them. By this time, love should have entered your life or your current partner should have drawn closer.
MONEY
*a very well known ritual in the community, and has actually worked. Just make sure you really have a need for the money, and don't just want it for greedy purposes. Remember...what you send out is returned to you 3 fold.
Find a small dish or bowl that you will use for only this purpose. Every morning, starting with a New Moon, (meaning the morning of a new moon, not the morning after), place 3 coins of any amount into the dish and repeat:
Trinka Five, Trinka Five,
Ancient spirits come alive.
Money grow, Money thrive,
Spirit of the Trinka Five.
*you can also just say Trinka Five 3 times, but I think the full ritual works better*
Repeat for at least seven days. The money should start coming in fairly shortly...however it can take some time. Have patience...the Universe will fulfill and recognize your NEEDS. I always make sure that I do not take the coins out until after the following full moon.
HOME PROTECTION
Great little things you can do to give your home extra spiritual protection. The best way to protect a person or thing from harm is to meditate and imagine them being surrounded by a bright white light. As bright as you can make it, for as long as possible, and imagining them healthy and well, safe and protected.
*Sprinkle salt around the perimeter of your house.
*You can also plant garlic around the boundary of your home.
*Pray for a circle of gold light for protection, and a circle of blue light for healing to be placed around your home.
*Disruptive neighbors who upset the harmony of your home can be easily tamed. Place small hand mirrors on windowsills facing the disruptive neighbors home. These reflect back whatever they are sending you if you say "Return to Sender". If there is no anger attached to your actions, your neighbors will respond to your influence without realizing why.
*To deter an unwanted visitor, all you need is some salt. Immediately after they have left, sprinkle the salt on the ground where they said goodbye.
****Salt is a well known purifier and protection against evil forces****
Thats it for now. Again, I'm available to answer any questions...and might even be able to take requests for certain needs.
Monday, February 23, 2009
moving on
At some point, you just have to.
It's storming outside, and I love nothing better than a good storm. I think there is nothing more cleansing than a great storm, washing away stagnant energy.
I always seem to be surrounded by stagnant energy. It's the kind of energy that surrounds you when you are refusing to see what is in front of you, when you are refusing to make a change in your life that seems to be nothing but the inevitable. It's like avoiding the obvious. With blinders.
I've had many experiences in my life that have lead me to paganism. And many more that have done nothing other than confirm my beliefs. I was always a very intuitive child, curious and assertive. I remember understanding situations more than I should have, at a very young age. I always had a sense of knowing, and was told many times that I have an 'old soul'. Even by people that I had never met before. Even at the age of 10 I could sit with a group of adults, content having conversations with them about things that were usually of little interest to young children.
I've met some interesting people in my travels. I think about the people that have come into my life, some very temporarily...maybe meeting them once or twice. I think that each person we meet in our lives is someone meant to be there, even for that short period of time. It was a random person I met one time that told me about astral projecting...something I've been known to do on occasion. There was another that described to me what an empath is, and how they knew that was where my abilities lie.
EMPATH: a person who can feel the emotions of other animate (living) entities, such as human, plant or animal. Some include inanimate objects as well under this word.
I think when I was heavy into palm reading this is the reason I did so well. Not necessarily that I read palms as much as I read people. I was such a strong empath at one point that it is actually what caused me to astral project. Maybe I'll tell that story first. It's the most clear cut one that started the path that lead me to study and learn paganism.
When I was 14, the summer before my freshman year in high school, I picked blueberries as a 'job'. It was my first job. My best friend Sara started it, and convinced me to do it with her. I went to my parents, who told me that I wouldn't last a week, let alone the whole summer. My parents knew me too well (or they really thought I wouldn't make it) because boy did I have to prove them wrong! I'd get up at 5:15 AM, walk 15 blocks to the bus stop, and ride 2 different buses up to Leaburg where I picked blueberries from 7 am until 3:30 pm. Then 2 more bus rides home, another 15 block walk, and I'd get home at 5. I did this every day...all summer. (except the one day that I missed for being stung by a bee....my foot was so swollen!)
But I digress...
So this one night, probably around mid-july, I had what I thought was a crazy dream. In my dream I am sitting in a tree, formless, watching the side of a house. I was facing towards the back yard, and could see inside a window of the house. Inside the window all I could see was what I assumed to be a little girl sleeping, because I saw blonde pigtails lying on a bed. That was it. I sat there for what seemed like hours, with the feeling that I was waiting for something. After a while had passed I noticed what looked like a shadow moving. It came from around the back of the house, creeping towards the window. To me it looked like one of those figures from the movie Ghost, the ones that take the 'bad guys' souls after they died.
Anyway he slinked up to the window, which was open about 2 inches. Then he turned to me, and even though it had nothing but eyes, I could feel it looking at me, and smiled at me. My formless body shivered. Not only did it see me, but it saw right through me. Then he pushed the window open, and crawled into the room. Once in the room he turned around, looked at me again, and opened the window all the way. I was really confused...why would he open it instead of closing it?
Then he turned around, and all I could see was that he laid right on top of the little girl. I gasped, and tried to make a bunch of noise, but I didn't seem to have any ability to speak or yell, or even shake the tree I was in (but not really in, if you know what I mean). I suddenly woke up, sweating, and a scream sitting in my throat. I turned to look at the time, and it was exactly 3:52 in the morning. (In some pagan sects 3 am is the true witching hour).
My heart was pounding, and I felt a bit freaked. So I laid back down and eventually was able to snooze a little bit before getting up for another day at the blueberry patch. Once Sara got on the bus I told her all about my weird 'dream'...and we both puzzled over it for a good part of the morning.
That night, instead of taking my usual shower, I sat talking to my dad while he watched the news. The news caster (Rick Dancer...who just ran for office btw) was talking about the latest in a series of rapes to happen in the Gateway area of Springfield. All I heard was something about a 7 year old girl who had been raped and almost strangled early in the morning. Then he said "Around 3:30-4 am her parents were woken up by a strange sound outside. They thought it was the girls cat wanting in, but when her mother opened the girls bedroom door she was shocked to find a man on her daughters bed strangling her. She yelled something at him, and he literally flew out the window. The 7 year old is in serious but stable condition at Mckenzie-Willamette Hospital". I just stared at the tv, unbelieving. And then...they showed a school picture of the little girl (why...I don't know).
She had blonde hair and pigtails.
I sat down hard. And just stared. Then I made some weird excuse to my dad and went to take my shower. Covered in blueberries I freaked out in the shower, knowing it was more than a coincidence. I called my friend Sara, who decided we needed to do some research on it. And we did.
This was also the same period of time that my mom was 'church shopping'. Meaning that we would go to random churches so that she could try them on for size. I went to youth leaders, pastors, whoever you name it, and told my stories. The most I got was "It was nothing, forget about it" or "It was god's will". For a (I'd like to consider myself) smart 14 year old, that was all just a bunch of crap. Sara and I were already dabbling in candle magic, and getting ourselves into more than we knew, but could not figure it out. I still didn't, until I was 18 and graduated from high school. I worked late nights at Taco Bell, and had a frequent customer who would come in and chat with me (some weird older guy), who asked me one day about my religious background. I told him that I knew little about the bible, and thought it was a crock of shit. He laughed, and asked me a few random questions that I don't remember. Somehow this story ended up coming out, and he looked at me for a minute or so, then explained what astral projection is. I was astounded, and told him that if it is true, than I've done it many times before. He told me that many people can do it on command, but others (like me) can only do it when a situation is strong enough that it calls for it.
I think that due to my background that I was such a strong empath (14 was a ROUGH age for me) and so strong that for some reason something in me picked up in something in that little girl. I can't say, and won't, that I was a reason for the situation ending, and her being safe. I think I was meant to witness what happened, knowing she wouldn't be alone. But on the other end, I think it also marked me. I've had many other experiences that have been MUCH less than pleasant, and someday when I have the balls I'll tell one of those.
Eventually I have cut off so much of my energy that it is difficult to do any empath work, let alone a palm reading. It's a lot of energy to open yourself up to others, and even more to close it down. Learning that skill is what has saved my sanity, I think. I've seen things that to me now sounds silly, but knowing full well it is anything but. I spend a lot of my time now surrounding myself, my house and my family with as much white and bright energy as I can, hoping to save those around me from the things I have seen. But I believe I am marked, and it makes me a target for many, many beings out there that are not human.
So I leave this for you, dear readers, to read into it as you wish. It's hard telling these stories, harder than I realized until now. I should say harder to type these stories, as at least in verbal communication I can gesture my meanings.
Comments and questions and stories of your own are more than welcome. Maybe someday I'll work my way up to what happened in my first apartment. That one was so bad that I didn't go home for a week, and didn't stay in there alone for a few months.
Until then, blessed be my friends.
It's storming outside, and I love nothing better than a good storm. I think there is nothing more cleansing than a great storm, washing away stagnant energy.
I always seem to be surrounded by stagnant energy. It's the kind of energy that surrounds you when you are refusing to see what is in front of you, when you are refusing to make a change in your life that seems to be nothing but the inevitable. It's like avoiding the obvious. With blinders.
I've had many experiences in my life that have lead me to paganism. And many more that have done nothing other than confirm my beliefs. I was always a very intuitive child, curious and assertive. I remember understanding situations more than I should have, at a very young age. I always had a sense of knowing, and was told many times that I have an 'old soul'. Even by people that I had never met before. Even at the age of 10 I could sit with a group of adults, content having conversations with them about things that were usually of little interest to young children.
I've met some interesting people in my travels. I think about the people that have come into my life, some very temporarily...maybe meeting them once or twice. I think that each person we meet in our lives is someone meant to be there, even for that short period of time. It was a random person I met one time that told me about astral projecting...something I've been known to do on occasion. There was another that described to me what an empath is, and how they knew that was where my abilities lie.
EMPATH: a person who can feel the emotions of other animate (living) entities, such as human, plant or animal. Some include inanimate objects as well under this word.
I think when I was heavy into palm reading this is the reason I did so well. Not necessarily that I read palms as much as I read people. I was such a strong empath at one point that it is actually what caused me to astral project. Maybe I'll tell that story first. It's the most clear cut one that started the path that lead me to study and learn paganism.
When I was 14, the summer before my freshman year in high school, I picked blueberries as a 'job'. It was my first job. My best friend Sara started it, and convinced me to do it with her. I went to my parents, who told me that I wouldn't last a week, let alone the whole summer. My parents knew me too well (or they really thought I wouldn't make it) because boy did I have to prove them wrong! I'd get up at 5:15 AM, walk 15 blocks to the bus stop, and ride 2 different buses up to Leaburg where I picked blueberries from 7 am until 3:30 pm. Then 2 more bus rides home, another 15 block walk, and I'd get home at 5. I did this every day...all summer. (except the one day that I missed for being stung by a bee....my foot was so swollen!)
But I digress...
So this one night, probably around mid-july, I had what I thought was a crazy dream. In my dream I am sitting in a tree, formless, watching the side of a house. I was facing towards the back yard, and could see inside a window of the house. Inside the window all I could see was what I assumed to be a little girl sleeping, because I saw blonde pigtails lying on a bed. That was it. I sat there for what seemed like hours, with the feeling that I was waiting for something. After a while had passed I noticed what looked like a shadow moving. It came from around the back of the house, creeping towards the window. To me it looked like one of those figures from the movie Ghost, the ones that take the 'bad guys' souls after they died.
Anyway he slinked up to the window, which was open about 2 inches. Then he turned to me, and even though it had nothing but eyes, I could feel it looking at me, and smiled at me. My formless body shivered. Not only did it see me, but it saw right through me. Then he pushed the window open, and crawled into the room. Once in the room he turned around, looked at me again, and opened the window all the way. I was really confused...why would he open it instead of closing it?
Then he turned around, and all I could see was that he laid right on top of the little girl. I gasped, and tried to make a bunch of noise, but I didn't seem to have any ability to speak or yell, or even shake the tree I was in (but not really in, if you know what I mean). I suddenly woke up, sweating, and a scream sitting in my throat. I turned to look at the time, and it was exactly 3:52 in the morning. (In some pagan sects 3 am is the true witching hour).
My heart was pounding, and I felt a bit freaked. So I laid back down and eventually was able to snooze a little bit before getting up for another day at the blueberry patch. Once Sara got on the bus I told her all about my weird 'dream'...and we both puzzled over it for a good part of the morning.
That night, instead of taking my usual shower, I sat talking to my dad while he watched the news. The news caster (Rick Dancer...who just ran for office btw) was talking about the latest in a series of rapes to happen in the Gateway area of Springfield. All I heard was something about a 7 year old girl who had been raped and almost strangled early in the morning. Then he said "Around 3:30-4 am her parents were woken up by a strange sound outside. They thought it was the girls cat wanting in, but when her mother opened the girls bedroom door she was shocked to find a man on her daughters bed strangling her. She yelled something at him, and he literally flew out the window. The 7 year old is in serious but stable condition at Mckenzie-Willamette Hospital". I just stared at the tv, unbelieving. And then...they showed a school picture of the little girl (why...I don't know).
She had blonde hair and pigtails.
I sat down hard. And just stared. Then I made some weird excuse to my dad and went to take my shower. Covered in blueberries I freaked out in the shower, knowing it was more than a coincidence. I called my friend Sara, who decided we needed to do some research on it. And we did.
This was also the same period of time that my mom was 'church shopping'. Meaning that we would go to random churches so that she could try them on for size. I went to youth leaders, pastors, whoever you name it, and told my stories. The most I got was "It was nothing, forget about it" or "It was god's will". For a (I'd like to consider myself) smart 14 year old, that was all just a bunch of crap. Sara and I were already dabbling in candle magic, and getting ourselves into more than we knew, but could not figure it out. I still didn't, until I was 18 and graduated from high school. I worked late nights at Taco Bell, and had a frequent customer who would come in and chat with me (some weird older guy), who asked me one day about my religious background. I told him that I knew little about the bible, and thought it was a crock of shit. He laughed, and asked me a few random questions that I don't remember. Somehow this story ended up coming out, and he looked at me for a minute or so, then explained what astral projection is. I was astounded, and told him that if it is true, than I've done it many times before. He told me that many people can do it on command, but others (like me) can only do it when a situation is strong enough that it calls for it.
I think that due to my background that I was such a strong empath (14 was a ROUGH age for me) and so strong that for some reason something in me picked up in something in that little girl. I can't say, and won't, that I was a reason for the situation ending, and her being safe. I think I was meant to witness what happened, knowing she wouldn't be alone. But on the other end, I think it also marked me. I've had many other experiences that have been MUCH less than pleasant, and someday when I have the balls I'll tell one of those.
Eventually I have cut off so much of my energy that it is difficult to do any empath work, let alone a palm reading. It's a lot of energy to open yourself up to others, and even more to close it down. Learning that skill is what has saved my sanity, I think. I've seen things that to me now sounds silly, but knowing full well it is anything but. I spend a lot of my time now surrounding myself, my house and my family with as much white and bright energy as I can, hoping to save those around me from the things I have seen. But I believe I am marked, and it makes me a target for many, many beings out there that are not human.
So I leave this for you, dear readers, to read into it as you wish. It's hard telling these stories, harder than I realized until now. I should say harder to type these stories, as at least in verbal communication I can gesture my meanings.
Comments and questions and stories of your own are more than welcome. Maybe someday I'll work my way up to what happened in my first apartment. That one was so bad that I didn't go home for a week, and didn't stay in there alone for a few months.
Until then, blessed be my friends.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Ok so this interested me...
This is just food for thought...until I have free time to start posting again.
Lists of famous people in different denominations:
Jehovah's Witness:
- Dwight D. Eisenhower - U.S. President (raised JW) -
Venus Williams and Serena Williams - world chamption/Olympic gold medalist tennis players
- Prince - pop singer (convert to JWs)
- Selena - Tejano singer (Selena Quintanilla)
- Michael Jackson - singer, pop superstar (lapsed)
- Janet Jackson - singer (lapsed)
- Katherine Jackson - matriarch of the Jacksons musical dynasty and the mother of pop music legends The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson
- La Toya Jackson - singer (lapsed) - Jackson Five - musical group (lapsed)
- Ja Rule - rap singer, film actor (raised)
- Patti Smith - punk rock star
- Geri Halliwell - singer (Spice Girls)
- Jill Scott - R&B/neo-soul singer-poet -
Roy Harper - songwriter, musician (raised)
Wayans Brothers - and sisters: Damon Wayans, Dwayne Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Kim Wayans, Nadia Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans; comedians, actors, filmmakers
Naomi Campbell - supermodel
Famous Mormons: http://famousmormons.net/tv.html
Amy Adams
Wilford Brimley
Eliza Dushku
Aaron Eckhart
Jon Heder
Katherine Heigl
Matthew Modine
Aaron Ruell (IMDB him!)
Rick Shroder
Paul Walker
David Archuleta (big surprise!)
The Jets (the 80's band)
The Killers
Gladys Knight
Donny & Marie Osmond
Famous Christians...(only ones I recognize)
Gary Busey
Ryan Gosling
Gavin McLeod
Chuck Norris
Judge Reinhold
JRR Tolkien
Johnny Cash
Charlie Daniels
Pat Boone (well this one is a big duh)
James Brown
Alice Cooper
Francis Scott Key
POD
Chevelle
Famous Buddhists:
Kate Bosworth
Orlando Bloom
Rob Cohen
Richard Gere
Goldie Hawn
Jack Kerouac
George Lucas
Keanu Reeves (like...totally dude!)
Michael Stipe
Oliver Stone
Steven Seagal (ha ha)
Tina Turner
Uma Thurman
Mark Wahlberg
Famous Pagans:
Alice Walker
Virginia Woolf
Timothy Leary
Cybill Shepherd
Terry Pratchett
Brigitte Nielson
Stevie Nicks (though she has not technically confirmed this)
I noticed that there were many names that came up on different lists. So don't quote me on these. I got my information from :http://www.adherents.com/adh_fam.html. So quote that, not me.
My point in all of this is that it takes all kinds to make the world go around. Some people (and some faiths) are more outspoken than others. I just wanted to open eyes to what we see when we see other people. Maybe I mostly want you to know that most (if not a great majority) Pagans are not ( I repeat...NOT) gothic! Maybe a lot of goths are pagan, but not a lot of pagans are goth.
Remember that.
As a side note, my life is incredibly crazy busy. I have no time (nor do I chose to take the time) to enjoy the goddess, or to thank the god. I have tried to take the time out to do so...but I'm so haggard. One of these days I swear I'm just going to lay under the full moon naked.
Just kidding.
Or am I???
Lists of famous people in different denominations:
Jehovah's Witness:
- Dwight D. Eisenhower - U.S. President (raised JW) -
Venus Williams and Serena Williams - world chamption/Olympic gold medalist tennis players
- Prince - pop singer (convert to JWs)
- Selena - Tejano singer (Selena Quintanilla)
- Michael Jackson - singer, pop superstar (lapsed)
- Janet Jackson - singer (lapsed)
- Katherine Jackson - matriarch of the Jacksons musical dynasty and the mother of pop music legends The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson
- La Toya Jackson - singer (lapsed) - Jackson Five - musical group (lapsed)
- Ja Rule - rap singer, film actor (raised)
- Patti Smith - punk rock star
- Geri Halliwell - singer (Spice Girls)
- Jill Scott - R&B/neo-soul singer-poet -
Roy Harper - songwriter, musician (raised)
Wayans Brothers - and sisters: Damon Wayans, Dwayne Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Kim Wayans, Nadia Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans; comedians, actors, filmmakers
Naomi Campbell - supermodel
Famous Mormons: http://famousmormons.net/tv.html
Amy Adams
Wilford Brimley
Eliza Dushku
Aaron Eckhart
Jon Heder
Katherine Heigl
Matthew Modine
Aaron Ruell (IMDB him!)
Rick Shroder
Paul Walker
David Archuleta (big surprise!)
The Jets (the 80's band)
The Killers
Gladys Knight
Donny & Marie Osmond
Famous Christians...(only ones I recognize)
Gary Busey
Ryan Gosling
Gavin McLeod
Chuck Norris
Judge Reinhold
JRR Tolkien
Johnny Cash
Charlie Daniels
Pat Boone (well this one is a big duh)
James Brown
Alice Cooper
Francis Scott Key
POD
Chevelle
Famous Buddhists:
Kate Bosworth
Orlando Bloom
Rob Cohen
Richard Gere
Goldie Hawn
Jack Kerouac
George Lucas
Keanu Reeves (like...totally dude!)
Michael Stipe
Oliver Stone
Steven Seagal (ha ha)
Tina Turner
Uma Thurman
Mark Wahlberg
Famous Pagans:
Alice Walker
Virginia Woolf
Timothy Leary
Cybill Shepherd
Terry Pratchett
Brigitte Nielson
Stevie Nicks (though she has not technically confirmed this)
I noticed that there were many names that came up on different lists. So don't quote me on these. I got my information from :http://www.adherents.com/adh_fam.html. So quote that, not me.
My point in all of this is that it takes all kinds to make the world go around. Some people (and some faiths) are more outspoken than others. I just wanted to open eyes to what we see when we see other people. Maybe I mostly want you to know that most (if not a great majority) Pagans are not ( I repeat...NOT) gothic! Maybe a lot of goths are pagan, but not a lot of pagans are goth.
Remember that.
As a side note, my life is incredibly crazy busy. I have no time (nor do I chose to take the time) to enjoy the goddess, or to thank the god. I have tried to take the time out to do so...but I'm so haggard. One of these days I swear I'm just going to lay under the full moon naked.
Just kidding.
Or am I???
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Living Wicca...the basics
This is a book I highly recommend for anybody interested in Wicca. Scott Cunningham, the author has a great way of explaining the basics, and that is just what this book is, the basics. The underlying theme of being Wiccan/Pagan is the saying "Do no harm".
I'm sure you have all heard the different ways Wiccans and Pagans are described, both self and otherwise. "White Witch" or he's into the "dark magic". Or you see magic spelled magick, or majick. I don't get into all of that, it's too superficial...but there are many in the pagan community who do. There is no real thing as a black witch or a white witch, unless you're racist and are talking about skin color.
A true wiccan (or pagan, I use these terms interchangably) is a 'white witch', so to speak. The term "do no harm" is just that, you do no harm. And when you're a practicing wiccan, this is a biggie. Putting a binding spell on another person, without their permission, is harmful, especially to yourself. Even spellcrafting to help out a friend, when they are unaware (unless the situation is dire) is harmful. We imagine 'do no harm' to mean not physically harming another, but that is simply the very basic element to it.
If you want to read the full version, you can go here: http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5888676587762917324.
There are so many different types of wiccans/pagans that I can't even keep them straight. Many christians (catholics, jews, etc.) think that wiccans/pagans 'worship' satan/thedevil/lucifer. THAT is so far beyond the truth...it makes me shake my head. The level of ignorance in the world regarding wiccans is astounding. We do not believe in satan. Most of us don't even believe he exists. I certainly don't. I think it is perpetrated by the mass religions, driving people to church out of fear and anxiety. And it works. Why do people believe in God? Well the other option is unthinkable!
Some wiccans/pagans believe in 1 God and 1 Goddess (that will be another post, another time!), while others (like me) believe in MANY Gods and Goddesses...much like Greek mythology...and many of them come from the Greeks.
Here are some basic wiccan beliefs/facts (remember...these are mine...not all pagans/wiccans believe as I do):
The earth is a living being, and is female. Hence we call her Mother Earth.
The moon is a living female as well. The sun is male.
The earth/sun/moon are all in a cycle of balance. Nothing can give or take too long without being unbalanced. The sun balances the moon and vice versa via us having day and night time. The male and female forms are just that, balance. Men and women are different for that same reason!
Most pagans and wiccans, when asked, will tell you that if they worship anything, it is the mother. Even if you live surrounded by concrete, it is easy to worship her. The single tree at the end of a street, a community park, or even a plant in your windowsill can be enough for a wiccan to sit and appreciate all that we have, all that mother earth has given us.
Now I know I said before that pagans do not believe in satan, and that is not ENTIRELY true. There are a few that follow Anton Levey (not I!), and certainly have their own level of beliefs. A huge difference is how they wear their pentacle (or pentagram). Take a look at these two pictures:
Tne second one is the inverted pentacle, the other is normal. Do you see the difference? One is pointed up, the other is pointed down. To understand the difference, let me explain what each point means. On the pentacle, there are 5 points, with 4 pointing out and one pointing either up or down. The four are easily described as the basic elements...earth, air, fire and water...with the 5th one representing the spirit.
Wiccan's wear theirs with the spirit pointing upwards. This represents that our souls are above material possessions, and also that there is a power higher than us.
Others, usually Levey followers, wear theirs with their spirit pointing down, putting materials above themselves. This means that they have a high regard for things, and money, and what power they have over these things. It also means a big thing: that they are their OWN god, they are in charge of their own destinies, and that their power is just as strong as the God and the Goddess (and some don't believe in them as well).
It just goes to show that in every religion or faith based system...there are major differences. Because people are different. Unfortunately Levey followers are not helping to show what paganism is really all about.
Anyway...I just figured that if I was going to blog about this, that I would at least give some basics as to what paganism/wicca is all about. I know I only touched on very little, and will be happy to answer any questions you might have. I hope to get other wiccans I know to join in a little, to help give their perspective, though this is my blog :) and my opinions.
Recommended readings:
Living Wicca: A further guide for the solitary practitioner by Scott Cunningham.
To Ride a Silver Broomstick: New Generational Witchcraft by Silver RavenWolf
(another great author, she has tons of books out, and they're easy to read).
If you want to know more about Anton Levey....
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Pentacle_on_white.svg/341px-Pentacle_on_white.svg.png
you can also look up Aleister Crowley, who was a big figure in pagan movements...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleister_Crowley
I like neither man. Just so you know.
Until next time,
Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet again.
(a form of hello, goodbye and hope to see you again...we pagans never really say 'goodbye'...we believe in the afterlife!)
I'm sure you have all heard the different ways Wiccans and Pagans are described, both self and otherwise. "White Witch" or he's into the "dark magic". Or you see magic spelled magick, or majick. I don't get into all of that, it's too superficial...but there are many in the pagan community who do. There is no real thing as a black witch or a white witch, unless you're racist and are talking about skin color.
A true wiccan (or pagan, I use these terms interchangably) is a 'white witch', so to speak. The term "do no harm" is just that, you do no harm. And when you're a practicing wiccan, this is a biggie. Putting a binding spell on another person, without their permission, is harmful, especially to yourself. Even spellcrafting to help out a friend, when they are unaware (unless the situation is dire) is harmful. We imagine 'do no harm' to mean not physically harming another, but that is simply the very basic element to it.
If you want to read the full version, you can go here: http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5888676587762917324.
There are so many different types of wiccans/pagans that I can't even keep them straight. Many christians (catholics, jews, etc.) think that wiccans/pagans 'worship' satan/thedevil/lucifer. THAT is so far beyond the truth...it makes me shake my head. The level of ignorance in the world regarding wiccans is astounding. We do not believe in satan. Most of us don't even believe he exists. I certainly don't. I think it is perpetrated by the mass religions, driving people to church out of fear and anxiety. And it works. Why do people believe in God? Well the other option is unthinkable!
Some wiccans/pagans believe in 1 God and 1 Goddess (that will be another post, another time!), while others (like me) believe in MANY Gods and Goddesses...much like Greek mythology...and many of them come from the Greeks.
Here are some basic wiccan beliefs/facts (remember...these are mine...not all pagans/wiccans believe as I do):
The earth is a living being, and is female. Hence we call her Mother Earth.
The moon is a living female as well. The sun is male.
The earth/sun/moon are all in a cycle of balance. Nothing can give or take too long without being unbalanced. The sun balances the moon and vice versa via us having day and night time. The male and female forms are just that, balance. Men and women are different for that same reason!
Most pagans and wiccans, when asked, will tell you that if they worship anything, it is the mother. Even if you live surrounded by concrete, it is easy to worship her. The single tree at the end of a street, a community park, or even a plant in your windowsill can be enough for a wiccan to sit and appreciate all that we have, all that mother earth has given us.
Now I know I said before that pagans do not believe in satan, and that is not ENTIRELY true. There are a few that follow Anton Levey (not I!), and certainly have their own level of beliefs. A huge difference is how they wear their pentacle (or pentagram). Take a look at these two pictures:
Tne second one is the inverted pentacle, the other is normal. Do you see the difference? One is pointed up, the other is pointed down. To understand the difference, let me explain what each point means. On the pentacle, there are 5 points, with 4 pointing out and one pointing either up or down. The four are easily described as the basic elements...earth, air, fire and water...with the 5th one representing the spirit.
Wiccan's wear theirs with the spirit pointing upwards. This represents that our souls are above material possessions, and also that there is a power higher than us.
Others, usually Levey followers, wear theirs with their spirit pointing down, putting materials above themselves. This means that they have a high regard for things, and money, and what power they have over these things. It also means a big thing: that they are their OWN god, they are in charge of their own destinies, and that their power is just as strong as the God and the Goddess (and some don't believe in them as well).
It just goes to show that in every religion or faith based system...there are major differences. Because people are different. Unfortunately Levey followers are not helping to show what paganism is really all about.
Anyway...I just figured that if I was going to blog about this, that I would at least give some basics as to what paganism/wicca is all about. I know I only touched on very little, and will be happy to answer any questions you might have. I hope to get other wiccans I know to join in a little, to help give their perspective, though this is my blog :) and my opinions.
Recommended readings:
Living Wicca: A further guide for the solitary practitioner by Scott Cunningham.
To Ride a Silver Broomstick: New Generational Witchcraft by Silver RavenWolf
(another great author, she has tons of books out, and they're easy to read).
If you want to know more about Anton Levey....
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Pentacle_on_white.svg/341px-Pentacle_on_white.svg.png
you can also look up Aleister Crowley, who was a big figure in pagan movements...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleister_Crowley
I like neither man. Just so you know.
Until next time,
Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet again.
(a form of hello, goodbye and hope to see you again...we pagans never really say 'goodbye'...we believe in the afterlife!)
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
The beginning of disenchantment
I'm such a follower. Many of my friends have started a 'blog', and while I blog on myspace, its usually random ramblings about the crazy that is my life. Since I already do this, I thought long and hard about what I could post about that is not only me, but that is about me and unique.
It took a good 2 days to come up with an answer.
Then bam! I had it.
Why don't I write about my being pagan, on a personal level? Being an everyday pagan (or wiccan, I'll explain the difference) in the U.S. of A. and in a largely non-pagan society. Not only can I talk about being a solitary wiccan that includes my day to day life, but also include things like rituals, spells, and general spirituality. I can also include great resources like books, web sites, local stores, and what the community is like...in my experience at least.
Sharing how I got on this path, experiences I've had both spiritual, personal and dealing with other people, I think can open many people's minds to what it is like to check 'other' on the religious choice box.
This is also where I include my basic disclaimer. This is my blog, my thoughts, my experiences. If, for some reason, you are offended, don't like what you read, or want to 'lead me to jesus', then there is a little red X in the corner you can click on. And please do. While I do enjoy a good debate, I will not engage in defending myself and my beliefs. I do not mean to offend anybody, but sometimes...it just happens. Grow up and deal with it. People are different, and I claim the same. I am an American, and have the same freedom of religion that you do.
So until next time...
Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet again!
Blessed Be.
It took a good 2 days to come up with an answer.
Then bam! I had it.
Why don't I write about my being pagan, on a personal level? Being an everyday pagan (or wiccan, I'll explain the difference) in the U.S. of A. and in a largely non-pagan society. Not only can I talk about being a solitary wiccan that includes my day to day life, but also include things like rituals, spells, and general spirituality. I can also include great resources like books, web sites, local stores, and what the community is like...in my experience at least.
Sharing how I got on this path, experiences I've had both spiritual, personal and dealing with other people, I think can open many people's minds to what it is like to check 'other' on the religious choice box.
This is also where I include my basic disclaimer. This is my blog, my thoughts, my experiences. If, for some reason, you are offended, don't like what you read, or want to 'lead me to jesus', then there is a little red X in the corner you can click on. And please do. While I do enjoy a good debate, I will not engage in defending myself and my beliefs. I do not mean to offend anybody, but sometimes...it just happens. Grow up and deal with it. People are different, and I claim the same. I am an American, and have the same freedom of religion that you do.
So until next time...
Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet again!
Blessed Be.
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