Tag: God

One Voice United

One Voice United

Author:   Lady Fenix   

Wiccan, Pagan, Heathen, Celtic, Shaman, Druid, Witch, etc. The list can go on and on to include different paths within each chosen label. The thing that gives me concern is that we in the community spend so much time defining ourselves that we forget that we are one.

Our goals are the same and each one of us has the same feelings inside us. The reason our path lacks so much understanding from the public is that everyone gives a different explanation as to what the craft is. We (meaning everyone in every path) need to come together and stand as one voice united and proclaim a set of guidelines that thoroughly define the Wiccan faith. (I use the word Wiccan here to encompass all.) Regardless of what path you practice within the religion, we all strictly adhere to the Rede or some form of a code of Ethics.

It is a sad time when our troops cannot get the respect they so richly deserve when it comes to the headstone symbol in a national cemetery. It is also sad that when going to a job interview, a Wiccan removes a ring or necklace that has anything to do with their religion out of fear of not getting the job offer. It is emotionally draining that they have to choke back the desire to speak out against the stereotypes of a witch that are hanging all around their child’s schools during one of our biggest holidays.

We all look back at the persecution of our ancestors and even of people who were not practicing the craft and our hearts ache. Yet we sometimes fail to see the persecution that is still going on all around us today. Why is that we must hide in broom closets when other religious group are not having to hide who they are?

Wiccans are not a threat to society and that is obvious to anyone who has examined Wiccans and Wicca. Yet far too many do not bother to look deeper at the slanderous accusations and merely believe them to be true. The hand fasting I had always wanted never happened due to fear of us casting circles and performing the “forbidden witchcraft” in front of a family that was Christian.

In one man’s words and the best way I have ever heard it put, “Christians have oppressed Jews, Moslems, Buddhists, Pagans, and each other throughout their centuries of power, preaching religious intolerance as the word of Jehovah whenever they had the military, political, or economic power to make it stick — and then piously preaching brotherhood, peace, and toleration when they didn’t.” (Isaac Bonewits)

That being said, maybe it is time that we formed an inner faith council. I am not talking just on a local level. I am talking a state council and the head of that state council would sit as a member of National Council. We need lobbyist to talk to people. A council of elders that will ultimately represent our path.

I personally stood in front of a class of my peers in the middle of the Bible belt dressed in full ceremonial garb and gave a power point presentation on Wicca. Many people were relieved after I explained to them what Wicca was and even asked for sachets, soaps and such.

We need to let the public know that we are not a passing “fad religion” and that we are a religion that is here to stay. Wicca is one of the fastest growing religions in the U.S. and well, ladies and gents, like it or not, opposition to it is growing as well.

Education and a united front is the only way that our faith will be recognized as such. We need public speakers to go to businesses, colleges, and city councils to educate people about our faith. They do not need to know the inner workings of each faith just be given a broad spectrum of what it is about. Let the public know that we are healers, educators, and friends of all.

Let them know that we do not do evil things and we are not what make things go BUMP in the night. God and Goddess willing we may even be able through hard work to form an alliance with other religions that people know little about and have huge fairs where each religion gets a voice. A fair where the public will be able to openly attend and learn.

We need to allow all to participate in the faith and see that it is truly a religion of love and understanding and that there are consequences for ones actions. We hide in shadows and continually allow Hollywood to make anything that has to do with our faith into something evil. Why are we not screaming at the thought of that?

This turning a blind eye or speaking out against it at home simply will not do. As long as we allow people to portray us this way then the mass society will continue to see us this way.

This is a plea to everyone to finally lay down his or her differences within our faith.

Again to stand as One Voice United.

This is a call to the open leaders of the community, the authors, shop owners, and any other open Wiccan that has a mass audience, to come together. Stop letting our differences give the public a reason to doubt the validity of our faith. Stop allowing the horrendous stereotypes that invoke fear in those that know little or nothing of our faith to go unchallenged.

It would be great to see covens and groups nominate officials for their area and who would all come together and discuss how tomorrow will unfold for our faith. This may not change things for the Wiccans of today, but we need to build a better path for the Wiccans of tomorrow.

This is our chance to leave a legacy that our children can be proud of. A chance to change things so that they do not have to hide in a broom closet…so they can wear their religious jewelry without fear.

I beg all of you please: Lets finally have “ONE VOICE UNITED.”

Foxia Rowan Moon

_____________________________________________

Footnotes:
Christians have oppressed Jews, Moslems, Buddhists, Pagans, and each other throughout their centuries of power, preaching religious intolerance as the word of Jehovah whenever they had the military, political, or economic power to make it stick — and then piously preaching brotherhood, peace, and toleration when they didn’t.”  — Isaac Bonewits

Also a website about Wicca..
http://www.holysmoke.org/wicca/wicca_defense.html

THE AUTARCHIC CREED

Celtic & British Isles Graphics
THE AUTARCHIC CREED

We of the Old Religion have our own particular compact with our
deities that charges simply, “An it harm none, do as ye will.”
And our gods do not despise us for being human but delight in our
celebrations of life and love. We are ageless souls, only for a
while within bodies – merely visitors upon this plane. We are
brothers to the gods and only temporarily cousins to the ape,
and our lives belong to us, not to this world nor to its earthly
governors. We are not doomed to shame and decay; not lost; not
indentured to perish with earthly manifestations; not disposed
to eternal misery for any past or present lapses of courage or
wisdom. We are as children in the school of life who must learn
our lessons, on life at a time, before we graduate. Our lives
span the march of time, striving upward, subordinate only to our
individual probity and growth.

But in this mortal life, greedy, trivial hierophants and mundane
rulers have perpetrated a fraud upon humanity. They have purloined
for profit and temporal power, our legitimate heritage, and that of
all society, and have substituted for it shame, despair, and fear,
inventing evil deities to terrify and to constrain mankind from the
exercise of his own native conscience.

Still we take our uncertain portion time and again, joining with the
species on this plane, only to meet with earthly disunity and distress;
only to be told by bogus, uncelestial shepherds that we are deficient
and fundamentally iniquitous; constantly rebuked that our natural
birthright is insubstantial or even sinful, and that we must cleave
to the pious injunctions of reigning mortals, no matter how oppressive,
or suffer beyond measurable time, yearning for some mythical golden
glory just out of reach, but somehow never quite worthy of it.

That is the apocryphal hell and the fabled satan; they are of mortal
creation; they are now, not in some remote bye-and-bye; and those who
choose to believe in them perpetuate them in this earth. But nevertheless,
by by sublime design, despite narrowness, folly or fear, we all, each
and every one, possess this wonderous legacy:

that each of us sustains a singular covenant with the cosmic, in that
the soul is and ever was, one with the universe, conducting itself in
concordance with the absolute. And whatever paths it may walk, or
whichever faith it may follow, on sojourn at a time, each shall as a
consequence of that oneness, and attuning with its destiny, eventually
return on its own to its source to again be part of that totality,
atoned, aware and unshackled.

“JUSTIFICUS”

Thoughts on Mixing Deities

Thoughts on Mixing Deities

Author:   Ignacio Ceja   

I grew up reading mythology. Greek, Roman, Aztec, Egyptian, it didn’t matter where it came from. Nearly every afternoon could find me in the school library. The head librarian came to the practice of setting books out just for me.

When I became Pagan, and the choice of deity was mine to make, I assumed I’d pick a pantheon and go with it. The idea seemed simple enough. I had background lore in several pantheons; all I had to do was make a choice. This proved easier said than done. I was a solitary, with no Pagan friends with whom to discuss this. Even having friends, I realize in retrospect, would have only further complicated my choice. The affinity I felt for various figures and Gods was too strong for me to be content with a single pantheon. There was also my all to critical Gemini nature, which lead, and leads, me to boredom quickly. I imagined it must be easier for someone who is brought up, brought into, or finds his/her way into a coven or practice where the choice of deity is already made. There was also the fact that I didn’t feel comfortable with all the Gods of any particular pantheon. I wasn’t ready then to accept every aspect of myself. I certainly couldn’t accept every aspect of a pantheon. I know that if I had been a whole person, it wouldn’t have mattered. But what teenager is a whole person? I’ve never known one. I also didn’t want to be devoted to only one deity, I’d had enough of that already.

It seemed pretty obvious to me that if I liked specific deities, I should honor them, despite their origins. Initially I felt guilty about this. A part of what I felt stemmed from not having a personal touchstone to what I was reaching for. I am not Egyptian, for instance, so although I can relate to Egyptian Gods, I feel no personal connection. The same could be said of just about any pantheon. The only one I had a personal link to was Aztec. My biggest drawback with relation to this pantheon was my lack of ability to relate. The first thing I thought of when I considered Aztec mythology was human sacrifice. Hearts offered up to Huitzilopochtli, the Sun and War God. I simply couldn’t relate to a culture and a time period where and when such a practice would have been necessary. So I dismissed the feelings of guilt. After all, I’d left organized guilt behind me; it would be harmful to dredge it up and attach it to my new beliefs.

In mixing Gods from different pantheons, I suppose the first order of business is, “Will these Gods get along and play nicely together?” There are legends of Gods within a particular pantheon who don’t get along. In Santeria, Yemaya tricked Oya into swapping the cemetary, which was Yemaya’s, for the oceans. The resulting bitterness between these two Goddesses is so strong that they will not socialize, and cannot be honored together1 . Mt Olympus is filled to overflowing with stories of Gods with grudges against one another because of a love affair here, a stolen treasure there. Take a trip down to Egypt and look at the intense competition between Set and Horus for the throne after the fall of Osiris. That particular conflict involves more than just these two Gods. I’ve never read about inter-pantheonic rivalries, where the Gods of one culture have grievences with the Gods of another, say Norse vs. Egyptian. Each culture seems to have quasi-isolated beliefs in regard to “their” deities. I’ve never seen anything about the Gods of different cultures interacting, except on TV’s Hercules and Xena, Warrior Princess.

In my early years, I just worked with God and Goddess using the terms “Lord” and “Lady”. As time passed and I learned new concepts, I honored new deities. After a while, I began to want my own personal approach to deity. To establish this, I turned to my family heritage. My mother is a German woman, half German actually, and since she raised me, I felt my strongest family connection through her. I began reading about the Norse Gods. It took a while before I felt anything personal though. It must be something about actually having to do the work involved, so I took a year to work with them. Ritual took on a whole new feel after that. Having a personal link to the deities I was reaching out to allowed me to feel like I belonged, like I was a child of the powers I was addressing. This experience had been lacking, noticeably, up to that time. It was the first time since I was a child that I actually felt fulfilled by an act of faith. To say that this really worked for me would be an understatement, so I did the same with my father’s Mexican heritage. In doing so, I came to know Guadalupe. This proved to be a much more difficult task, because there is a strong bias in the information that is available. Although one could argue that every face is her “true” face, I found that I had to sift through both church and historical myth to find her most “complete” face.

I found that Guadalupe is the current incarnation of Tonanzin, an Aztec mother Goddess. I use the term “current” lightly, as Guadalupe made her first recorded appearance in the mid 1500s. She appeared to a young Indian named Juan Diego, and asked him to carry a message to the local priests. She wanted a temple built to her on Tepayac Hill. Juan Diego did as she asked, but the priests didn’t believe him. Tepayac Hill was a site sacred to Tonanzin. The priests avoided it. Besides, why would the Mother of God reveal herself to a common person when they were always listening for her will? Twice more, Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego, and twice more he carried out her wishes. The last time, however, she caused roses to grow from the desert floor. If he carried her roses to the local priests, they would believe him. Juan Diego gathered Guadalupe’s roses into his blanket and set off. Again, the priests didn’t believe him, but when he showed them the roses, they all saw that his blanket had been imprinted with the image of Guadalupe. The temple was built, and the blanket was kept there as a sacred object. It can still be seen there today. Although I still have more research to do on Guadalupe, I’ve kept a shrine to her in my room for the last four years.

I began reading about various Afro-Carribean faiths a year before I went to Mississippi to study weather. The ones I spent the most time with were Voudo, Santeria and Condomble. My only link to these faiths is my Hispanic heritage. Santeria has flourished in Latin America, and although it is recognized for its African roots, Santeria and the Yoruba faith practiced in Nigeria are marked in their differences. I’m not saying that Santeria belongs to Latin America. I don’t believe that any faith belongs to any particular group; however, I do believe that Santeria has become ingrained in the background of Latin American culture.

While I was in weather school, I made two altars. One I erected to Chango and Oya, and the second to Yemaya. Chango and Oya each rule fire. Oya, additionally, has charge of the winds. Yemaya rules the oceans. As heating, moisture and air are all necessary for weather, these three Gods were ideally suited to assist me in my course of learning.2

I have three main altars in my room now. My Goddess altar has a shrine to Guadalupe, surrounded by Goddess images from various cultures. My God altar has a statue of Pan, with a few different Green Man/Horned God images. The third altar is to my ancestors, as the dead hold a special place in my beliefs. I have created my own pantheon. They are my personally selected support group of deities and spirits. I worship a Greek God and a Meso-American Goddess. Can mixing deities work? I suppose it’s a very personal thing. As I feel that I’m doing just fine, I’m inclined to a resounding “Yes.” You know the saying, “You can’t pick you family, but you can pick your friends.” I’m happy to say that you can also pick your Gods.

Blessed Be.

1Oya and Yemaya are both important Orishas in the Yoruba pantheon. Both will be honored in a practitioner’s home, but their sacred objects are kept separate.

2The bitterness referred to above is the reason why I created separate altars. I also honored them on different days.

Ignatious Fireweaver

The Cauldron Chant

Tools Of The Craft

The Cauldron Chant

by Ammond ShadowCraft

　

We form the Circle,
The Circle most round.
We form the Chalice,
The Chalice now found.

　

We call the Goddess,
to meet the great need.
We call the God,
To plant His fertile seed.

　

We call the quarters,
which we call four.
We summon the powers,
that contain the force.

　

We stir the Cauldron,
from which we were born.
We call the Gods,
from whom we were torn.

　

We say the words,
which lead us round.
We pass the kiss,
with our lovers found.

　

We face our dreams,
in nights psychic flight.
We face our hopes,
in bright moon of the night.

　

We face our fears,
on the Dark Lords Horn.
We face our failure,
in the Mothers new planted corn.

　

We live our lives,
drumming and dancing on the meadow.
We confront our Death,
in the dancing moon light shadow.

　

Our paths run quickly,
on fleet foot and wing.
Our Circle is joyous,
with our Queens and our Kings.

　

Let our little Circle be happy,
with Bell, Bowl or Bow.
And form now this Circle,
with gracious Love, Joy and Hope.

　

BLESSED BE

 

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – October 25

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – October 25

“What does it matter how long I pray, so long as my prayers are answered?”

–Sitting Bull, HUNKPAPA LAKOTA

Too often we worry about the words we use in prayer. We focus on the words. What really counts is the spirit and intent behind our words. It is the spirit and intent that the Creator responds to. He reads and listens to our heart. Prayer isn’t only when we fold our hands and pray. Prayer is when we talk to the Creator even when we are walking down a path or sitting on a hill or walking in the mountains. The Elders say, walk in prayer. We should be willing to talk with the Great One.

Great Spirit, today I will pray to You all day. Listen to my heart.

Daily OM for October 25th – In Line with Spirit

In Line with Spirit

Staying on Track

by Madisyn Taylor

In a world where we have routines to get everything done, we rarely have a routine for our spiritual self.

In a world where we have routines for nearly everything—our route to work, our physical fitness regimen, and our weekday schedule—it’s amazing how many people forget to create a routine for meeting their spiritual needs. We run around in an attempt to be at our many appointments on time and meet our many obligations. In our efforts to be as productive as possible, however, our spiritual needs tend to take a backseat. After all, taking care of our spiritual needs doesn’t directly pay the bills or tone our abdominal muscles. We may even wonder who has time to meditate or write in their journal when there are more pressing matters to see to. The truth is that nurturing ourselves spiritually is what gives us the energy and grounding that we need to make sure that our lives stay on track.

How you choose to nurture yourself spiritually is a personal choice. For some people, meditating once a day may be what they need to stay centered. While spending 10-20 minutes with your eyes closed and your brain devoid of thought may seem like a lot of time doing nothing, this state of nothingness actually allows you to stay calm and focused so you can be as productive as possible. Writing in your journal everyday lets you stay in touch with yourself so that you are always tuned in to your feelings. Repeating affirmations for success, happiness, and well-being on a regular basis can help you live with optimism and enthusiasm and create what you want in life.

Having a routine for nurturing your spirit that you do each day lets you feed energy to your soul and can serve you well if your life suddenly takes an unexpected turn into a difficult period. This kind of routine grounds your spirit in your body so that you stay anchored in yourself as you move through each day. Nurturing yourself spiritually allows you to not only stay on track in your life, but it allows for your life to stay on track with what your spirit wants.

The Daily OM

Beyond Wicca 101

Beyond Wicca 101

Author:   Talma Stormphoenix 

One of this month’s topics is Wicca 101 and the complaints about all the books that are about it. The thing is if you’re going to complain about something then you have to know what’s wrong with it. So let’s start at the beginning. What is Wicca 101 and what does it cover. I’m sure everyone knows but just humor me on this and lets get a basic run down of just what Wicca 101 is.

Some of the things you get in some books a smattering of Witch history. You know, the cavemen doing their rituals to ensure the success of the hunt and there is very often a discussion of the burning times. The why behind the Witch burnings and tortures not just the when and who. There is also a discussion about the clothes that you can/need to wear or not wear (depending on the trad) along with a discussion on jewelry that can be worn and what can’t (watches). Another big part of Wicca 101 are your color correspondences. This covers what color your clothing (if you’re wearing any) should be and also the colors of candles and other stuff. We can’t forget the gems because of their vibrational properties and what they are best used for. Herbs can be one of the healing Witch’s best tools. You could go buy them but what about growing them yourself? (hey don’t worry if you don’t have a green thumb just go to the store!) Proper meditation techniques have to include opening up your chakras (of course). And we can’t forget our divination tools and techniques.

There are so many tools to choose from here I could possibly list them all but as we all know some of the best known are the tarot, runes, numerology, palmistry, tea leaves I ching and scrying. That last one includes crystal balls and fire, not necessarily together. We can’t forget sacred space. The place you do ritual can be conductive or destructive to your magickal work so it’s important to have peace and quiet so you won’t be disturbed. Dedications, rituals and circle casting, this could be considered the core of magickal teaching. First you dedicate yourself to the God and/or Goddess then you design your ritual and cast your circle to do ritual. Oh yeah did you pick your pantheon yet? I’m just kidding. As you can see there are many things that are included in Wicca 101 and if you’re like me you have a couple Wicca 101 books and could back in ten minutes to tell me what all I forgot but I’m hoping you see the point I’m trying to make. If Wicca 101 covers so much what on Gaia’s green earth could Wicca 201 cover and who would be experienced enough to write the books?!

The answer is this. The books are already here and written but there are people who are just looking for an easy ride up the Wiccan education ladder. (groaning from the gallery) What, did you think there was some magickal secret that I had? I’m sorry you feel like you got ripped off but if that’s the way you feel then I’m sorry but it’s going to get a whole lot worse for you.

This is how I see it. Wicca 201 is here and has been here. There are folks out there who are already doing Wicca 201 and just haven’t realized it yet. There are others that just want to to jump to the end of the book so to speak so they can talk about what they know to anyone and everyone who will listen. They want to read these books and not do the work that goes into doing magick. The one’s who are trying to get a quick fix are in for a rude awakening because if you thought Wicca 101 was hard you ain’t seen nothing yet! Now don’t get upset and start jumping up and down in your seat now. Hear me out and I’ll explain just why Wicca 201 is already here.

We’ve just taken a glance at some of what makes Wicca 101 so it should really be obvious as to what Wicca 201 is. Okay, if Wicca 101 is like a basic introduction to everything it’s like going to a clothing store and finding the clothes that fit you and look the best. You and your best friends could go out to find a new outfit to wear to the club on Friday but just because you picked out the lime green hip huggers with silver glitter and a matching top doesn’t mean that they’re going to get the same thing. Friend A may not feel that the color just isn’t her and she opts for the pink one with the gold The second friend looks doesn’t go for either. She goes for the basic little black dress. Wicca 101 is the club but the outfits are Wicca 201.

Everyone starts out with basically the same education of magick. You find out just what’s out there and as you learn you find yourself drifting toward certain subjects that appeal to you. You say ‘Hey I like gardening so I’ll be great at using herbs’ but your best friend kills anything green she touches or maybe you were curious and bought a tarot deck and became very good at using it other folks go for the Runes as their tool of choice. The thing is most people have already delved into Wicca 201. All Wicca 201 is are the advanced studies of whatever has become your study of choice. I love the tarot. I have been doing it for almost seven years but if you asked me to use runes I’m going to need the book! I also have a love of plants and am slowly moving into herbs and other plants so my newest books is Cunninghams’s encyclopedia of herbs but I know I won’t be stopping there. I live in the northeast and luckily I live near a park that’s big enough support a nice array of wild life big (mule and white tail deer) and small (moles, squirrels etc.) This is Wicca 201. Working to perfect your skills and come closer to finding deity however you view it.

The Witches Magick for October 25th – Kiss It Goodbye Spell

solstice-altar

Kiss It Goodbye Spell

To let go of baggage.

Items You Will Need:

Black candle
Empty paper bag
Envelope
Paper
Pen

Write down your baggage on a piece of paper, and put it in the bag/envelope. After you say the spell, bury the bag or burn it in a bonfire or fireplace. As you write the words and say the spell, concentrate on your willingness to let go. You can even visualize a little creature packing bags and walking out the door and down the road.

Baggage can be anything that is weighing down your life: old memories, bad habits, etc. But keep in mind that if you are doing this spell to get rid of a person, they will probably get gone and stay gone. Be absolutely sure that this is what you want before casting.

Best to do this spell on the New Moon.

“Pack your bags and get you gone
Your time with me is finished now
Once you worked but now you’re wrong
And you can’t stay–no way, no how.”
 
“Without your baggage I’ll move on
I’ll get myself out of this rut
So pack your bags and get you gone
Don’t let the door hit ya in the butt.”
 
So Mote It Be!

 

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – October 24

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – October 24

“We create that bad among ourselves. We create it; then we try to call it devil, Satan, or evil. But man creates it. There is no devil. Man creates the devil.”

–Wallace Black Elk, LAKOTA

Inside every human being are the laws and codes by which we should live. These laws and codes are communicated to us through a little voice. When we are still, this voice guides us. If we choose to live out of harmony, our lives become filled with anger, hate, selfishness, dishonesty, etc. When these things appear in our lives, we give up accountability and blame it on something or someone else. If we want to live in harmony, we need to pray our way back to living the principles the Creator gave us.

Grandfather, today let me walk with the principles.

Understanding

Understanding

Author:   Glowfox 

I am writing this article to help myself understand how I feel about myself. And express the things about me that I hope you all can accept. ‘I’m sorry because it’s going to be like a journal entry.

I always was inclined to the Magickal world when I was young, believing in faeries, reading mythology and faery-tales, delving more deeply into the magickal world everyday as I continued to grow. I was often laughed at, made fun of and picked on at school while growing up, drawing faeries in my notebooks, and when up at the front of the class sharing my poetry and assignments. Even my parents didn’t approve of my interests, especially with them being catholic. I was always the boy reading too much Tolkein, William Butler Yeats, Diana Wynne Jones and filling my head with nonsense. I often had to hide my books and drawings, especially when I became older and started studying magickal texts and grimoires.

I think the reason I picked up this interest in learning and studying witchcraft came from the wonderful pieces of art and history that I studied, and I knew and know now that magick is real. And because of feeling alone, I wanted to connect to something. I wanted to meet the faeiries and feel the powers of the universe. I used my knowledge to gain better understanding of a hidden world veiled in shadow. I guess I might have been selfish, but it felt like I didn’t have much else.

I recall when I was 12 and saved up to get myself some tarot cards, at the local occult store. My parents forbade us from going there. So I used to have to sneak there, often going with my elder sister whom shared similar interests and whom I love very much, but sadly moved away. I got a traditional Raider Waite deck but what so fearful in keeping them, because my parents a few days back from that raided my room and found more magick books. I looked at the cards and felt their power within my hands. They were one of my earliest tools I had received.

I shivered because of what my parents had instilled in me, and when I looked at them I knew I couldn’t keep them, I had to give them back. I ran into the store to give them back but the lady there said that their power has been interrupted and touched and that you can not return tarot decks once they’ve been opened which I accepted, but I really wished she would had taken them. I had to hide them, sadly I took them too a used bookstore where they were worth almost nothing. I just thought the Occult Shop would be a better place for them.

After this I became angry not being able to express myself and having to hide everything. This only made the relationship between my parents and I worse, and I didn’t want to give my passion up. I felt so bad for the tarot cards, still feeling our connection, I remember having wept. I vowed never to rid that which is important to me just because my parents wanted me too. This was a big step for me in my development.

When I started high school, things were okay. I became very busy and met new people, having relationships that ended quickly. And still there was no place where I could express myself, except for in the art room when I got the chance to do self-initiated projects. It didn’t help by me attending a catholic school either (parents forced me too) . There is mandatory Christian Ethics class that is bearable but not interesting or fun, it was and is a place where only one view could be expressed, and that was the teachers. No open-mindedness what-so-ever!

Many students claiming to be catholic didn’t even show it, mocking and gossiping about others, talking crudely and violently (acting violently too) , and a lot of them dressing like gangsters which was the craze.

When I was 15 I remember sitting in one of my classes and being attracted to my male teacher. I began to wonder if I was gay. It was and still is very confusing. And now here was another aspect I knew no one could accept, and I had no one to talk too. I had never felt this way before with the female sex. It happened more frequently, I knew inside I was gay.

I never just gave up on being a Christian either; I was 15, and researched extensively on Christian faith. I read the bible when I was 11. I read the Catholic catechism, and studied the beliefs of the faith and the meanings of their rituals and sacraments. There was so much I didn’t agree to in Christianity. It ended, I resisted to go to church every Sunday, who I was they hated, it didn’t feel right to go their being forced to worship their God falsely and in lies. Eventually they gave up. It’s not that I hate their faith it’s just I gave it a chance and don’t share their beliefs.

When I was 16 and 3/4, in the late spring of 2007 I admitted to myself that I was gay and accepted it. I told myself. And eventually told my older sister and my cousin. Both people I knew that could accept it and me after that, they are still to this day the only ones that know along with a Psychology teacher, I guess you know too. I began to feel alone though, still there was no one I could hang with or talk too.

In and during school I stayed introverted and quiet; trying desperately just to get through unnoticed, still do. It is hard sometimes believing in yourself, having self worth, hope and love. My magick seemed bleak; I gave up on everything and became depressed. I fell into a pit and it took me a lot to crawl out healthy, and I still feel I am fighting to crawl out.

I hope gathering myself with enough money, good grades and self-understanding I will be capable to escape from this. So I plan to move away, quite far. I hope I may be able to discover and develop my Identity away from this seeming a lot me has been crushed here. I have lost time. I do feel okay presently, but I wish to feel better in the future and have less struggles. I think from writing this I have achieved something, although I am not entirely sure.

The Wiccan Way

THE WICCAN WAY

Recognizing that there is more than one path to spiritual enlightenment and that Wicca is but one of many, and that Wicca holds within itself the belief that there is more than one type of step set to the spiral dance, find here listed common denominators of the Craft.

That there is above all the Goddess in her three-fold aspect and many are her names.  With all her names we call her Maiden, Mother and Crone.

That there is the God, consort and son, giver of strength and most willing of sacrifice.

That and it harm none, do what ye will shall be the law.

That each of her children are bound by the three-fold law and that whatever we create, be it joy or sorrow, laughter or pain, is brought back to us three-fold.

That as she is the mother of all living things and we are all her children, we seek to live in harmony not only with each other, but with the planet earth that is our womb and home.

That life upon the earth is not a burden to be born, but a joy to be learned and shared with others.

That death is not an ending of existence, but a step in the on-going process of life.

That there is no sacrifice of blood, for She is the mother of all living things, and from her all things proceed and unto her all things must return.

That each and every one of the children who follows this path has no need of another between themselves and the Goddess but may find Her within themselves.

That there shall not by intent be a desecration of another’s symbols of beliefs, for we are all seeking harmony within the One.

That each person’s faith is private unto themselves and that another’s belief is not to be set out and made public.

That the Wiccan way is not to seek converts, but that the way be made open to those who for reasons of their own seek and find the Craft.

And as it is willed, so mote it be

Condensed Version of Wicca

CONDENSED VERSION OF WICCA

We believe that the ultimate godhead is unknowable.  This doesn’t make for a good working relationship with the diety, however.  So, we break it down into a Goddess and a God.  Different Wiccans worship different Gods/Goddesses.  We can utilize *any* pantheon.  Some worship Pan/Diana, some Cernnunos/Aradia, Isis/Osiris, and many others.

We see our Goddess as being Triple Aspected — Maiden, Mother, and Crone, and she is reflected in the phases of the Moon — Waxing, Full and Waning.  We see the God as the Lord of Nature, and he is reflected in the seasonal changes.  Like Jesus Christ, he dies for the land and the people, and is reborn.

In general, we believe in reincarnation and karma.  What you call Heaven, we call the Summerlands.  We don’t believe that Hell exists (or Satan either.)  We believe that there should be balance in all things – when the balance is disturbed, that’s when ‘evil’ occurs.  Fire, for example is not ‘evil’.  It could be considered such when it  becomes out of balance, as in a forest fire, or house fire.  Controlled fire is a useful tool.  Anger is not ‘evil’, but when unbridled can’t help but lead to negative things.  When properly expressed and balanced with constructive working to correct that which invoked the anger – it, too, can be a useful tool.

We regard the Earth as our Mother, and try to have respect for Her by not polluting her and try to live in harmony with Her and Her ways.

Women reflect the Goddess, Men reflect the God, so the Wicca have a Priestess and Priest to ‘run’ the religious services.  We call our services circles.

This was sort of an “Reader’s Digest Condensed Version” of Wicca.

Your Charm for Thursday, October 24th is The Serpent

Your Charm for Today


Today’s Meaning:    

This aspect will be affected by someone’s illness being shed. Their healing will cause positive changes within this aspect for you.

General Description:

In primeval days the Serpent deeply appealed to man’s imagination, and owing to its length of life was used as the emblem for wisdom and eternity. It was a household god in ancient Rome, and sacred to their god of medicine. The Romans believed that the Serpent renewed its youth by casting its skin, and it became their symbol for long life and vitality. In India the Serpent symbolizes the infinite duration of time and wisdom. Serpent rings were worn to ensure health, strength, and long life. The rings were also believed to possess great protective and enduring virtues. The Serpent was a mark of royalty in Egypt, and worn as a head dress or UR.AEUS.

Daily Motivator for Oct. 23 – Something for something

Something for something

Plenty of people will promise you something for nothing, yet those are always  empty promises. Even when you can manage to get something for nothing, it does  not bring any real joy to your life.

The point of life is not to figure out how to get something for nothing. The  real fulfillment in life comes not from merely consuming, but from creating.

You cannot be truly rich simply by having a certain set of material  possessions. The richness that matters is genuine inner richness, and the  satisfaction that comes from knowing that you’re making a positive difference in  life.

Don’t waste your time wishing, hoping, demanding or begging to get something  for nothing. Joyfully put your energy into creating new, useful and beautiful  value out of the unique abundance with which you’ve been blessed.

The great thing about being alive is that you can, through your creative  endeavors, transform whatever you have into whatever you desire. That amazing,  limitless opportunity presents itself every moment of every day.

If you wish to have something of value, then work to create something of even  greater value. That’s the reliable way to be truly rich in all matters small and  large.

— Ralph Marston

The Daily Motivator

Balancing Ourselves

Balancing Ourselves

Author:   Moonspider   

“Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.”

So says the line from the Charge. Does this mean we are wishy-washy? Quite the contrary. It indicates a balance that we all must come to deal with everyday of our lives, magickally and mundanely. If we don’t we become unbalanced and unhealthy.

Because of this, we must recognize a lack of balance in others we come in contact with daily. They have their own sh*t to deal with, and they can be off too. And, from time to time, people do need sympathy and understanding. Given appropriately this can be very helpful and therapeutic. It is when compassionate people go overboard and enable the suffering to go on that it is inappropriate.

I will share another segment of my own experience with this. Some of you may know that in 1998 my world got turned upside-down with emergency brain surgery. Parts of that are in other essays here on The Voice, so I won’t rehash it all.

In a nutshell, a sinus infection traveled (yes, infections can move), it jumped the protective blood-brain barrier. Not a good thing since blood and its products are caustic to brain tissue. This caused an abscess (simply a puss-ball). So, I took ill at work while talking to a colleague, lost consciousness, woke up 2 1/2 days later with what resembled half a yarmulke on my head. Plus my head felt like it had been run over by an 18-wheeler.

I definitely needed compassion. I received it. Friends (and at times like these you find out who they really are) were great during the healing process. Much magick was done for me, and folks were understanding. Best of all, they treated me like me. Which is probably the most helpful in all healing situations.

Some friends, well-intentioned, kept after that, how are you, you know what I mean. Well that was fine for a while, but it’s over. I am not my abscess. We are not our illnesses. These times are tools to learn with. And yes, I did learn a great deal about myself during this period. As I should have. You can’t have an experience like this and not.

Can I ever forget it? No. I mean I have a j-hook shaped scar crowning my head to remind me of it. Life does go back to normal, whatever normal is. After years of working with mental health related areas, normal is relative.

I will always be grateful for the compassion bestowed on me by the community. It was necessary. It has also helped me be compassionate to people who need it. I’ve also been able to help others who’ve had brain surgery, seizure activity and stroke, since many experiences have related aspects.

So, my compassion is not limited to this community alone. As it shouldn’t. We are a Witch always, not just at Sabbats and Esbats. This comment likened to the Sunday, or Christmas Christian. Though I found true compassion from many communities, Pagan and not, during my healing process. I was dealt with as a person who needed help.

And, I got it. My healing was very rapid. Within less than a week I was out of the hospital. Because I was now prone to seizure activity I could not drive for 3 months. People were wonderful at keeping in contact however they could. Picked me up and took me places I wouldn’t have been able to get to otherwise. I try and remember this as I work.

Actually it fits in perfectly with the work that I do as a librarian for a state agency. My customers have problems, that need to be solved with information. Because of the work our agency does, I need to be aware that the customer needs the information to help a client. They are compassionate to the client. I in turn, need to be compassionate about both needs, since what I will provide will ultimately effect both of them. And, myself to a certain degree. I can’t handle all the information that I come in contact with, without being affected by it.

I need to be compassionate to my own needs too. This does not mean feeling sorry for ones’ self. Just a realistic understanding of what you can reasonably deal with.

Remember the flip side to compassion is power as we utter the Charge. We have to understand both. My own experience certainly has made me more powerful as a person. Understand this, you can face anything. And, I do mean anything.

In my own healing process, I had to face every single demon I had. Real or imagined. I took power back from them. They had been leeching off vital energies from me. It was the most terrifying, exhilarating, and easy thing I’d done.

Terrifying, because who really likes confrontation of anything, much less your own demons? Why do we create such monsters for ourselves? Growth, I suppose.

Exhilarating, because of the freedom it gave me. Now I am unencumbered by nonsense that had been hanging on—some of it for a lifetime.

Easy, yes, easy. Ultimately it was the easiest thing in the world for me to do. What else did I have to do? I was in the hospital for a week, drugs kept me awake for half of that, probably hallucinating for half of that. Great breeding ground for demons. One by one they came. When you face a demon squarely in the eye, it usually dissolves. You may have to talk to it, hit it, or, laugh at it. Demons don’t know what to do with laughter. Laughter is great healing medicine.

What did this leave me? A much more powerful person. Things that used to bother me don’t. Oh, do I get annoyed, sure, especially at stupidity. I’ve become much more cognizant of our internal power. For remember this. No matter how much others want to help, the only one who can truly help you is you. With others being compassionate, especially at trying times, it makes that process easier.

Please remember that power is knowing just the right amount of energy to use. A truly powerful person rarely exerts much energy. They simply know how to tap the source. The power is within. Be sympathetic to those in need, for you never know when you will need it, too. Both, power and compassion, are achieved, not owned¹.

1. Kerr Cuhulain, Wiccan Warrior (St. Paul, MN : Llewellyn Publications, 2000), pp. 22, 84, 117.

Mark MoonSpider Sosnowski

A Sampler of Eclectic Belief

A Sampler of Eclectic Belief

Author:   Bright-Summer Natsukamiki  

I have been on and off Wicca for many years. My mother was Neo-Pagan, and so I suppose I grew up always thinking about Paganism and what it was that I believed myself. For a long time, I didn’t even let it enter my mind. However, I was always a kid that lived within her own head, and the older I became the more time I spent thinking about my personal spirituality. It was only recently that I decided to document all that I held as strong points within my personal faith. My view on our relationship with the Gods, Animism, and Reincarnation are all points elaborated on within this article.

I hope that a look into the belief below offers some insight or contrast to enhance your own personal path. I wrote this and thought it good, so I decided to share the work as an article. I understand if you do not share the same beliefs, I only wanted to write out the path, which I came to follow over my life of study. I first wrote this within my book of shadows and have re-read it since. It is the best summary of my belief system as an Eclectic Wiccan. Many opinions here, I am aware, are universal to the Craft, but others are not so much. Please note that this is my belief at the moment, but I am still young. Practicing as a Wiccan could easily mean that this belief may become outdated to me in future years. However, for now, it is held close.

“I have come to believe that there are many Gods, but all gods are one God in different aspects, and all Goddesses are the one Goddess in different aspects. There are many paths, but each path is true because all that the deities want is for their creatures to find contentment and balance. They require nothing, but deserve all. For the ability not only to believe, but also through belief create, I feel an obligation to praise and give thanks. Thank you, God and Goddess, for the power to create change, and the ability to use our will to bring about that change. This is the greatest gift, and it is the gift that Witches implement in magic to enhance their world.

I believe that perhaps the world was created, and people developed with the animals, in order to make the gods feel a little less lonely. We are all the children of the Parent-Gods, Mother-Goddess and Father-God. However, we have been granted the freedom to bring up ourselves, and one another. We can forge our own paths. The love our Parent-Gods have shown us doesn’t need reciprocation to remain, for they aren’t simply parents either. They are All things and take many forms, Lovers, Friends, Companions to all beings who live, and all things that do not. The Gods and Spirits are ever present, because we are designed to be the companions of Gods.

Since the moment we came to be, each of us has a spirit. Who is to say that we ourselves are not the vessels of the spirits of Gods, that we are not the God/ess in human form for someone who needs us? What separates us is only what they have done, and we have yet to do.

I believe that we can, through our actions and experiences, become Gods of our own. Gods are our potential equals, and that I believe is part of why they grant us such respect and allow such freedom- but we must always consider that Wisdom is the strongest Tool. Wisdom, which is only gained through practice. It is important never to consider yourself ‘above’ any other being – we may become equals, but only after many lifetimes.

I believe that our God-like souls are taken from our bodies in order to be reunited with their home and those who created it. The soul, (our true self) , then would decide how much more practice is needed. We would know instinctively. When the soul is done practicing and learning through its various lives on Earth… that is when it joins the ranks of Gods. We, as People, as Spirits, have far more power than we truly know.

Spirits of the earth exist for things that are inanimate. Such as rocks, formations, rivers, reefs, fields and trees with the age enough to project their Spirits. Potentially, everything could have a Spirit.

The entire universe was created in order for the God and Goddess to be their companions, and potential equals. The goddess can be worshiped as the triple moon because it is symbolic of the universality of her form, and the idea of her watching from the abyss of space, watching over us and out for us. The God can be seen as the sun because his light maintains our life, and without the God we would never have found a balance for life on earth. All things owe the sun deep praise.

The 4 elements as considered first by ancient Greek philosophers were a very simplified and spiritual representation of our very existence. Not only our existence but also our source of life. Without Earth, we could not be. Without Air we could not breathe. Without Water we could not drink, and without Fire we would not have grown into a civilized society, or have found warmth in the wintertime. It is to simplify how much we connect with the world.

Our physical shells were chosen and designed by our souls for a reason. We need to learn to appreciate what we have received because it is what we had wanted, and the reason is to learn.

And so, to Worship is to thank, to Relive is to step up, and to Spellcast is to both thank and Practice Change, so that we may gain the wisdom through our cyclical lives to become a potential future deity once our soul has learned enough. Carve out your path and follow it with confidence, for it will lead you to the greatest possible end. Forever remain both patient and optimistic. Never let your life pass by too quickly. Learn as much wisdom as you can by experiencing as much as is safe. Worship your body, Pay Reverence to all around you, Respect and Grant Praise to your Gods. Do not disrespect anything, because all paths lead to a better future. Ultimately, time can be the greatest force. Diligence, Fun, and Intelligence can be one’s best friends. Train yourself. Love your gods. Your personal power can grow to be enough to change the world. Let it be for the better.”

Celebrating Spirituality 365 Days A Year – Hi Matsur

magick89

October 22 and 23

Hi Matsur

Hi Matsur is a Japanese festival of purification and is celebrated annually at this time. Beginning on the eve of the 22nd there are torchlight processions and parades through the streets in honor of the ancient Gods. The procession ends at a sacred shrine in Kurama, where it is believed that the ancient ones return to Earth at the stroke of midnight. Prayers and invocations will be offered the following day.

 

Your Ancient Symbol Card for October 22nd is The Key

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

The Key

The Key indicates the existence of a powerful tool capable of favorably influencing your future. The Key may be an idea, physical entity, an action, a mentor, or the combination of a number of things. While readily available to you The Key may not be all that obvious. You might have to search for it, and it may take a fair dose of courage and faith to actually use it.

As a daily card, The Key indicates the presence of an idea or entity that can positively effect your life at this time. The advantage The Key will give you may concern a single element of your life such as your career, or it may have an impact on your life as a whole. The trick for you is to identify your Key and have the courage to use it.

Calendar of the Sun for October 22nd

Calendar of the Sun

22 Winterfyllith

Baphomet’s Day

Color: Black
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon cloth of black set one black candle and one white, on either side of a statue of Baphomet. Lay there also bones, horns, rods for whipping, a knife, needles for pricking, a jug of liqueur, and cakes in the shape of hermaphroditic genitals.
Offerings: Blood, a drop apiece wiped onto the statue. Pain. Sacred sex is also a good offering for this day, but it should be of sex that is challenging to the participant.
Daily Meal: Meat.

Invocation to Baphomet

I am Baphomet, Rex Mundi,
Lord of Perversion, Child of Earth,
Sacred Abomination, Secret warrior,
Survivor of the great purge,
Baphe Metis, baptized in wisdom,
Wounded in the service of Earth from which I sprang
And to which I was not allowed to fall.
I am the sacrifice that Death refused;
I am the one who must live on wounded.
What they throw away I save,
What they devalue I hold holy,
What they tread underfoot I raise up,
What they cast off as ugly decorates my holy raiment,
What they fear becomes my weapon.
I am both man and woman,
I am filled with lust for both man and woman,
Your body is my chalice, let me drink of you.
I hold nothing more valuable than flesh and humus
I hold nothing holier than earthly desires.
When the Mother was silenced, I alone heard her cries.
When the Great God Pan was declared dead, I alone lived on.
When the Most Sacred and Holy Mystery
Was stripped and driven through the marketplace
I alone was secret and apart.
All lonely places are sacred to me.
Let my wisdom be the staff in your hand.
I am Baphomet
And you have much to learn.
(Share and eat the cakes and wine, shed blood as libation, and all shall go off to endure ordeals of their own choosing.)

[Pagan Book of Hours]