Merrie Meet to one and all
This is a piece that I discovered several years ago, but I feel it still holds true today.
I for one am proud to say...........I Am A Witch.
I Am A Witch. by Sandi Thomas
When I stand up for myself and my beliefs, they call me a "Witch".
When I stand up for those I love, they call me a Witch.
When I speak my mind, think my own thoughts, or do things my own way, they call me a Witch.
Being a witch entails raising my children to be strong people.
Who have a solid sense of personal and social responsibility.
Who are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in.
Who love and respect themselves for the beautiful beings they are.
Being a witch means that I am free to be the wonderful creature I am,
With all my own intricacies, contradictions, quirks and beauty.
Being a witch means I won't compromise what's in my heart.
It means I live my life MY way. It means I won't allow anyone to step on me.
When I refuse to tolerate injustice and speak up against it, I am defined as a witch.
The same thing happens when I take time for myself instead of being everyone else's maid or when I act a little selfish.
I am proud to be a witch!
It means I have the courage and strength to allow myself to be who I truly am and won't become anyone else's idea of what they think I "should" be.
I am outspoken, opinionated and determined.
By Goddess, I want what I want and there is nothing wrong with that!
So, try to stomp on me, try to douse my inner flame, try to squash every ounce of beauty I hold within me. You won't succeed.
And if that makes me a witch, so be it. I embrace the title and am proud to bear it. I love this, I can call myself a witch now and not feel bad about it!
SO MOTE IT BE!
I hope that you have enjoyed reading this and that you will continue to follow my blog.
I will write again soon.
Love and Light to All
Blessed Be
Merlin
Altered Image Life Coaching Blog
Friday, 21 August 2009
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Thursday August 13th Musing
Merrie Meet one and all,
I will start today's topic with an update on the events from the last 24 hours - they are certainly exciting me and whilst may be somewhat "normal occurences" for a lot of people, for someone who awoke to this new life a relatively short while ago (1989 to be exact) and had previously been a hardened sceptic they are quite mind blowing.
I have detailed below an extract from a conversation I was having with a very dear friend of mine yesterday, and we had been chatting for some time when .....(well I'll let the transcript take over from here!)
10.51.59 EJA: he he
10.52.12 Dave: hmmmm
10.52.26 Dave: keep on like this we won't need to type
10.53.08 EJA: yes indeed
10.54.04 Dave: have you got something green, that is very precious to you nearby, that you have just been thinking about or within the last 10 minutes or so?
10.54.33 EJA: xxxxx is wearing green sat next to me
10.54.39 EJA: that pretty precious
10.54.47 Dave: oh bloody hell
10.55.01 EJA: she is researching moon cycles
10.55.05 EJA: i was helping her
10.55.25 Dave: wow
There are almost 500 miles between myself and the person I was talking to and yet the information came through with total clarity.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Pagan Headstones
The 23rd of April 2009 marked the two year anniversary of the first Pagan headstone issued by the US Government, through the Veterans Department. This was a big step for all U.S. Pagans and a relief to those veterans that will now have a privilege that their elders didn’t.
Although the pentacle has been accepted as a government-observed emblem, each path will now need to have their own fight. Currently, paths are working on this; one that comes to mind is the Druids. If you get a chance to vote or aid for any Pagan fight in this matter, please step up to the plate; they were there when the Wiccans were working on the pentacle.
The headstone is a mere step. When making dog tags, signing up for ID cards, or joining the VA hospital Pagans do not have their religion noticed. This means that they are still having to claim the religion title of ‘other’.
"Below I have reproduced the timeline of events that emerged to get this request acknowledged"
Rosemary Kooiman requested a pentacle for her husband Abe’s headstone for when he was to die.
Abe Kooiman passed away.
A response of “Once we get records updated it will take place” was sent to Rosemary (the same response she got for 10 years)
Rosemary Kooiman Died.
Roberta Stewart filed suit for the VA to add the pentacle symbol to their approved emblems for headstone.
Several Pagan and civil rights organizations joined in Roberta’s cause.
The 33rd symbol for VA headstones was approved.
Patrick Stewart was given a plaque and Abe Kooiman a headstone with a pentacle on it.
This article has been reproduced from the Pagan Moonbeams bi-monthly magazine website
I hope that you have found today's musing of interest and that you will soon sign up my regular updates on this page.
While you are at it, can I suggest that you also look at the sister blog to this one, Altered Image that can be found at
http://www.alteredimagelifecoaching.blogspot.com/
Until we meet again
Love and Light to all
Blessed Be
Merlin
I will start today's topic with an update on the events from the last 24 hours - they are certainly exciting me and whilst may be somewhat "normal occurences" for a lot of people, for someone who awoke to this new life a relatively short while ago (1989 to be exact) and had previously been a hardened sceptic they are quite mind blowing.
I have detailed below an extract from a conversation I was having with a very dear friend of mine yesterday, and we had been chatting for some time when .....(well I'll let the transcript take over from here!)
10.51.59 EJA: he he
10.52.12 Dave: hmmmm
10.52.26 Dave: keep on like this we won't need to type
10.53.08 EJA: yes indeed
10.54.04 Dave: have you got something green, that is very precious to you nearby, that you have just been thinking about or within the last 10 minutes or so?
10.54.33 EJA: xxxxx is wearing green sat next to me
10.54.39 EJA: that pretty precious
10.54.47 Dave: oh bloody hell
10.55.01 EJA: she is researching moon cycles
10.55.05 EJA: i was helping her
10.55.25 Dave: wow
There are almost 500 miles between myself and the person I was talking to and yet the information came through with total clarity.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Pagan Headstones
The 23rd of April 2009 marked the two year anniversary of the first Pagan headstone issued by the US Government, through the Veterans Department. This was a big step for all U.S. Pagans and a relief to those veterans that will now have a privilege that their elders didn’t.
Although the pentacle has been accepted as a government-observed emblem, each path will now need to have their own fight. Currently, paths are working on this; one that comes to mind is the Druids. If you get a chance to vote or aid for any Pagan fight in this matter, please step up to the plate; they were there when the Wiccans were working on the pentacle.
The headstone is a mere step. When making dog tags, signing up for ID cards, or joining the VA hospital Pagans do not have their religion noticed. This means that they are still having to claim the religion title of ‘other’.
"Below I have reproduced the timeline of events that emerged to get this request acknowledged"
Rosemary Kooiman requested a pentacle for her husband Abe’s headstone for when he was to die.
Abe Kooiman passed away.
A response of “Once we get records updated it will take place” was sent to Rosemary (the same response she got for 10 years)
Rosemary Kooiman Died.
Roberta Stewart filed suit for the VA to add the pentacle symbol to their approved emblems for headstone.
Several Pagan and civil rights organizations joined in Roberta’s cause.
The 33rd symbol for VA headstones was approved.
Patrick Stewart was given a plaque and Abe Kooiman a headstone with a pentacle on it.
This article has been reproduced from the Pagan Moonbeams bi-monthly magazine website
I hope that you have found today's musing of interest and that you will soon sign up my regular updates on this page.
While you are at it, can I suggest that you also look at the sister blog to this one, Altered Image that can be found at
http://www.alteredimagelifecoaching.blogspot.com/
Until we meet again
Love and Light to all
Blessed Be
Merlin
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Thursday's addition to Wednesday's musing
Hi and Merrie Meet in the wee small hours of Thursday.
Before I go off to my bed I must share this experience with you all
Last night I decided to do a meditation and during the course of this I had a series of images and thoughts, most appeared completely random until an image of a friend of mine appeared and the words "look to the sun" accompanied this image, immediately afterwards an image of Black and Tan dog's head replaced this and that was replaced by an image of a white cat, followed by a modern house.
When I had finished I knew it was most important that I contacted my friend and told her of the meditation. I did so and almost immediately received a message back saying "thank you so much, I cannot see to text through the tears"
This reply intrigued me and later I received an explanation...........
This friend's aunt had passed away and whilst alive she had been a pianist, my friend had sung at her funeral on Wednesday ...... and my friend said this
"in my times of darkness she would make me sing and say the sun shines on the righteous. She had a white cat!"
"...but the tan and black would be our family dog ... died a year ago while i was in a coma"
That was brilliant and she followed that revelation with this......
"he says the new house is him, he asked me today to consider a new life with him"
then she said
"well about an hour before i got your message i was wondering if i had done the right thing"
to which my response was
"you had made your decision but had self doubts about it, but your decision was yes "but it has to be right and for life""
and finally she replied "yes. Thank you for passing this on .."
I thank the Goddess for bestowing this gift upon me and trust that I will always use it correctly.
Love and Light to all, and Blessed Be
Merlin
Before I go off to my bed I must share this experience with you all
Last night I decided to do a meditation and during the course of this I had a series of images and thoughts, most appeared completely random until an image of a friend of mine appeared and the words "look to the sun" accompanied this image, immediately afterwards an image of Black and Tan dog's head replaced this and that was replaced by an image of a white cat, followed by a modern house.
When I had finished I knew it was most important that I contacted my friend and told her of the meditation. I did so and almost immediately received a message back saying "thank you so much, I cannot see to text through the tears"
This reply intrigued me and later I received an explanation...........
This friend's aunt had passed away and whilst alive she had been a pianist, my friend had sung at her funeral on Wednesday ...... and my friend said this
"in my times of darkness she would make me sing and say the sun shines on the righteous. She had a white cat!"
"...but the tan and black would be our family dog ... died a year ago while i was in a coma"
That was brilliant and she followed that revelation with this......
"he says the new house is him, he asked me today to consider a new life with him"
then she said
"well about an hour before i got your message i was wondering if i had done the right thing"
to which my response was
"you had made your decision but had self doubts about it, but your decision was yes "but it has to be right and for life""
and finally she replied "yes. Thank you for passing this on .."
I thank the Goddess for bestowing this gift upon me and trust that I will always use it correctly.
Love and Light to all, and Blessed Be
Merlin
Wednesday 5th August Musing
Merrie Meet one and all
This week I have found a nice piece regarding moon working I for one will be working this tomorrow (Thursday) providing that the moon is totally visible, I will also be working a healing meditation, so anyone who would like me to send special healing please let me know as soon as possible.
Please enjoy the post
Full Moon Ray Bath
The full moon has been revered as containing power beyond belief. It has been worshiped and thought highly of, as long as can be traced. In modern days, people still think highly of the moon. There are lots of things that people do in the light of the moon, especially the full moon. People take an emotional bath, do certain types of rituals or magic, as well as confide in it.
This week, there will be a full moon, so take this time to do your own version of connecting with it.
One idea would be to take a full moon ray bath. Grab a crystal or prism (the bigger, the better) and practice with the sunlight on how to find the
rainbow that shows the colors it is made of. Once you have mastered how to use your tool, follow the steps below to perform your own simple full moon ray bath.
• In a rather large area, position your crystal in one hand, so as to show the rainbow of the moon on your other hand.
• Slowly move your hand away and position your body, face, or whatever part you want to cleanse with the moon’s rays in its place.
• While the rays or rainbow is shining on you, close your eyes and feel its energy and share some of your energy with it.
Please feel free to document your experience as comments on here as well as notes on how to make it better next full moon!
reproduced from Pagan Moonbeams 2009
Have a fantastic day
I wish everyone Love Light and Healing wherever you may be
Blessed Be
Merlin
This week I have found a nice piece regarding moon working I for one will be working this tomorrow (Thursday) providing that the moon is totally visible, I will also be working a healing meditation, so anyone who would like me to send special healing please let me know as soon as possible.
Please enjoy the post
Full Moon Ray Bath
The full moon has been revered as containing power beyond belief. It has been worshiped and thought highly of, as long as can be traced. In modern days, people still think highly of the moon. There are lots of things that people do in the light of the moon, especially the full moon. People take an emotional bath, do certain types of rituals or magic, as well as confide in it.
This week, there will be a full moon, so take this time to do your own version of connecting with it.
One idea would be to take a full moon ray bath. Grab a crystal or prism (the bigger, the better) and practice with the sunlight on how to find the
rainbow that shows the colors it is made of. Once you have mastered how to use your tool, follow the steps below to perform your own simple full moon ray bath.
• In a rather large area, position your crystal in one hand, so as to show the rainbow of the moon on your other hand.
• Slowly move your hand away and position your body, face, or whatever part you want to cleanse with the moon’s rays in its place.
• While the rays or rainbow is shining on you, close your eyes and feel its energy and share some of your energy with it.
Please feel free to document your experience as comments on here as well as notes on how to make it better next full moon!
reproduced from Pagan Moonbeams 2009
Have a fantastic day
I wish everyone Love Light and Healing wherever you may be
Blessed Be
Merlin
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Lammas Musing 30th July 2009
Merrie Meet
This is a repost from the Pagan Magic website that I found while updating my BOS tonight. Hope everyone enjoys a wonderful festival this weekend.
Lammas or Lughnasadh
Colours: Gray, green, gold, yellow
Symbols: All grains, breads, threshing tools, athame
Date: Occurs 1/4 of a year after Beltaine. True astrological point is 15 degrees Leo, but tradition has set August 1st as the day it is typically celebrated. Since the Ancients Celts passed their days from sundown to sundown, the celebration would usually begin the night before on July 31st.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The turning of the wheel now brings us to Lughnasadh (LOO-nus-uh), also known by its medieval Christian name of Lammas, named in honor of the Celtic god Lugh, a name which means "light" or "shining." Although somewhat confusing, we are not celebrating the death of Lugh (the God of light does not mythically die until the autumn equinox), but rather the funeral games that Lugh hosted to commemorate the death of his foster mother, Taillte. In Ireland, Lugnasadh is often called the "Tailltean Games". A common feature of the games were the "Tailltean marriages", rather informal and lasting only a year and a day or until next Lammas, at which time the couple would decide to continue the arrangement or stand back to back and walk away, thereby dissolving the marriage. The parish priest was not bothered to perform these trial marriages, they were usually performed by a poet, bard, priest or priestess of the Old Religion, or shanachie, and were very common into the 1500's. It is from this custom that our present-day Handfastings must come.
According to one of his many legends, Lugh was the last great leader of the Tuatha de Dannan. In one of the Tuatha's victories, Lugh spared the life of Bres, a defeated enemy captain, in exchange for advice on ploughing, sowing, and reaping. He was seen as a multi-talented deity, being capable and quite good at all he undertook. The myths of Lugh include the prevalence of his many skills and the wedding of these skills to the potential or unrealized abundance of the land. According to the writing of Caesar, he was also regarded as the patron of all the arts, traveling, and influence in money and commerce. To the Romans, Lugh was seen as a counterpart to Mercury. Lugh is the son of Arianrhod, who is associated with sacred kingship and Three-fold Death. His wife's name is Blodeuwedd, also known as the Flower Maiden.
Lughnasadh is the first of the three harvest Sabbats, Mabon and Samhain being the other two, which celebrates the ripening grains and corn. With the harvest so prevalent, Pagans see the theme of the sacrificed god motif emerge. His death is necessary for rebirth of the land to take place. Called by many names, "Green Man," "Wicker Man," "Corn Man" or just the "Spirit of Vegetation," his essence begins to merge with the harvested crops, a sacrifice that will be realized with the new growth in the spring.
In old times, it was the duty of the King to sacrifice himself for the land, an idea that has been seen in the many legends of cultures both new and old, throughout recorded history. The gathering of the first crops of the year is also used to symbolize the success and extent of the power raised from the Beltane rites when the Sacred Marriage of the Lord and Lady took place. The theme of sexuality and reproduction is carried over into Lughnasadh as well to ensure the remainder of a good harvest.
This sabbat is also known as the celebration of bread. As bread was one of the main staples of our ancestors, the ripening of the grain was the cause for great celebration. The reaping, threshing and preparation of these breads spawned great ritual and ceremony to ensure bounty for the following year.
This time of the year finds us with fields to harvest, the first of a bountiful crop that will hold us through the winter months. Even though the hottest days of summer are upon us, we have but to observe to see that fall is just around the corner. Shadows are growing longer as the days slowly become shorter. Squirrels are busily gathering food for the coming winter. It is a time to begin canning produce from the garden, a time to save and preserve.
Some ideas for celebration include:
Sacrifice bad habits and unwanted things from your life by throwing symbols of them into the sabbat fire.
Bake a loaf of bread in the shape of a man and sacrifice him in your ritual. Make him a part of your feast but save a piece to offer the gods.
Take time to actually harvest fruits from your garden with your family. If you don't have a garden, visit one of the pick-your-own farms in your area.
Include bilberries or blueberries in your feast; these were a traditional fruit, whose abundance was seen as an indicator of the harvest to come.
Gather the tools of your trade and bless them in order to bring a richer harvest next year.
Share your harvest with others who are less fortunate.
Decorate with sickles, scythes, fresh vegetables & fruits, grains, berries, corn dollies, bread. Colors are orange, gold, yellow, red and bronze.
And so the wheel turns.....
Found and Posted By Witch of the North.
Blessed be to you all...
reproduced from the Pagan_Magic Website
I hope you found this article enlightening.
Love and Light to All
Blessed Be.
This is a repost from the Pagan Magic website that I found while updating my BOS tonight. Hope everyone enjoys a wonderful festival this weekend.
Lammas or Lughnasadh
Colours: Gray, green, gold, yellow
Symbols: All grains, breads, threshing tools, athame
Date: Occurs 1/4 of a year after Beltaine. True astrological point is 15 degrees Leo, but tradition has set August 1st as the day it is typically celebrated. Since the Ancients Celts passed their days from sundown to sundown, the celebration would usually begin the night before on July 31st.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The turning of the wheel now brings us to Lughnasadh (LOO-nus-uh), also known by its medieval Christian name of Lammas, named in honor of the Celtic god Lugh, a name which means "light" or "shining." Although somewhat confusing, we are not celebrating the death of Lugh (the God of light does not mythically die until the autumn equinox), but rather the funeral games that Lugh hosted to commemorate the death of his foster mother, Taillte. In Ireland, Lugnasadh is often called the "Tailltean Games". A common feature of the games were the "Tailltean marriages", rather informal and lasting only a year and a day or until next Lammas, at which time the couple would decide to continue the arrangement or stand back to back and walk away, thereby dissolving the marriage. The parish priest was not bothered to perform these trial marriages, they were usually performed by a poet, bard, priest or priestess of the Old Religion, or shanachie, and were very common into the 1500's. It is from this custom that our present-day Handfastings must come.
According to one of his many legends, Lugh was the last great leader of the Tuatha de Dannan. In one of the Tuatha's victories, Lugh spared the life of Bres, a defeated enemy captain, in exchange for advice on ploughing, sowing, and reaping. He was seen as a multi-talented deity, being capable and quite good at all he undertook. The myths of Lugh include the prevalence of his many skills and the wedding of these skills to the potential or unrealized abundance of the land. According to the writing of Caesar, he was also regarded as the patron of all the arts, traveling, and influence in money and commerce. To the Romans, Lugh was seen as a counterpart to Mercury. Lugh is the son of Arianrhod, who is associated with sacred kingship and Three-fold Death. His wife's name is Blodeuwedd, also known as the Flower Maiden.
Lughnasadh is the first of the three harvest Sabbats, Mabon and Samhain being the other two, which celebrates the ripening grains and corn. With the harvest so prevalent, Pagans see the theme of the sacrificed god motif emerge. His death is necessary for rebirth of the land to take place. Called by many names, "Green Man," "Wicker Man," "Corn Man" or just the "Spirit of Vegetation," his essence begins to merge with the harvested crops, a sacrifice that will be realized with the new growth in the spring.
In old times, it was the duty of the King to sacrifice himself for the land, an idea that has been seen in the many legends of cultures both new and old, throughout recorded history. The gathering of the first crops of the year is also used to symbolize the success and extent of the power raised from the Beltane rites when the Sacred Marriage of the Lord and Lady took place. The theme of sexuality and reproduction is carried over into Lughnasadh as well to ensure the remainder of a good harvest.
This sabbat is also known as the celebration of bread. As bread was one of the main staples of our ancestors, the ripening of the grain was the cause for great celebration. The reaping, threshing and preparation of these breads spawned great ritual and ceremony to ensure bounty for the following year.
This time of the year finds us with fields to harvest, the first of a bountiful crop that will hold us through the winter months. Even though the hottest days of summer are upon us, we have but to observe to see that fall is just around the corner. Shadows are growing longer as the days slowly become shorter. Squirrels are busily gathering food for the coming winter. It is a time to begin canning produce from the garden, a time to save and preserve.
Some ideas for celebration include:
Sacrifice bad habits and unwanted things from your life by throwing symbols of them into the sabbat fire.
Bake a loaf of bread in the shape of a man and sacrifice him in your ritual. Make him a part of your feast but save a piece to offer the gods.
Take time to actually harvest fruits from your garden with your family. If you don't have a garden, visit one of the pick-your-own farms in your area.
Include bilberries or blueberries in your feast; these were a traditional fruit, whose abundance was seen as an indicator of the harvest to come.
Gather the tools of your trade and bless them in order to bring a richer harvest next year.
Share your harvest with others who are less fortunate.
Decorate with sickles, scythes, fresh vegetables & fruits, grains, berries, corn dollies, bread. Colors are orange, gold, yellow, red and bronze.
And so the wheel turns.....
Found and Posted By Witch of the North.
Blessed be to you all...
reproduced from the Pagan_Magic Website
I hope you found this article enlightening.
Love and Light to All
Blessed Be.
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
New website live
Have just launched the new website for Changing Times, the new business venture that Alison, Tina and I have begun.....
http://www.changingtimes2.co.uk
Blessed Be
http://www.changingtimes2.co.uk
Blessed Be
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Tuesday 28th July Musing - What Is Wicca?
Merrie Meet
While trawling about looking for a topic for this week's blog post I came across this post that seemed to provide a very detailed yet simple introduction to Wicca. Again I must stress that this article is a repost and is used to help illustrate and educate. The discussions and ideas put forward in this article do not necessarily reflect my own ideas and beliefs. Enjoy.
What is Wicca? A Basic introduction
By: Keitha (FireWind)
Posted: November 23rd, 2001
Wicca is a much misunderstood spirituality that can be explained and described in more ways than can be imagined. Ask a hundred people what Wicca is, and you will likely get a hundred very different answers. This is because Wicca is a personal spirituality, a journey that an individual undertakes in one of a thousand different ways. It is unique to each and every individual that walks the path. While this is one of Wicca's greatest strengths, it also makes it very hard to describe what Wicca is in any kind of specific detail. In this article, I've attempted to explain the more generally accepted beliefs and practices of modern Wicca. My hope is that those with little experience dealing with Wiccans might better understand what it is that we 'do'.
Wicca is a type of Neopagan Witchcraft. That is to say, we generally practice a reconstructed version of pre-Christian European Pagan spirituality. Beliefs and practices are generally centered around a culture of the practitioners choosing, usually with a belief in that culture's deities and folklore, etc. However, since Wicca is a personal spirituality, this does not hold true for everyone. Many practitioners choose beliefs on the basis of what 'feels right', and you will find those who practice a mix of Celtic, Greek, Native, Sumerian, Hindu, Buddhist, and other beliefs. Wiccans have a high regard for the beliefs and practices of others, and for the individuals right to find their own path. As such, almost any combination of beliefs and practices is possible.
Being a Pagan spirituality, Wicca reveres the natural world. The Earth, the seasons, the tides, the moon and stars: all things are sacred. All life, all plants, animals, and peoples are sacred. I am sacred, and so are you, regardless of our similar or differing personal beliefs. We build no physical "churches" except when it is necessary. Our sacred places are outside, in the forests, in the fields, in our hearts.
Wiccans generally believe in both male and female aspects of divinity. Usually, both goddesses and gods are respected as equals, with neither aspect seen as "more important" than the other. While Wiccans can worship many gods at any given time, sometimes a general "Divine Feminine" is referred to as "The Goddess", and a "Divine Masculine" as "The God". The Goddess is generally seen as the shaper, the mother or wise one. It is She who brings forth life and shapes the world. The God is generally seen as the giver, of energy and life. He is the Horned One, the God of the forests, the grain, and the hunt. It is he that sometimes gives the spark to the Goddess that she may create and form life. The idea of The Goddess or The God is not an exclusive title or belief however, and the individual is free to worship whatever gods and goddesses they please.
We have only one law that governs ethics and morality: "An it harm none, do as ye will". We believe that all things are interconnected, and our thoughts and actions echo through the world in ways we might never have imagined. As such, all things we do are returned to us threefold- if we do ill, we are returned ill three times. If we do well, we are returned this also three times. And so our destiny is in our own hands, we must shape it as best we can. We are free to do whatever we like, but be careful of causing harm even unintentionally.
Our services are called rituals, and we honour the gods and the Old ways. We sing, we dance, we call our gods and celebrate life. It is hard to describe what happens at an average ritual, because almost every single one will be different from every other ritual. Everyone has their own idea of what a ritual should be, and everyone does theirs a little differently. Generally, we burn candles and incense, we talk with our gods, we look within ourselves, we try to understand the world around us, and we try to become better people.
There are some things that we do not do, however, and it's a shame that I have to cover them in this article. Because we claim the name 'Witch', there are some strange misconceptions about us. Following are some of the common ones.
Our gods are sometimes horned. They can be very sensual and sexual. Some of them die and some of them rule the Underworld. But none of our gods are the Christian devil. Our horned gods are the ancient fertility gods; they can be both the hunter and the stag. They are the power and joy of life itself. They are forces beyond time. They are not vengeful or rebellious children engaged in family feuding, and they care nothing for such things. Our gods are recorded on the walls of ancient caves; they are complete within themselves. Those that label them devils are misguided or confused. We are not satanists; we are Wiccans.
We are also frequently accused of performing sacrifices which take life. This is also untrue. We do make offerings of food, wine and flowers from time to time, but nothing much more than these. The closest we get to sacrifices is the pig that roasts for dinner, for those of us who eat meat.
Finally, we are sometimes accused of trying to "recruit" people into Wicca. This accusation is so groundless that I don't understand why it is still floating around. We believe that everyone has the right to choose their own path. We believe that no-one can tell another individual what is 'right' for them. We believe in the fundamental right to believe in whatever we choose. And we believe in your right to choose differently. Trying to force others to become Wiccan goes against everything that we are. There are few things that you can say is true for 'all Wiccans', but this I think is one of them. It is the acceptance of differences that makes a true community.
Wicca is a 'mystery religion', as opposed to a 'revealed religion'. This means that we have no holy books, no prophets, no holy people. There is no-one that can tell us the answers that we seek. There is no book that will explain what we don't understand. We believe that the answers are hidden within ourselves; we must work to search ourselves for our answers. No-one else can do it for us.
We cast spells, and we do magick. But we don't harm or manipulate others lives. If we were to do so, the law of three would return whatever we had done. I am frequently asked for 'Love Spells' to make someone fall in love with the asker, and I adamantly refuse. This isn't love. This is extraordinary disrespect for the person you are trying to manipulate. A spell is like a prayer: it is communication, and sometimes a request, we make of our gods. Frequently we will work for healing, self improvements, inner strength, or help with skills like self honesty. We pray to our gods for the same reasons that members of other religions pray to their gods or God.
Is Wicca a "white light" spirituality? No, I would say not, although some may disagree with me. We generally believe in balance in all things. Simply taking the "happy" parts of life and assigning it a spiritual meaning is only half a spirituality. Walking the Wiccan way involves a great deal of introspection and self discovery. And you won't always like what you find. But there are lessons in the hardships in life; there are valuable things to be learned. While we may not actively seek out difficult life lessons, they do tend to find us regardless. This is a part of being a human being. If something bad happens, it is because it was meant to happen. There are things we need to learn, and even the painful things have meaning. In embracing the dark and painful parts of life as well, I believe that we, as well as many other major religions, are not "white light" spiritual paths.
All these things we are; and yet I would like to say one more thing. To members of other religions: we are not your enemy. I truly want to make this clear. We respect the individual's right to believe in what they will. We believe in other's rights to believe differently from ourselves. If sometimes we seem to be at odds with other spiritual paths, it is simply because we feel we are not being treated with the same respect. But we'd probably much rather sit down and chat over tea than be at odds with anyone.
Being such a varied and individual spiritual path, there is much more information I could go into. But I hope that this helps to explain some of the basics of "what Wicca is". As I mentioned before, not everything holds true for everyone, but this is the general basics of what it is we do and believe. If you have any questions, please feel free to visit my "Questions from the Community" section, and perhaps ask your own question.
Copyright Info: All articles by Keitha may be copied, posted, printed, distributed, reprinted, and linked to as long as the text is not changed, money is not earned, full credit is given to Keitha at www.glasstemple.com, and this notice is attached.
For all other uses, please contact me
© 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 2005 2006 Keitha.
All Other Rights Reserved.
Go forth in Peace and Love
Love, Light and Blessed Be
The Merlin
While trawling about looking for a topic for this week's blog post I came across this post that seemed to provide a very detailed yet simple introduction to Wicca. Again I must stress that this article is a repost and is used to help illustrate and educate. The discussions and ideas put forward in this article do not necessarily reflect my own ideas and beliefs. Enjoy.
What is Wicca? A Basic introduction
By: Keitha (FireWind)
Posted: November 23rd, 2001
Wicca is a much misunderstood spirituality that can be explained and described in more ways than can be imagined. Ask a hundred people what Wicca is, and you will likely get a hundred very different answers. This is because Wicca is a personal spirituality, a journey that an individual undertakes in one of a thousand different ways. It is unique to each and every individual that walks the path. While this is one of Wicca's greatest strengths, it also makes it very hard to describe what Wicca is in any kind of specific detail. In this article, I've attempted to explain the more generally accepted beliefs and practices of modern Wicca. My hope is that those with little experience dealing with Wiccans might better understand what it is that we 'do'.
Wicca is a type of Neopagan Witchcraft. That is to say, we generally practice a reconstructed version of pre-Christian European Pagan spirituality. Beliefs and practices are generally centered around a culture of the practitioners choosing, usually with a belief in that culture's deities and folklore, etc. However, since Wicca is a personal spirituality, this does not hold true for everyone. Many practitioners choose beliefs on the basis of what 'feels right', and you will find those who practice a mix of Celtic, Greek, Native, Sumerian, Hindu, Buddhist, and other beliefs. Wiccans have a high regard for the beliefs and practices of others, and for the individuals right to find their own path. As such, almost any combination of beliefs and practices is possible.
Being a Pagan spirituality, Wicca reveres the natural world. The Earth, the seasons, the tides, the moon and stars: all things are sacred. All life, all plants, animals, and peoples are sacred. I am sacred, and so are you, regardless of our similar or differing personal beliefs. We build no physical "churches" except when it is necessary. Our sacred places are outside, in the forests, in the fields, in our hearts.
Wiccans generally believe in both male and female aspects of divinity. Usually, both goddesses and gods are respected as equals, with neither aspect seen as "more important" than the other. While Wiccans can worship many gods at any given time, sometimes a general "Divine Feminine" is referred to as "The Goddess", and a "Divine Masculine" as "The God". The Goddess is generally seen as the shaper, the mother or wise one. It is She who brings forth life and shapes the world. The God is generally seen as the giver, of energy and life. He is the Horned One, the God of the forests, the grain, and the hunt. It is he that sometimes gives the spark to the Goddess that she may create and form life. The idea of The Goddess or The God is not an exclusive title or belief however, and the individual is free to worship whatever gods and goddesses they please.
We have only one law that governs ethics and morality: "An it harm none, do as ye will". We believe that all things are interconnected, and our thoughts and actions echo through the world in ways we might never have imagined. As such, all things we do are returned to us threefold- if we do ill, we are returned ill three times. If we do well, we are returned this also three times. And so our destiny is in our own hands, we must shape it as best we can. We are free to do whatever we like, but be careful of causing harm even unintentionally.
Our services are called rituals, and we honour the gods and the Old ways. We sing, we dance, we call our gods and celebrate life. It is hard to describe what happens at an average ritual, because almost every single one will be different from every other ritual. Everyone has their own idea of what a ritual should be, and everyone does theirs a little differently. Generally, we burn candles and incense, we talk with our gods, we look within ourselves, we try to understand the world around us, and we try to become better people.
There are some things that we do not do, however, and it's a shame that I have to cover them in this article. Because we claim the name 'Witch', there are some strange misconceptions about us. Following are some of the common ones.
Our gods are sometimes horned. They can be very sensual and sexual. Some of them die and some of them rule the Underworld. But none of our gods are the Christian devil. Our horned gods are the ancient fertility gods; they can be both the hunter and the stag. They are the power and joy of life itself. They are forces beyond time. They are not vengeful or rebellious children engaged in family feuding, and they care nothing for such things. Our gods are recorded on the walls of ancient caves; they are complete within themselves. Those that label them devils are misguided or confused. We are not satanists; we are Wiccans.
We are also frequently accused of performing sacrifices which take life. This is also untrue. We do make offerings of food, wine and flowers from time to time, but nothing much more than these. The closest we get to sacrifices is the pig that roasts for dinner, for those of us who eat meat.
Finally, we are sometimes accused of trying to "recruit" people into Wicca. This accusation is so groundless that I don't understand why it is still floating around. We believe that everyone has the right to choose their own path. We believe that no-one can tell another individual what is 'right' for them. We believe in the fundamental right to believe in whatever we choose. And we believe in your right to choose differently. Trying to force others to become Wiccan goes against everything that we are. There are few things that you can say is true for 'all Wiccans', but this I think is one of them. It is the acceptance of differences that makes a true community.
Wicca is a 'mystery religion', as opposed to a 'revealed religion'. This means that we have no holy books, no prophets, no holy people. There is no-one that can tell us the answers that we seek. There is no book that will explain what we don't understand. We believe that the answers are hidden within ourselves; we must work to search ourselves for our answers. No-one else can do it for us.
We cast spells, and we do magick. But we don't harm or manipulate others lives. If we were to do so, the law of three would return whatever we had done. I am frequently asked for 'Love Spells' to make someone fall in love with the asker, and I adamantly refuse. This isn't love. This is extraordinary disrespect for the person you are trying to manipulate. A spell is like a prayer: it is communication, and sometimes a request, we make of our gods. Frequently we will work for healing, self improvements, inner strength, or help with skills like self honesty. We pray to our gods for the same reasons that members of other religions pray to their gods or God.
Is Wicca a "white light" spirituality? No, I would say not, although some may disagree with me. We generally believe in balance in all things. Simply taking the "happy" parts of life and assigning it a spiritual meaning is only half a spirituality. Walking the Wiccan way involves a great deal of introspection and self discovery. And you won't always like what you find. But there are lessons in the hardships in life; there are valuable things to be learned. While we may not actively seek out difficult life lessons, they do tend to find us regardless. This is a part of being a human being. If something bad happens, it is because it was meant to happen. There are things we need to learn, and even the painful things have meaning. In embracing the dark and painful parts of life as well, I believe that we, as well as many other major religions, are not "white light" spiritual paths.
All these things we are; and yet I would like to say one more thing. To members of other religions: we are not your enemy. I truly want to make this clear. We respect the individual's right to believe in what they will. We believe in other's rights to believe differently from ourselves. If sometimes we seem to be at odds with other spiritual paths, it is simply because we feel we are not being treated with the same respect. But we'd probably much rather sit down and chat over tea than be at odds with anyone.
Being such a varied and individual spiritual path, there is much more information I could go into. But I hope that this helps to explain some of the basics of "what Wicca is". As I mentioned before, not everything holds true for everyone, but this is the general basics of what it is we do and believe. If you have any questions, please feel free to visit my "Questions from the Community" section, and perhaps ask your own question.
Copyright Info: All articles by Keitha may be copied, posted, printed, distributed, reprinted, and linked to as long as the text is not changed, money is not earned, full credit is given to Keitha at www.glasstemple.com, and this notice is attached.
For all other uses, please contact me
© 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 2005 2006 Keitha.
All Other Rights Reserved.
Go forth in Peace and Love
Love, Light and Blessed Be
The Merlin
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