Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

« Older Entries

Challenges and Triumphs of Being Pagan Today

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

In the last 30 years, paganism and related paths have made leaps and bounds in the number of resources and practitioners. But, we still have a ways to go.

Challenges

1. There is still religious discrimination going on everyday. In the last two years, Firefly has been turned down for a hotel when scheduling a conference, we have been turned town for liability insurance, and I have been turned down to rent a public park for a Pagan Pride Day event.. Most of them don’t tell you that in so many words, and unless it’s in the title, I do not disclose it, but it still happens. The insurance agent straight up said to me in an email that they don’t cover witchcraft. He googled The Firefly Academy.

Recently, there have been multiple stories of pentagrams next to nativity scenes around the holidays, and towns either denying the pagan symbol from being placed or disallowing any religion to place symbols on those public grounds.

And, there was this fight over the Veterans’ Pentacle in that the US Veterans Administration did not want to recognize Wicca as a formal religion and allow fallen soldiers to have the symbol placed on their tombstones.

In many places, it’s not safe to wear a pentagram. Some people seriously fear for their lives because if their family or neighbors found out that they were pagan, there may be serious or deadly consequences. I just got told that I was going to hell on more than one occasion. I didn’t have to worry about my life, but it is a serious risk. There was recently a story that came across the web about a woman being burned alive in another country because people thought she was a witch.

2. There are still anti-witchcraft and anti-divination laws on the books in some places. In the past few years, Livingston Parish in Louisiana had a witchcraft law passes and repealed. In Montgomery County, MD, divination is still illegal. In the UK, they passed a law that made it much easier for consumers to claim that folks offering spiritual and magickal services and divination could be charged with fraud if the consumer felt that they didn’t get what they paid for.

3. Despite all of the internet resources, it is still hard to find a local group or a coven. There are a lot more groups out there than there were 50 years ago, and there are a lot more ways to get in touch with groups, such as metaphysical shops and the internet. But, many groups keep to themselves. Ongoing promotion is difficult and can wear people out. And, when you find a group that mirror your path, you and the group might not have chemistry or mesh well. Let’s put it this way…you know for damn sure that there is a Christian church in whatever town you move into. But, you may not find any pagans in the town, let alone a group. Many people resort to starting their own groups, which is super in most cases, or practicing solitary.

4. Our books and our groups are not as mature as the majority of churches. We write more about how to practice paganism or what paganism is than we do about how to live a pagan life everyday. Or, about how paganism addresses life when times get tough. How d paganism addresses life we be pagan when the country is at war? How paganism addresses life when we’ve lost our jobs and the country is in recession? How paganism addresses life when we are coping with the loss of loved ones? How do we as pagan leaders start churches and counsel our members? Though we are on our way, our resources do not yet address many of the issues that other faiths are able to address.

5. There are very few physical pagan spaces. Sure, we have metaphysical shops here and there and Mother Earth and everything in nature can be considered a pagan space. I tend to consider anything that I relate to paganism a pagan space….such as the National Masonic Temple, the walking labyrinths you might find around, the Museum of the American Indian, and the Cherry Blossoms that were given to us by Japan.

But, most of our churches….most of our physical buildings and places of worship are our homes. These homes come with a price that everyone pays. Our leaders constantly split their homes between the private and the public space. And, our members will feel as even though they are welcome, there is a line where the group space becomes private space. When the class is over, when they don’t know where the dishes go, or that the space is usually only open when there is a scheduled activity. Collective pagan space allows us to have a sanctuary or sacred space, a place to put our stuff when we are not using it, and a place where everyone feels as if they have a stake of ownership.

I only know of a handful of current pagan spaces that don’t include nature or metaphysical shops. I am not counting the place that we’re pretty sure is becoming a cult or the other place where the priestess woke up one day and decided the whole church was converting to Christianity.

That said, Paganism has had many triumphs that benefit us all everyday.

1. Books. Over the last 30 years, there have been so many books about paganism and related topics written, printed, and bought. Every Borders and Barnes and Nobles has some sort of paganism section.

2. The internet. From witchvox.com and Wikipedia.org to yahoo groups and the general ability of anyone to make a website…Paganism has made leaps and bounds as a result. Because of the internet, TFA exists, and because of the internet, our administration board lies in the UK, PH, FL, and DC.

3. The resources for solitary learning is much more available. Thought some people will disagree with me, it’s no longer necessary to seek out one of the traditional covens and petition to be a student of the Craft. You can sit at home and find out so much through books, websites, and podcasts about many pagan paths.

4. Social Networking is a superstar triumph of paganism.

I am Facebook friends with many of the people listening to this podcast right now. And, on top of that, I am Facebook friends with Christopher Penczak, Starhawk, Raven Grimassi, Selena Fox, and other notable pagans. Any of us could drop them a Facebook message at any time. I am friends with local pagan leaders in the DC area, and that helps us find a mode of familiarity necessary in communicating. I am Facebook friends with my coven members and the people in my meetup group. I am Facebook friends with many of my students. I am Facebook friends with total strangers that understand when I post a picture of the full moon that I was having a religious experience.

Sites like Facebook, Myspace, Paganspace, Covenspace, Twitter, and Friendster help us connect with each other and communicate on an instantaneous level.

Not only do we have instant access to other pagans, but we have instant access to leaders, teachers, and clergy persons. If you need a prayer, just tweet. If you need a candle lit, just update your status. If you need a friend, just look to your profile.

5. Pagan paths are getting talked about. This year, there have been so many shows involving witches. From religious discrimination in the news to television shows, the chatter is happening. Eastwick is a primetime show on ABC about witches. The Simpsons episode this past Sunday was about Lisa joining a coven. The Mentalist recently did a show involving a Wiccan girl. Hallmark did a made-for-TV movie about a witch who moves into town and how the town treated her. House, the lead character on the show with the same name, is Wiccan. And, there are rumors that the gothic forensic scientist on NCIS, Abbey, is Wiccan.

That is all for this episode.

I know that there are many more challenges and triumphs than I talked about, but these are just the ones that came to mind. I would love to hear some of your experiences or opinions. Visit fireflychronicles.org and comment on this episode.

Blessed be.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Full Strawberry Moon Ritual

Saturday, June 6th, 2009

The phone never rang last night.  It was an amazing feat to get fifteen people to the apartment that I share with Brigid without spending an hour giving our guests directions.  Of course, many of them had been to the place before.  “Once you make it once, the trip will become easier the next time around!”  I keep repeating words of reassurance that the difficulty getting to the cramped city venue, finding parking in one of the most crowded sections of Arlington, and navigating around the complex quad-building cluster are all completely worth it, because it becomes second nature after awhile.

Of course, it is by the first metro train stop into Virginia from the District of Columbia.  And, the quick sight of the Iwo Jima Memorial against Arlington National Cemetery while walking to the building is attention-getting.

However, we cannot see this from the Covenstead.

Iwo Jima Memorial

Tomorrow is the Full Strawberry Moon, and we had gathered in my Virginia apartment to celebrate the lunar energies that were about to hit their peak, to celebrate our growing community, and to celebrate life.   Our handmaiden (Nancy) and our quarter guardians (Brigid, Willow, Patrick, and Mike) do a wonderful job of getting our altars set up.  Our summoner swept the space and smudged it, as well as the participants in it.  We gathered around the circle, and commenced to call the quarters.

She volunteered to call East, and ended up setting up the East altar.  Though I found this out later, and despite the fact that she’s my roommate, I had forgotten that this was Brigid’s first ritual in roughly the 10 to 13 years she’s identified herself as Pagan.  She faced the East and called out, “Hail to thee, Oh Spirits of the East, Powers of Air. We call you to this full moon circle to guide and protect our workings.”  Turning to the participants, she continued, “I ask you all to take a few deep breaths. Feel the nourishing air as it fill your lungs and travels through your body.”  She paused for a moment.  “Feel the thought forms in your mind for the pure movement of energy that they are. Hear the vibrations of my words as if each sound was a speeding car traveling down a country road.    Calling out to the element, “Spirits of the East, magnify our work here tonight, so that it shines with us through this entire month. Powers of Air, Hail and Welcome!”

Everyone confirmed, “Hail and Welcome!”  And Brigid lit the candle on her altar set aside to complete the summoning.

Willow took the lighter from Brigid and held her hands out, calling out to Fire.  “Hail to thee, Oh Spirits of the South, Powers of Fire. We call you to this full moon circle to guide and protect our workings. I ask you all to put your hand over your heart. Feel the hot blood as it pumps through your system, the hot, fiery lava of your life force.  Feel the passion that you have growing, expanding around you…the passion for life, for love, for your career, for your Craft, or whatever drives you.”  Willow began clapping.  “Let the rhythm carry you as if the universe were created on this very beat.  Spirits of the South magnify our work here tonight, so that it shines with us through this entire month. Powers of the Fire, Hail and Welcome!”

With hands outstretched, Patrick called out to the West.  “Hail to thee, Oh Spirits of the West, Powers of Water. We call you to this full moon circle to guide and protect our workings.   I ask you all to close your eyes and reach out into the dark, unknown abyss into the murky waters of your dreams. ( Recall a body of water by which you found peace or positive energy. It may be an ocean, a river, or a lake, but see that body of water in your mind.  Feel the movement of water as you gaze at it. Is it still? Is it flowing? Allow this feeling to carry you as if all life-giving waters of the universe originate here.  Spirits of the West magnify our work here tonight, so that it shines with us through this entire month. Powers of Water, Hail and Welcome!”

Mike reached out to the North.  “Hail to thee, Oh Spirits of the North, Powers of Earth. We call you to this full moon circle to guide and protect our workings. (To the participants) I ask you all to feel the movement of energy that we have been building through your body and slowly become aware of your feet. Suddenly, they are not your feet, but you have begun to grow roots into the ground. These roots travel through the floor of this apartment, through the ceiling of the one below it. They continue to move through the other floors, the inhabitants oblivious to the tree roots that have taken over their homes. Down, down, down…your roots grow and grow and grow through the first floor and down into the ground where only the insects and animals live. (Pause) And, like them…you feed upon the earth, allowing energy to flow up your roots, through your body, and to your energy center. Allow this channel of energy to stay open through our working. Spirits of the North, magnify our work here tonight, so that it shines with us through this entire month. Powers of Earth, Hail and Welcome!”

Then, I took a deep breath and stretched my hands out high into the sky.  “Hail to thee, Great Spirit! We call you to this full moon circle to connect the Powers of Earth and Fire and Water and Air.  Reach your hands into the sky, for now your are a great tree. Not only do you have impressive roots, but you have great branches that reach, reach, reach for the sky. Your branches extend up and up until you can see the tops of all of the buildings and the monuments around. The big silver buildings next to you become an arm rest and the Potomac River becomes nothing more than a vein on your foot. Soon, you are staring at the black abyss of space, the same black abyss that you saw when you closed your eyes. (Pause) You see the stars as neighbors, and like them…you feed on the divine energy that swirls in the cosmos…allowing energy to flow down your branches, through your body, and to your energy center. Allow this channel of energy to stay open through our working.  Great Spirit, magnify our work here tonight, so that it shines with us through this entire month. Hail and Welcome!”

“Father God, we call you to this full moon circle to shine down your blessing. It is you, the Sun, that nourishes the plants and warms the land. Hail and Welcome.”

“Mother Goddess, we call you to this full moon circle to shine down your blessing. It is you that is the fertile earth that feeds the plants and animals. Hail and Welcome.”

In instructed everyone to take a seat on the floor, on a chair, or to continue to stand.  Positioning myself where everyone could see me, I began to read.  “We are here to celebrate the Full Strawberry Moon tonight. The actual full moon occurs at 2:12 pm June 7th, this Sunday afternoon. In the Celtic Tree calendar from May 13th through June 9th is The Hawthorn Month, making this also the Hawthorn Moon. Hawthorn is a prickly sort of plant with beautiful blossoms. The Hawthorn month is a time of fertility, masculine energy, and fire. It is a symbol of the coming summer, hope, and pleasure. On June 10th, we will transition into the Oak month, which is a time of strength, cleansing, self-confidence, and optimism. The Oak moon falls during a time when the trees are beginning to reach their full blooming stages. The mighty Oak is strong, powerful, and typically towering over all of its neighbors. The Oak King rules over the summer months, and this tree was sacred to the Druids.

“Other names for this full moon include the Rose Moon, because roses are in full bloom at this time, and the Hot Moon, because, well, this is when it first starts to get hot during the year. It is also called the Mead Moon, the Dyad Moon, and the Honey Moon. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, Native Americans named this full moon the Strawberry Moon, because of it’s occurrence during the short strawberry harvesting season. This name was universal to every Algonquin tribe.

“Fragaria is a group of flowering plants in the rose family, which are commonly known as strawberries for their edible fruits. There are more than 20 described species and many hybrids. The most common strawberries grown commercially are the garden strawberry. Strawberries have a taste that ranges from quite sweet to rather tart. Strawberries are a very important commercial fruit crop.

“The strawberry is false fruit; in that the fleshy part is derived not from the ovaries which are the “seeds” but from the peg at the bottom of the floral structure that holds the ovaries. So from a technical standpoint, the seeds are the actual fruits of the plant, and the flesh of the strawberry is modified tissue that holds the seeds together. It is whitish-green as it develops and in most species turns red when ripe. All strawberries have seeds that are visible from the outside.

“In mythology, Strawberries are connected to the Norse goddess of love, Freyja. Also, a Norse legend exists where the spirits of children enter the afterlife by hiding in strawberries that are taken to heaven by Frigga, Oden’s wife.

“According to About.com, Greek mythology places the origins of the wild strawberry with the Goddess Aphrodite who, upon the death of the beautiful, but mortal Adonis wept with such passion that her tears fell to the ground as small red hearts… strawberries. Not surprising, then, that in the Middle Ages, strawberries became known as the fruit of temptation and seduction, both for which Aphrodite was well known.

“Strawberries in Winter” is a Slovakian Cinderella story about a beautiful girl whose father dies and she is left to live with her step-mother and step-sister. As we know, she ends up doing all of the housework. Meanwhile, her step-sister meets with prospective husbands. The sheer beauty of the “Cinderella”, however, is enough to distract the suitors from the step-sister. The step-sister and mother realize this and begin sending her on what seem to be impossible missions. She is asked to gather strawberries, as well as violets and apples, in the middle of the winter. They do this in hope that she will freeze outside and not come home. Each time she becomes extremely cold she happens upon the Council of the Seasons and asks if she can warm herself by their fire. They consent and help her to gather whatever she needs to return home. On the third outing she comes home with only two apples. The step-mother and step-sister devour them. Wanting more, they decide to go out and search for some. They too run into the Council of Seasons, but warm themselves in the fire without permission, and they are rude to the members of the Council. Knowing who these individuals must be, January sends out a storm of snow and ice, and they never return. This shows that it is better to be like the beautiful sister and the strawberries: modest and “sweet in life and character.”

I placed my athame and reinforcing hand over the strawberries and projected the positive energy that we had raised into them.  “Fertile Goddess, we ask you to bless these strawberries to allow us to take the lesson of modesty and being sweet in life and character with us. As we eat of the flesh of this fruit, allow us to retain this lesson throughout the season. So mote it be. ”

“So mote it be,” everyone reaffirmed.

We passed the strawberries around, each person taking one and enjoying the fruit.  Before closing the circle, we partook in cakes and ale.  Brigid and I had picked up name tags at the drugstore, so that our participants could call each other by name.  After blessings the cakes, I turned to Brigid.  As I made eye contact, smiled, and genuinely wished her well, I said, “Brigid, thou art Goddess.  May you eat and never hunger.”  The cakes made their way through all 16 participants, and then back to me.  We had to use our large bamboo cutting board to support the little cups of ale.  Fair trade cups, might I add.  Gary contributed grape juice, while Elizabeth brought a bottle of “the best mead there is,” of which she is the sole distributor in the United States.

After closing the circle, we exchanged hugs and cleaned up.  Everyone stayed around for about thirty minutes to socialize.

It was the best ritual that we’ve had yet.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

I Ching

Saturday, January 31st, 2009

What is I Ching?
The I Ching, or Book of Changes, one of the oldest ancient Chinese classical text, describes an ancient system of Chinese cosmology and philosophy. When used in divination, this book has become somewhat of an oracle with an increasingly popular following. In this divination, an item (such as coins, yarrow stalks, or dice) is cast to build a hexagram. Each line is either representing Yin (the passive or feminine force) or Yang (the active or masculine force). The resulting hexagram is then looked up in the I Ching itself to show a passage describing what each of the 6 lines means. There are 64 possible hexagrams, each of which can be further broken down into groups of 3 lines called trigrams.

How to Get Started
First, you probably want to get a copy of the I Ching (with hexagram pictures included). Here is another good translation. Then, choose a method of creating a hexagon. We’ll use coins today, but you could pick yarrow stalks, dice, marbles, etc. There are 64 different hexagram possibilities. The idea is to use chance/fate to create a hexagram, then look up the associated passage in the I Ching. Depending on the way the hexagram gets laid out, some of the lines may be considered old, and thus changing. So, a secondary hexagram may come out of the first.

All of this may be a little confusing, and that is okay. I have listed all of this information on the podcast website. Go to fireflychronicles.org. I am brand new to this, but I was just so excited at this new divination technique that I had to share it with you.

It is important to understand that a hexagram is just 6 horizontal, parallel lines.

I Ching
Hexagram

Lines are numbered from bottom (line 1) to top (line 6). Divided lines represent Yin and undivided lines are Yang. Lines can be new (unchanging) or old (changing).

  • Old Yin (yin changing into yang) can be divided and gray or have the symbol —x—
  • Young Yang (unchanging yang), are undivided with the symbol ——–
  • Young Yin (unchanging yin), are divided and have the symbol — —
  • Old Yang (yang changing into yin), can be solid and gray or with the number 9 and symbol —o—

When you have old yin or yang lines show up in your hexagram, all this indicates is that you will end up with a second hexagram and a second passage of the I Ching to interpret at the end.

For this portion, I will use coins, because it seems to be very quick and easily accessible. While you toss all three at once for each line in the hexagram, there are several ways of counting the coins. Below is one method. Use three coins with distinct head and tail sides.

  • Begin with the first (bottom) line and ending with the sixth (top) line.
  • Toss all three coins at the same time.
  • Write down the resulting line.
    • Heads = 3, Tails = 2
    • Total the value for all three coins. The total will be six, seven, eight or nine.
    • Write that number down for that line.
    • 6 = old yin, 7 = young yang, 8 = young yin, 9 = old yang.
  • Once six lines have been determined, the hexagram is formed.
  • Look up the initial (moving) hexagram in the I Ching and read the passage.
  • Then, make the changes that need to be made, if any, to end up with a second (resolved) hexagram.
  • —x— becomes ——–
  • —o— becomes — —
  • Look up the second hexagram and read the associated passage.
  • Interpret both passages together.

Here is an example, if you get: 7, 7, 9, 8, 8, 6,

Your Hexagrams will read like this:

— x —

———

———

—-o—-

—  —

—  —

Hexagram 31, Xian

 >>

(change to)

———

———

———

—  —

—  —

—  —

Hexagram 12, Pi

Tags: , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Bibliomancy

Saturday, January 31st, 2009

What is Bibliomancy
Bibliomancy is divining by using books, specifically sacred book, such as the Bible, Qur’an, I Ching, or Book of Shadows. It is recommended that the book be one that is considered to hold truth. It is a form of Stichomancy, which is fortune telling by selecting a random passage of text from a book.

How to Get Started
Bibliomancy is an easy technique to pick up. A random passage can be interpreted for what it is. Or, a question can be asked and the passage interpreted based on that question.

· Pick a book (either random or sacred).

· Balance it on its spine and allow it to fall open.

· Close your eyes and pick a passage.

· Interpret that passage in relation to the topic, question, or situation.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Deeper into the Rede

Sunday, February 3rd, 2008

Wicca is a religion that recognizes the laws of nature and the universe as an integral part of life. Besides these natural laws, there are few written tenants that transcend the divide between tradition-defined and eclectic Wicca. Most use the Wiccan Rede, for guidance, and interpret these writings with their personal understanding and experience. Others may belong to a tradition or coven that defines a certain ethical or moral code.

At The Firefly Academy, we teach for eclectic practitioners that may either desire to be solitary or to work with a group. With this considered, each person defines their own exact ethical code by which to live, however guided by the understanding of the Wiccan Rede and other writings. I must mention that I was taught by a coven, yet I do not follow or teach the ways of any specific tradition. You may find that this lecture is tainted with my own beliefs and practices. On that note, this lecture will be written from my own interpretation, and I ask that you keep this in mind.

Aleister Crowley was an infamous mystic, who lived in the early 20th century. We should note methods were questionable, but his writings had an impact upon Gerald Gardner and his group. Personally, I feel that Crowley was a mixture of crazy and brilliance, and that comes out in almost everything that he did. In LIBER AL vel LEGIS, Crowley scribed, “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.” These words heavily influenced:

The Wiccan Rede: “And ye harm none, do what thou wilt.”

When we discuss the Wiccan Rede, we enter a discussion of morals, ethics, and values. Though very short and seemingly simple, it has left for many interpretations of what exactly it means. Harm none, do what you will. There are many questions we can ask. Our human existence makes it complicated. What is considered harming? What is included when we say “none”? What if we did not intend to harm? Does that mean we can do ANYTHING as long as we are not harming anything? What happens if we do harm something? Who keeps track of all of this?

Not specifically written, this guideline indicates that Wicca is a self-policing religion. It is maintained that we must be aware of what we do, think, and feel, as well as take responsibility for our positive and negative actions. The most effective way of understanding and putting this law into effect in our lives is awareness. We need to become aware of how we effect the world around us, as well as think through the effects of our actions before we carry them out.

Harm is anything that has a negative effect on someone or something. This includes physical injury, as well as moral injury (i.e. manipulation, domination, emotional harm, etc.). Harm occurs in many degrees, and is closely coupled with intent. In the scheme of this, most would agree that a “little white lie” holds less weight than murder. Also, Intending and planning to murder is much worse moral offense than killing in defense.

Harm can be caused directly to something as well as indirectly to something. In Bee Movie, the main character sues humans to get back all of the honey that humans stole from bees. The bees ended up with so much honey that they became lazy, and no longer worked with the flowers. The result was that the flowers did not get pollinated and all died. Indirectly, this one little bee caused the flowers to die. In the end, he took responsibility for his actions, and set everything right. That is definitely a big lesson in thinking our actions through first.

Though “none” indicates zero, nothing, nobody, it includes most everything. As a result of our lectures sessions, we have discussed that an existence without harm is not possible. With that in mind, we can begin to divide harm into several categories. There are harms that are intentional, unintentional, and part of the natural process of survival and balance. Obviously, this means not to harm other people. Something unspoken, yet recognized, is to not harm yourself. Do not abuse yourself, allow yourself to be healthy and happy. Do not harm the planet. Do not harm the universe. Care for the things in which life energy resonates, such as animals, rocks, and trees.

Of course, this creates some form of contradiction just by typing it. Somehow, the energy that powers my home and internet, the plastic and electronics that make up my computer, as well as the cement from the building that I live in, and the waste that I produce all have some form of indirect harm on the planet. By driving my car, I cause small harm to the earth. Though we are from many different countries and cities, I will assume that your society is somewhat like mine. We are apart of these societies, because it would be nearly impossible for us to function otherwise. It is possible for some people to live a life that does not harm the earth, but not for all of us. It is important to be aware of how the way we live impacts the earth, and strive to make a small imprint. I am afraid that none of us can escape the harm we cause as a society and global community, no matter what kind of life we live. We can only seek to lessen the degree to which it occurs, or to take with reverence, and give back to the earth.

In The Spiral Dance, Starhawk wrote, “While the Craft recognizes that life feeds on life and that we must kill in order to survive, life is never taken needlessly, never squandered or wasted. Serving the life forces means working to preserve the diversity of natural life, to prevent the poisoning of the environment and the destruction of the species.”

When it comes to the self, we can overlook a lot of harm that we cause. Our spiritual experience is affected by our physical state. The amount of physical activity that we participate in, the state of our nutrition, the amounts that we take in various substances (alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, and other drugs) can all have a negative effect on our lives. However, by figuring out what we need more of, what we need less of, and what we should rule out all together, we can better take care of ourselves, and be more effective in the spiritual realm. In Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, Scott Cunningham stated, “It also ensures that you’ll be in good condition to take on the tasks of preserving and bettering our world, for concern and love for our planet play major roles in Wicca.”

Yes, “harm none, do what you will” says that we can do ANYTHING as long as we are aware of our actions, think them through, and be willing and ready to accept the consequences or give back if necessary.

When harm is done, a common tenant couple with the Wiccan Rede is the Threefold Law. Similar to the eastern philosophy of karma, this concept is based on cause and effect. To sum it up, that which you put out into the universe comes back you to times three. This applies to positive, negative, and everything that falls in between. We live in a place were death often brings new life, where the tides come and go, and where we all experience ups and downs. What we put out comes back. A popular phrase says, “Do unto other others as you would have others do unto you.”

There are times when NOT acting is harming, even with the best intentions. A commonly-cited scenario, which just popped up in one of our Mystical Forest discussions, is a shooter coming into an establishment, and a person who could have stopped the shooter fails to act. This one person did not stop the shooter, because he or she felt it wrong to harm someone else, even under the circumstances. But, the shooter went on to kill 10 people, even though it could have been prevented. In that situation, not harming caused a greater harm. The tenants and writings that we look at are merely guidelines. They cannot apply in all situations. You are responsible for being aware of when to act and when not to act, as well as what the outcome will be. Just as if you get pulled over for speeding, ignorance of the situation is not a defense, and will not get you out of a ticket.

“Every man and every woman is a star.” In my copy of The Book of the Law, the introduction says that each person is, “an aggregate of…experiences, constantly changing with every fresh event, which affects him or her subconsciously or consciously.” And that the object that you see is never the same one that I see. This indicates that we all have unique experiences, and events impress upon us differently, creating us each our own universe. The way we look out upon the physical world is through these experiences, or a window of events, and our morals and ethics will be affected by this.

I feel that “The Book of the Law” is worth reading: http://www.sacred-texts.com/oto/engccxx.htm

The Ardanes, “Old Laws”, or the 161 Laws, were introduced by Gerald Gardner, and the original document was suspected to have been created by Gardner himself. Some of these laws are controversial, and others unnecessary. I had not encountered them until doing further research on the Wiccan Law. A discussion has developed on this topic in the forum: http://firefly.mrooms.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=137

More information on the 161 Laws: http://wicca.timerift.net/laws/161.shtml

Some further reading for later:
http://www.waningmoon.com/ethics/rede1.shtml
http://realmagick.com/articles/12/12.html

*NOTE: This lecture was originally written as the Wiccan Law. Throughout my years of training and study, I was taught that the Wiccan Law is “And ye harm none, do what thou wilt” and that the Wiccan Rede was the longer prose version. I never gave it a second thought. However, through our discussion on this lecture, it was brought to my attention that a law is a law, which provides for little exceptions, and that a rede is a guide. I agree with this statement, so I have adapted this lecture to reflect.

Questions:
1. What are your thoughts?
2. How do you interpret the Rede? Similar or different from my point of view?
3. Do you disagree or agree with any of the above parts? Why or why not?I

Tags:
Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

The Dangers of Witchcraft

Monday, January 21st, 2008

While Wicca teaches the use of magick to enact a positive change, there are still dangers to beware. If you google “dangers of witchcraft”, you will be bombarded with materials written by non-practicing individuals with a religiously conservative message. Some of them even cite Harry Potter as some sort of example or proof of their claims. While spouting off devil danger might be very real to them, for those who practice the Craft, we have different concerns.

Continuous practice may lead to the realization of some of these items. Others are common sense. Some you may never have to deal with. In a discussion in the Mystical Forest, an advanced forum for students who have completed Wicca 2, we took up this topic for discussion. I present you some of the dangers that we discussed. There are 21 of them, so I will post them one at a time. While exploring these items, be thinking about their relevance, experiences you have personally had with them, as well as what you have witnessed with other people, why some of these issues arise, and how to deal with them when they do. We will begin in just a moment.

1. In some countries or cultures, there are social ramifications for practicing witchcraft. While in many countries, residents can go about their religion and personal practice as they see fit, others are not so fortunate. More than a few students have commented that they are practicing in secret, that they are taking online classes, because if exposed in their town, it could provoke an unwanted response. To others, their family and friends may have adverse reactions to the truth.

2. Many aspects of witchcraft are too complicated for children and possibly younger teens to deal with. The Craft takes will power, emotional, physical, and mental stability, as well as maturity. While we would give a young person a gun that shoots bubbles, we would not give them a gun that shoots bullets.

3. Fad experimentation could lead to one accidentally stumbling into risky situations. When some people choose to rebel against social norms, witchcraft can be appealing. When I was in high school, I hung with a group of social rebels. When I decided to study Wicca, the whole group did, too. Some of us took up serious study, and others experimented with topics beyond their ability. I have also encountered several people who study a bit here and there with great personal gains in mind. Those who practice the Craft based on their desperation to complete a task, such as to cast spells to force an ex-lover to come back. Some look for power, and may even seek to mimic tales of witches, wizards, and warlocks, and supernatural adventures. Getting oneself into complicated situations is always way easier than getting out of them.

4. Working in the realm of the Spirit, with spirits and other entities, as well as with energy can increase the spirit activity around a person, or one’s awareness of spirit activity. Once a door is opened, it is difficult to close it, and some people may be spooked or uncomfortable with these types of experiences.

5. If one does not know how to properly ground, or has difficulty grounding, this could result in an “energy hangover”, in which an excess of energy causes headaches, body aches, and other similar symptoms. Some practitioners can become addicted to the “energy buzz” of working with magick.

6. Difficulty around electronic equipment. For example, common is the static shock from clothes and skin becoming eclectically charged.

7. Some new or increased allergies or sensitivities may occur. These are not to be confused with normal sensitivities that occur as a person’s body changes with age. For example, with age, I have become mildly sensitive to some detergents, cilantro, and lactose. However, once I began to practice witchcraft, I developed sensitivity to most metal that I attribute to my involvement in the Craft. If it is not sterling silver or platinum, I have trouble keeping earring in my ears or rings on my fingers without swelling.

8. An wave of unexpected depression that can come every now and then.

9. Elemental issues. I have a tendency to get burned when I am angry. Also, when I am not grounded, I trip on everything. Everything. I lose the ability to automatically sense the distance between objects.

10. There are several physical hazards to be wary of during ritual. One could become disoriented during trance work/aspecting, knocking over lit candles, tripping on things, or cutting oneself.

11. Traveling on such a path can cause physical/mental illnesses to crop up or come back. The spiritual experience requires a great stability in all facets of life. It is best to make sure that one is stable in their mental, physical, and emotional selves before continuing on one’s path, even in practicing witchcraft.

12. Drug abuse can result if a person cannot cope with such a drastic fluctuation in energy, and then this translates to an instability that is pacified with a psychotropic substance.

13. The high energy and personal closeness of a coven can become a sexual concern. For example, a person may develop an attraction to another in the circle because of the sensual, attractive power of magick, even if the individual is in a committed relationship outside.

14. One can stumble in to financial stress as a result of a tool addiction. Folks who become obsessed with obtaining tools, books, memberships, and classes may put themselves into financial trouble trying to acquire these things. The Craft requires no tools to practice, and there are always alternatives for each person to fit practice into their own lifestyle. I have seen people get carried away.

15. The after shock of initiation (or even dedication in some cases) can be overwhelming.

16. One concern for some people is an addiction to divination, or an over-reliance on divination to make life choices. While divination is a form of communication with the divine, it can only guide our choices. It cannot make the choices for us. I have had a couple of people write to me with concerns about divination experiences. One lady kept visiting self-proclaimed psychics, who would do readings for her, and tell her that she could have what she wanted if she paid several hundred dollars for spells and potions. She never paid them, but she always took their word on her fate, and made major life decisions based on it. I have stopped astrologically over-analyzing the men that I date. It’s sort of weird when a girl asks a guy in what city and what time he was born on the first date. After a couple of times, I realized I was a little over-reliant.

17. Over-reliance on spell work for even the most mundane tasks.

18. Paranoia, or the fear that one is being hexed or cursed, when there are no signs.

19. An over-reliance on coven mates. Since, covens are essentially family, some people can take took many liberties. One of our coven mates leaned on the group for help doing many tasks. One of my last encounters with this person was when our whole coven and our actual family members came over to help him move out in 2 days. We were told everything would be packed and a dolly built, but nothing was done, and our friend was sleeping when we arrived, and it took us awhile to wake him. Needless to say, we not only moved him, but packed him, and cleaned the place, too.

20. People change. One of the fundamental goals on this path is a deeper personal exploration and understanding.

21. Increase in an underlying empathic ability. For some people, the ability to sense the moods and feelings of other living things can open up to the point of suffocation before they get it under control.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Judge Says No Wiccan Kids to One Split Couple

Thursday, January 10th, 2008

In 2004, Thomas Jones and Tammie Bristol were ordered by a judge “to shelter the child from involvement in and observation of these non-mainstream religious beliefs and rituals”, referring to their practice of Wicca. Both parents were Wiccan. Their son was 9 years old at the time of this decree, and attended a Catholic school.

The question in this issue became whether or not the court had the right to make a decision on what religion their children will follow. Custody typically dictates that a parent has the right to make those kind of decisions for their children. In some cases where parents share custody, and religious education and practice cannot be agreed upon, the courts can make stipulations. They can establish that children not be exposed to one parent’s religion or the other until a certain age when the children are more mature.

The father commented “This was done without either of us requesting it and at the judge’s whim. It is upsetting to our son that he cannot celebrate holidays with us, including Yule, which is winter solstice, and Ostara, which is the spring equinox.”

This decree was overturned in mid-2005.

An article on Religioustolerance.org commented that maybe the judge was unaware of many things: the nature of Wicca, that many non-Catholics attend private Catholic schools, that some people consider themselves Wiccan and Christian, and the above all…the First Amendment.

Tags:
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Freedom for All Religions?

Thursday, January 10th, 2008

As nativity scenes popped up for the holiday season, some government groups considered whether or not they should allow these religious symbols to be displayed on government property. In the news as of late have been two groups that said yes. This was conditional to allowing other groups to display their own holiday religious displays.

In the United States, nativities scenes were set up at City Hall in the cities of Olean, NY, and Green Bay, WI. In both cities, the displays were eventually joined by pentacles, permission granted by both city governments to put them there. In both cases, the pentacles were vandalized. The Green Bay pentacle wreath, donated by Circle Sanctuary, was torn down, and the Olean pentacle was run over by a truck. The Olean nativity scene was relocated down the street to the yard of a church.

The Green Bay council received 6 requests to put up displays. After the holiday pentacle was vandalized, the mayor put a moratorium on religious displays outside of city hall until the matter could be discussed. Whether or not the president of the council should have been allowed to put up the nativity in the first place is the question that they considered. After a vote, where the mayor was the tie breaker, the council decided to leave the nativity up through the holiday.

The controversy does not end there. The Freedom from Religion Foundation indicated that they were not satisfied with the decision, and filed a lawsuit against the city at the end of 2007. According to the foundation’s president, plaintiffs on the lawsuit include a Lutheran, a Buddhist, a Unitarian Universalist, a Wiccan and an Episcopalian. The suit alleges that the council president used his office to display the religious symbol, instead of placing it on his personal property.

Tags:
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Fortune-telling Outlaws in Livingston Parish

Thursday, January 10th, 2008

No soothsaying, no fortune telling, no palm reading, no clairvoyance, no crystal ball gazing, no mind reading, no card reading. If you take cash, check, or charge for these services, that is all against the law in Livingston Parish. This according to an ordinance that was passed on May 10th, 2007.

The ordinance violates the right to free speech, alleges a lawsuit that was filed by a local business in U.S. District Court on Tuesday. Gryphon’s Nest Gifts Inc. also stated that the ordinance “promotes Christian mythology over paganism.” The suit asks the court to declare the ordinance unconstitutional, to issue a permanent injunction prohibiting the parish from enforcing the ordinance and to assess damages.

The owner of the shop that filed the suit said that messages from the divine through the prohibited methods should be treated in the same manner as a message from God to a Christian priest. He also commented that anyone who uses “fortune telling to steal money should be arrested under laws against fraud.”

Tags:
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Man Claims "Spell Gone Wrong" Killed His Two Daughters

Thursday, January 10th, 2008

Larry Harris claimed a spell that went horribly wrong killed two of his daughters. Ten year-old Kendra and her eight year-old sister, Alysha were found dead on the 2nd floor of their Sioux City, Iowa home. Firefighters discovered their bodies while responding to a fire call Sunday afternoon. Investigators ruled the fire suspicious. According to police, the girls had been strangled and stabbed prior to the fire.

Their 24 year-old father is now charged with 2 counts of first degree murder. According to the area’s newspapers, no one bought the “witchcraft killed my kids” excuse. The head of a Sioux City area Wiccan Church commented, “Being part of a spell that had gone wrong…doesn’t make sense, I don’t know what the man’s religion was, if it turns out he was a Wiccan, then I would say, as a Wiccan, throw the book at him.” A judge will inevitably decide if this is witchcraft or trickery.

It is unclear which religion Harris followed. KMEG reported that his wife respected his beliefs, but asked him not to practice in the house. He was apparently doing a spell to help her third child to stay out of trouble.

Tags:
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

« Older Entries