Ostara

Ostara came and went in the blink of an eye! As happens, life has been busy with all its ups and downs and I'm finally finding some time to get to some of the things that have been on my to-do list. Like post Ostara pictures!.

Here are some pictures of my Ostara altar for this year. I left up most of what I had for Imbolc and added a few items like the eggs I had dyed last year. I changed out the crystals adding some pretty ones that I thought represented Ostara.

If you follow my blog you'll know that last year Mary spoke to me saying she wanted to be on my Imbolc altar and so she is here and will stay on the altar through the end of May. As May is the month of Mary, I'll change the altar to reflect this special month.

I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Ostara!

Dear . . .

I received an email the other day from someone asking questions about Paganism. She was curious and didn't know where to start. Yes, she'd been on the internet, but wasn't sure she could trust the information she was reading as she really didn't have an idea of what to look for. Here are some of my answers that perhaps might help some of you who are curious, but don't know where to begin.

I have been a Pagan for just a little over a year, although I suspect I've been Pagan all my life. When I decided that Paganism was for me, I started to read, read, read, getting my hands on all kinds of books that I thought could lead me along my path. The first book on Paganism I read was simply titled 'Paganism' by Joyce and River Higgenbotham. This is an excellent book and a terrific place to start if you're new in discovering your path. Another book by Joyce and River Higgenbotham is 'Pagan Spirituality'. I recommend both of these books as a starting point and then go out to the book stores in your area (if you have second hand book stores start there as you can find many of the books I suggest and others there for half the cost of new). And don't forget the library too. Find as many books as you can get your hands on and read them. I like to journal as I'm reading, jotting down notes of things that stand out for me, ideas and what not. This is a good basis for your Book of Shadows too, if you chose to have one.

Trying to explain the belief system of a Pagan is like trying to count the clouds in the sky. There are many different paths that lead off of Paganism. Some of them are Wicca (the path that I follow), Druidism, Heathenry/Asatru, Faery Tradition, et cetera. Then off of Wicca there is Eclectic Wicca (the path that I follow), Dianic Wicca, Gardnerian, Alexandrian, et cetera. Once you read about Paganism and understand the foundation of it, then you can decide which path of Paganism you want to follow. The internet is a terrific resource for information, and I think once you understand what Paganism is, you'll have a better idea of which sites are good and which are not.

A good first book on Wicca is called 'Wicca Demystified' by Bryan Lankford. It talks about what Wicca is in the first part of the book and then in the second part of the book there are questions and answers which I found most helpful and insightful. Another good starting book is 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft'. This book is informative and easy to read. Again, if Wicca is a path you're interested in, read, read, read.

The belief system I have as a Wiccan is this: First there is Spirit, the Creator, the Divine. From the Divine the God and Goddess are manifest. From the God and Goddess there are interpretations of them from different pantheons. For example, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Celtic, Hindu, et cetera. One would call upon a certain deity (God or Goddess) depending on what is needed or desired. For instance, if you want to manifest money in a big way, you could call upon 'Lakshmi' the Hindu Goddess of wealth and prosperity. As a Wiccan I also work with the elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water.

One thing that most Neo-Pagans have in common is the Wheel of the Year which contains eight Sabbats. The Sabbats are Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lughnasadh, Mabon, Samhain, Yule. You can search the internet for more information on the Sabbats and one book that I recommend is called 'Sabbats' by Edain McCoy. The altars you've seen on my blog are altars that I have set up for each of the Sabbats. Each Sabbat also has certain things associated with it. Like at Ostara, you'd find eggs, rabbits and such; basically anything to do with fertility. At Lughnasadh (or Lammas) you'd find things associated with the harvest, such as pumpkins, pomegranates, grapes, wheat, bread and such. At the Sabbat, a ritual is performed where one would celebrate and give thanks to the God and Goddess for whatever that particular Sabbat represents. Most people don't mind sharing their altars, but normally you wouldn't see one sharing their celebration ritual as they are very personal and private.

The other thing most Neo-Pagans have in common is celebrating the waxing and waning of the Moon, which are called Esbats. These are basically rituals that are done when the moon is either Full or Dark/New and a time when most work magick. Again, the internet is a great resource for more information in this regard. An Esbat is the time when normally you'd just work with the energy of the Goddess. The Triple Goddess represents the Maiden, Mother and Crone. During the Wheel of the Year she is represented as the Maiden at Imbolc and Ostara, the Mother at Beltane and Litha, and then the Crone at Mabon, Lughnasadh and Samhain. [At Yule she'd again be in her aspect of Mother, having given birth to the God.]

. . . As I said before, read, read, read and do your research. There are some excellent websites about Paganism and Wicca too. Just keep one thing in mind . . . if it doesn't resonate or ring true for you, leave it and move onto something that does. The nice thing about being an Eclectic Wiccan is that I can chose how I practice while still keeping the basic Wiccan tenets and principles.

Merry Meet, Merry Part, until we Merry Meet again!

Pagan Pride Day

Last Saturday we attended Pagan Pride Day here where we live. The morning started at 10 a.m. with the opening ceremony. Several people gathered and joined in the circle. It was a moving experience and I enjoyed listening to blessings from people on different paths.

After the circle, we went and checked out the vendors. There were some pretty amazing items to be had, but in the end I purchased a handmade silk scarf with the Cho Ku Rei symbol on it. This scarf has some kind of energy, let me tell you.

As I shared in a previous post, I attended the Heathenry/Asatru workshop, which was informative and interesting. Let's just say that this is not the path for me. It's a little on the harsh side and doesn't fit with my sensitive sensibilities. However, if it's a path you follow, I totally respect that. It's just not for me.

I was going to attend the Green Burial workshop, but at the last moment changed my mind and attended a workshop on divination. I should have attended the Green Burial workshop. I was disappointed and quite honestly didn't take anything away with me. It seems as if this lady was collecting information for a book she's been writing for the last ten years (or was it two?) rather than offering anything valuable to the attendees. Lesson learned, listen to your intuition and attend your planned workshops.

All in all, it was an interesting day. The weather was gorgeous and I met some very nice people and even learned a little something too. A day well spent I'd say!

Pagan Prayers

I came across a site the other day where someone was asking if Pagans said prayers. I admit I was a little taken aback . . . doesn't everyone with faith pray? Apparently, not everyone thinks so.

Triple Goddess Rosaries

Mother Mary Rosary

Green Tara Mala
(This gorgeous piece was custom made by Jayne at Infinite Spirit)

So, just to set the record straight, this Pagan prays. I pray my Goddess rosaries and my Mary rosary, and I also pray with my mala dedicated to Green Tara. I pray to the God and to the Goddess. I pray in the morning and evening and when there's something in particular I need guidance on or when I need reassurance or peace. There are a multitude of ways to pray and as many prayers to say them.

When I first started out on this path I searched for books that contained Pagan prayers. I found several that spoke to me and I'm always on the lookout for inspiring Pagan prayer books.

A few of the books on my shelf:
Living Wicca - Scott Cunningham
Goddess Bless - Sirona Knight
Be Blessed - Denise Dumars
Dewdrops in the Moonlight - Shanddaramon

The books I've listed here are just a few that I found helpful and inspiring. My most recent purchase is a book called 'Earth Psalms' by Angela Magara. It is a lovely book filled with 150 psalms that warm the heart and feed the soul.

Due to the hurricane in Angela's area (she was part of the disaster recovery team) and then an illness, shipping of my book was delayed. And although it was unnecessary, Angela sent along an extra copy of the book which she has graciously autographed.

I've given it some thought and can't think of anyone I'd rather share this book with than you, my followers. So I'm having a give-away! All you need to do is leave a comment on this post and I'll enter you in the drawing which I'll hold on October 1st. Isn't that a great way to start the month of October?

And if you know of any good Pagan prayer books please don't hesitate to share!

The Pagan Pride Project

Do you know who The Pagan Pride Project are? Don't worry, I didn't either until I came across the website for the Pagan Pride Day here in my area (see post below).

The following is directly from their website that you can visit at The Pagan Pride Project.

Statement of Purpose:
The Pagan Pride Project is a non-profit organization. The primary purposes of this corporation shall be the advancement of religion and elimination of prejudice and discrimination based on religious beliefs.

Mission Statement:
The mission of The Pagan Pride Project is to foster pride in Pagan identity through education, activism, charity, and community.

Defining the Mission Statement:
We try to keep our purpose balanced through the inspirations of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth:

Air: Education
We're never going to be able to practice our spiritual paths openly if we don't give the public accurate information about what we do and do not do.

Fire: Activism
People aren't necessarily going to go out of their way to find out what Pagans really do. We have to have the courage to act on our convictions and do what we need to do.

Water: Charity
We know that what we do returns to us. We need to demonstrate this by offering compassion to our communities where it is needed. When we share our own abundance, we show that we trust the Gods to share abundance with us in return.

Earth: Community
We're never going to be able to practice openly if we don't know anyone else in our local Pagan communities. We need to weave networking webs in our cities, in our towns, and in our rural areas. We need these webs to support one another. That support will also show those who would restrict our practice that we are not just a few isolated wackos, but are a growing congregation of people who adhere to a faith that, while different, is as valid as their own.

Don't you just love the use of elements in their mission statement? I know I do! And it makes so much sense. If we don't have accountability for our faith, who will do it for us? Each one of us has a role to play and we must play that role with love, grace, dignity, responsibility, by being informed, and by the way we live our lives.

I'm proud to be a Pagan . . . and I'm proud to share my beliefs in whatever way I can.

Pagan Pride Day

On October 1st Pagan Pride Day 2011 will be held here in Middleton at Lakeview Park. I'm so excited and am looking forward to attending my first 'pride day'.

The day begins at 10:00 am with an opening ritual. There will be vendors, workshops and entertainment. There are two workshops that I'm particularly interested in attending. The first is 'Green Burial & Green Cemetaries' presented by Kelly Dwyer. Kelly will lead a discussion on green burials and green cemeteries and what they consist of, how greening the end-of-life is both a personal and an environmental healing process, and how greening the end-of-life relates to Paganism. Kelly also provided support and service to Circle Sanctuary's, Circle Cemetery, and the cemetery's first green burial in the Spring of 2011.

The second workshop I'll be attending is 'Living Heathen 101' presented by Christine Ponder. Lately I've been interested in Asatru, particularly in regards to runes, so this workshop will provide some much needed information. Christine will provide a basic overview of Heathenry/Asatru, history, lore, values, and beliefs, and will provide clarification regarding some ideas and dispell common misconceptions.

There are a few other workshops that I'd be interested in attending, like the one on Dianic Wicca and the one on finding which form of divination is right for you, unfortunately they're at the same time as the other two.

So along with the workshops, strolling through the vendors and catching some of the entertainment, it will be a full day and one I'm looking forward to. And if you haven't already, maybe you'd like to catch Pagan Pride Day when it arrives in your area.

Pagan Art Journaling and a Present to Myself

Aradia's Cauldron is sponsoring 52 weeks of Pagan journaling, which I'm very excited about. I'm pulling out an old journal I started years ago and dusting it off. I might even include it in my New Moon ritual to give it extra power and intention!

This is an excerpt from Aradia's blog:

"Starting in February, with Brighid's celebration of Imbolc, I'm starting 52 weeks of pagan art journaling project. So join me if you like as I post weekly prompts to get you thinking about what your path means to you, in words and art!"

Doesn't that sound like fun? Click here to whiz on over to Aradia's Cauldron to get more information. Why not sign up while you're there? It's going to be fun . . . and there's no pressure! Whew!

I also wanted to share this beautiful offering bowl I bought from Etsy. The designer is Diana De Baun . The picture just doesn't do it justice. The colors are amazing and it has an awesome energy. I can't wait to share it with the Goddess!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Response to a 'Dear Teresa' Letter

Yesterday was a very difficult day for me. I received a letter from a friend, who, because of my new beliefs, decided that she couldn't be my friend anymore. I'm hurt. I'm disappointed. And at one point I even questioned what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. At the same time, I understand her concerns and her fears. And I understand that I have to let her go because despite the loss, I also realized that I have to follow my own heart and I have to feed my soul in a way that honors me, the Goddess and the God.

I'm more at peace; more in alignment; more fulfilled; more loving; and more understanding of the world and the people in it ~ although admittedly, it is a huge learning curve and there are moments when I think it might be easier to fall back on my old Christian beliefs. But it would be just that, easy.

I'm more conscious of treating the Earth in a respectful manner and have upped my efforts at recycling, even so much as picking up trash on my daily dog walks. I have a hard time killing spiders in my home and where I can I gather them up and whoosh them out the back door. And I don't run the water when I brush my teeth.

I didn't come to Paganism overnight. It's been a long, long process that, if I look back over my life, I believe started when I was a child. I never fit in. I always did the opposite of what other people did or wanted me to do. I was always empathetic to the point of crying over other people's spilled milk. I've also been able to intuit events in my life and I'm very intuitive about people. I've always been in touch with nature and more than anything else, want to be out in the garden or walking in a beautiful conservancy with trees surrounding me.

The real changes started about a year and a half ago. I bought some Pagan and Wiccan books, began reading and after a few months the old fears caught up with me and I put it all away. I delved back into Christianity with a vengeance. I went back to church, joined the choir and even joined a Christian weight loss group. But it never felt right. I was living a lie and I felt like a fake.

In February of this year I made the decision to listen to my heart and to follow it wherever it led me. It led me to Paganism and Wicca in particular. I make no apologies and offer no excuses. This is who I am. This is where I stand.

To those of you who claim to be 'afraid' for me, that I've gone to the dark side, let me try to rest your fears. I am not a Satanist (in fact I don't believe in the devil or 'Satan'). I do not do black magic or voo doo or hoo doo. I am not a necromonger (which means I don't worship the dead). I do not sacrifice goats or any other living creature. I have not joined a cult ~ I am a solitary practitioner drawing elements from all religions, all faiths and from the world around me. I don't live in the dark.

What I do believe are the 13 principles of Wicca:

1. We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces marked by the phases of the Moon and the seasonal Quarters and Cross Quarters (Sabbats and Esbats).
2. We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment. We seek to live in harmony with nature in ecological balance offering fulfillment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary concept.
3. We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than that apparent to the average person. Because it is far greater than ordinary it is sometimes called ‘supernatural’, but we see it as lying within that which is naturally potential to all.
4. We conceive of the Creative Power in the universe as manifesting through polarity – as masculine and feminine – and that this same Creative Power lies in all people and functions through the interaction of the masculine and the feminine. We value neither above the other knowing each to be supportive of the other. We value sex as pleasure as the symbol and embodiment of life, and as one of the sources of energy used in magical practice and religious worship.
5. We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological worlds sometimes known as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconsciousness, the Inner Planes, etc. – and we see in the interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomena and magical exercises. We neglect neither dimension for the other, seeing both as necessary for our fulfillment.
6. We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those who teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge those who have courageously given of themselves in leadership.
7. We see religion, magick and wisdom in living as being united in the way one views the world and lives within it – a world view and philosophy of life which we identify as Witchcraft – the Wiccan Way.
8. Calling oneself ‘Witch’ does not make a Witch – but neither does heredity itself, nor the collecting of titles, degrees and initiations. A Witch seeks to control the forces within her/himself that make life possible in order to live wisely and without harm to others and in harmony with nature.
9. We believe in the affirmation and fulfillment of life in a continuation of evolution and development of consciousness giving meaning to the Universe we know and our personal role within it.
10. Our only animosity towards Christianity, or towards any other religion or philosophy of life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to be ‘the only way’ and have sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practice and belief.
11. As American Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history of the craft, the origins of various terms, the legitimacy of various aspects of different traditions. We are concerned with our present and our future.
12. We do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any entity known as ‘Satan’ or ‘the Devil’ as defined by Christian tradition. We do not seek power through the suffering of others, nor accept that personal benefit can be derived only by denial to another.
13. We believe that we should seek within Nature that which is contributory to our health and well-being.

Wicca is a natural religion, grounded in concern for the earth. Some Wiccans believe that all living things (including stars, planets, humans, animals, plants, rocks) have a spirit of some type. Many Wiccan rituals deal with bringing harmony and healing to nature. The vast majority of Wiccans share a great concern for the environment.

Wiccans celebrate the sexual polarity of nature. For example, the fertilizing rain is one manifestation of the male principle; the nurturing earth symbolizes the female. Females are respected as equal (and sometimes at a slightly higher rank) to males.

Sexuality is valued and regarded as a gift of the Goddess and God, to be engaged in with joy and responsibility, and without manipulation or coercion. Wiccans generally accept the findings of human sexuality researchers that there are three normal, natural, and unchosen sexual orientations: heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality.

Wiccans have a wide range of beliefs about life after death, but this is what I believe ~ that the soul goes to Summerland after death. Here, we are met with others who have gone before, review and integrate our previous lives on earth, and are eventually reincarnated into the body of a newborn. I believe that after many such cycles ~ perhaps some as female and others as male; some lives with a high standard of living and others in poverty; some in positions of power and others suffering oppression ~ that the individual accumulates sufficient experience to go on to another level of existence about which we know nothing.

I believe in the Three-fold Law (a.k.a. the Law of Return) The law states that:
"All good that a person does to another returns three fold in this life; harm is also returned three fold". This belief strongly motivates each Wiccan to avoid attempting to dominate, manipulate, control, or harm another person.

I believe in The Wiccan Rede ~ the prime Wiccan ethical teaching:
"An' it harm none, do what thou will", which means to say: "As long as it doesn't harm anyone, including yourself and future generations, do whatever you want to." This has been criticized for being too permissive. However, the Rede is actually quite demanding because it requires a Wiccan to carefully evaluate all of the effects that each of their decisions have on themselves, other people, future generations, the environment, etc.

So there it is, and there's plenty more where that came from. Do your research. Don't judge on what you believe from Hollywood or religious radicals. Think for yourself and most of all don't live in fear. When you learn, when you understand, when you've walked in the other person's shoes, when you've asked the questions ~ then we can all do what we were sent here to do . . . LOVE each other, RESPECT each other and to live in harmony with the Earth and all her creatures.

Excerpt from 'Wiccan Beliefs and Practices' by Gary Cantrell

"I elected to reveal my practice of witchcraft publicly simply because I personally feel that the time for intentionally hiding ourselves has come to an end. We are practitioners of a kind, gentle, and peace-loving religion. We are not the bloodthirsty or depraved, orgiastic fanatics all too often portrayed by the entertainment and news media. The general public has been misled about witchcraft for over a thousand years, and now with our numbers reaching an all-time high, possibly in excess of one million people worldwide, we need to stand up and set that record straight.

We are out there by the hundreds upon hundreds of thousands. We are in the arts, the sciences, and the humanities. We are law enforcement officers, engineers, builders, doctors, and farmers. We are a legally recognized religion under the protection of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and our isolation from the rest of the religious community should and must come to an end. With the phenomenal growth of witchcraft since the 1970s and with the free and easy interchange of information afforded to us by things like the Internet, that time will come to pass and it will happen soon. It may be happening now."

So to that friend . . . I wish you Love and Light on your journey through life on whichever path you choose to follow.

Dispelling Misconceptions . . .

Knowledge is like the morning sun shining through a window and bringing in light where once there was darkness. Once you know something you will carry that knowledge with you throughout your life. Knowledge is something that money can't buy, but it gives you unlimited potential and empowers you.

I've been doing a lot of reading and studying since deciding to follow my new path, and as I've been making my way through books and the internet I'm finding that my mind and heart are connecting. Just last night as I was studying, I was thinking that maybe I'm spreading myself too thin. I'm a student in the Sisters of the Goddess Tree (Level 1), I'm writing a book, and I've enrolled in Reiki and EMF classes starting in January. Not to mention my roles as wife, caregiver to our three dogs and three parrots, housekeeper, gardener, grocery shopper, daughter, sister and friend. And then the thought hit me . . . I'm not spreading myself too thin - I'm EXPANDING! My heart and mind are expanding out into the universe and as my husband says, I've become a sponge.

So with knowledge comes a responsibility to share with others what one has learned or experienced. And so from time to time I'll share with you what I've learned and how I've experienced what I'm learning. Bear with me . . . it's going to be a bumpy ride at times!

One of the things I wanted to share with you are the differences between a pentacle and a pentagram because I've discovered that there is no need to fear such a basic and powerful symbol. Now, these symbols have been feared because of their association with Satanic worship, but if you know what you're looking at there is no need to fear it. And that's another thing knowledge does for you, it erases fear of the unknown.

In Paganism or Wicca, the five points on the pentacle/pentagram relate to the Spirit and the elements of the earth (northeast), the air (southeast), water (southwest) and fire (northwest).

When casting a circle (a sacred space for ritual or spell casting), one would call on these elements for protection against outsiders (negativity).

Now here is the difference between a Pagan/Wiccan pentacle or pentagram and a Satanic pentacle or pentagram. The Pagan/Wiccan symbol is pointed with one star up (Spirit). Although, in some traditions the symbol is inverted to identify a second or third degree priestess, Pagans and Wiccans alike are turning away from this tradition because of its negative connotations with Satanism.

This is the same symbol but inverted with two stars pointing up indicating that it is a Satanic pentacle or pentagram. It's unfortunate that they choose this symbol as their own as it causes confusion amongst the masses and causes Pagans and Wiccans to be cast in with this lot. Which, if you know Wicca, isn't the case at all as we don't believe in Satan who is a Christian demon.

Now the difference between a pentacle and a pentagram is open to debate. Some people believe they are the same while others believe that a pentacle is the five pointed star with a circle around it representing the Goddess and God. A pentagram is just the star itself as is often seen on Pagan/Wiccan jewelry.

I hope this has helped dispel some of the fear surrounding this sacred symbol. In any case, now you know . . .

Lammas . . .

Today is Lammas, or Lughnasadh, the Sabbat where many Wiccans and Pagans choose to celebrate the beginnings of the harvest. This Sabbat is about the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth; the grain god dies, but will be reborn again in the spring. Lammas begins at sunset on July 31st and ends at sunset on August 2nd, although traditionally it is celebrated on August 1st.

Summer is nearing it's end and soon the leaves will begin to change. However, the sun is still bright and the days hot. You can celebrate Lammas by creating an altar using a combination of summer and fall colors; the yellows and oranges and reds of the sun can also represent the turning leaves to come. Add some browns and greens to celebrate the fertility of the earth and the crops being harvested. Cover your altar with cloths that symbolize the changing of the season from summer to harvest time, and use candles in deep, rich colors - reds, burgundies, or other autumn shades are perfect this time of year.

You can also include symbols of the harvest fields on your altar. Sickles and scythes are appropriate, as are baskets. Sheafs of grain, fresh picked fruits and vegetables, a jar of honey, or loaves of bread are perfect for the Lammastide altar. Corn dollies are also a wonderful addition to the alter as are grapes and wine, ears of corn, iron - such as tools or weaponry or armor, fall flowers, such as cornflowers or poppies, straw braids and onion garlands.

A Lammas Ritual
Written by Joanna at Sea Gypsy Magickals

My Gratitude and Blessings upon this day
The Seasons change upon this Spiral Path
Honoring the Bounty of the coming Harvest

At this harvest time
Blessed be Mother Earth
Blessed Be Father Sun
Blessed be this circle of life, death & rebirth

Here I stand, A child of this Earth before you now
Teach & Guide me with your gentle wisdom of light and dark
For there can not be one without the other
Blessed Be the Corn Mother
Blessed be the Grain God
Blessed be the Harvest and bounty of my life.

I honor and respect all living beings, creatures, plants & winged ones
Of this Earth
You and I are One upon this path-as it is, as it always shall be
Blessed be the Mother Ocean
Blessed be the Father Sky
Fire be Flame, The Well be Water
The Mounds be Earth, the Wind be Air
Blessed Be the Harvest
Every seed, every grain is a record of ancient times
May the Ancients Bless me this Lughnassadh
And So It Is.