Circle of Mother Earth

"The New Science of Living and Healing"

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 02:44:00 +0000

"The New Science of Living and Healing"
By Wallace D. Wattles

Dear fellow Wallace D. Wattles reader,

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COME to host Pagan Pride Day

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:22:00 +0000

Circle of Mother Earth will be the host and sponsor of Southwestern Ohio/Serpent Mound Pagan Pride Day to be held on October 16, 2010 at Serpent Mound.
To see details of this event, click on the title above.

Fundraising

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:58:00 +0000

Circle of Mother Earth needs your help. We are conducting a fundraiser to assist folks who are having a tough time paying their winter heating bills. Our" COME share the warmth" fund is underway now and will continue through 10/29/2010.
Click on the title above to go to our fundraising page.

An American Indian Ten Commandments

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 01:42:00 +0000

The following is taken from Star Stuffs website.

The Earth is our Mother, care for her.
Honor all your relations.
Open your heart and soul to the Great Spirit.
All life is sacred; treat all beings with respect.
Take from the Earth what is needed and nothing more.
Do what needs to be done for the good of all.
Give constant thanks to Great Spirit for each new day.
Speak the truth; but only of good in others.
Follow the rhythms of nature; rise and retire with the sun.
Enjoy life's journey, but leave no tracks.

Ghost of Ohio Newsletter

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:16:00 +0000

For those who enjoy the paranormal.
Ghost of Ohio Newsletter http://ghostsofohio.org/services/newsletter_dec09.pdf

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:04:00 +0000

Tom has formed a Yahoo! Group, Pagan Freedom Defenders, which will be a forum for discourse on First Amendment issues relating to Pagans. If you are a Pagan activist, you are invited to join this group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Pagan_Freedom_Defenders

Our Non-profit status

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:42:00 +0000

Circle of Mother Earth is now incorporated. We have non-profit status with the state of Ohio.
We hope to file for 501(c) (3) status with the IRS soon.

The First Amendment and the U.S. Military: Discrimination Against Wiccan Military Chaplains

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:09:00 +0000

Here is a very interesting article from the Examiner.com out of Chicago. Please give it a read and express your opinion.

Don Larsen’s military chaplaincy served several thousand military servicemen and servicewomen throughout his career, allowing him to reach them through his Pentecostal faith and the endorsement of the Chaplaincy of Full Gospel Churches, a Dallas-based association of Pentecostal churches . He was praised by Chaplain Kevin L. McGhee, the head of his chaplaincy and Larsen’s supervisor, who called him the best chaplain amongst the twenty-six chaplains serving at Camp Anaconda in Iraq. McGhee continued to rain praise upon him, saying “I could go on and on about how well he preached, the care he gave.”..............

The 22 February 2006 bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samarra, Iraq, which collapsed the dome of a 1,200-year-old holy site and triggered attacks between Shiite and Sunni militants, prompted Larsen to make a decision – and a change of heart – regarding his own personal faith.

Larsen describes the transformation in him as when “I realized so many innocent people are dying in the name of God. When you think back over the Catholic-Protestant conflict, how the Jews have suffered, how some Christians justified slavery, the Crusades, and the fighting between Shiite and Sunni Muslims, I just decided I’m done.” He decided to convert from Protestant to Wicca, stating, “I will not be part of any church that unleashes its clergy to preach that particular individuals or faith groups are damned.”.............

While Larsen’s ideas on faith had changed, the military believed that this particular individual was damned due to his conversion. After applying to become the military’s first Wiccan chaplain, the Pentagon responded by stripping Larsen of his chaplaincy and yanked the proverbial rug under him, pulling him back to the United States and officially discharging him from his military services.

Please go to the examiner.com website to read the whole article by clicking on the article title above.

Pagan British Coppers Get Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:41:00 +0000

Pagan police officers are being allowed to take up to eight days holiday a year to observe Pagan festivals such as Halloween and the summer solstice.
http://www.christian.org.uk/news/20090717/pagan-police-given-halloween-holiday/
I think this is very important for the Pagan police in the U.K. Here's another take on this that is pretty negative.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/5852614/Pagan-PC-I-dont-want-tree-worshippers-standing-between-me-and-chaos.html

Space Euphoria: Do Our Brains Change When We Travel In Outer Space?

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:13:00 +0000

In February, 1971, Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell experienced the little understood phenomenon sometimes called the “Overview Effect”.
He describes being completely engulfed by a profound sense of universal connectedness. Without warning, he says, a feeing of bliss, timelessness, and connectedness began to overwhelm him. He describes becoming instantly and profoundly aware that each of his constituent atoms were connected to the fragile planet he saw in the window and to every other atom in the Universe.
He described experiencing an intense awareness that Earth, with its humans, other animal species, and systems were all one synergistic whole. He says the feeling that rushed over him was a sense of interconnected euphoria. He was not the first—nor the last—to experience this strange “cosmic connection”.
Rusty Schweikart experienced it on March 6th 1969 during a spacewalk outside his Apollo 9 vehicle: “When you go around the Earth in an hour and a half, you begin to recognize that your identity is with that whole thing. That makes a change…it comes through to you so powerfully that you’re the sensing element for Man.” Schweikart, similar to what Mitchell experienced, describes intuitively sensing that everything is profoundly connected.
Their experiences, along with dozens of other similar experiences described by other astronauts, intrigue scientists who study the brain. This “Overview Effect”, or acute awareness of all matter as synergistically connected, sounds somewhat similar to certain religious experiences described by Buddhist monks, for example. Where does it come from and why?
Andy Newberg, a neuroscientist/physician with a background in spacemedicine, is learning how to identify the markers of someone who hasexperienced space travel. He says there is a palpable difference in someone who has been in space, and he wants to know why. Newberg specializes in finding the neurological markers of brains in states of altered consciousness: Praying nuns, transcendental mediators, and others in focused or "transcendent" states.
Newberg can actually pinpoint regions in subjects' gray matter that correlate to these circumstances, and now he plans to use his expertise to find how and why the Overview Effect occurs. He is setting up advanced neurological scanning instruments that can head into space to study--live--the brain functions of space travelers. If this Overview Effect is a real, physiological phenomenon—he wants to watch it unfold.
Newberg's first test subject will not be an astronaut, but rather a civilian. Reda Andersen will be leaving the planet with Rocketplane Kistler. She says, that as one of the world's first civilian space adventurers, she is more than happy to let Andy scan her brain if it can help unlock the mystery. Why do astronauts all seem to experience a profound alteration of their perceptions when entering space, and will it happen for Rita and the other civilian explorers as well?
After decades of study and contemplation about his experience, Ed Mitchell believes that the feeling of “oneness” with the Universe that he and others have experienced is a consequence of little understood quantum physics.
In a recent interview with writer Diana deRegnier of American Chronicle, Mitchell explains how the event changed his life and his entire perspective on the world and how each of us fits into the grand scale of the cosmos.
“Four hundred years ago. the philosopher Rene Descartes came to the conclusion that physicality, spirituality, mind and body belonged to different realms of reality that didn't interact. Now, that served the purpose to get the Inquisition off the backs of the intellectuals so they could disagree on material things with the church and without the fear of being burned at the stake. So that ended that, but it did cause, for four hundred years, science to consider consciousness and mind a subject for philosophy and religion and not a subject for science.
Now, one of the things that happened, in the 1940s, was the mathematician, physicist, Norbert Wiener (MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology) for the first time really defined information as the negative of entropy, and entropy as the idea of the universe is running down and wastes energy. But, Wiener defined information as the negative of entropy, and that's wonderful but it didn't go far enough.”
Mitchell says that in an attempt to fill in some of the missing gap, the 2008 revised edition of his book The Way of the Explorer explores the largely ignored science of human consciousness. Using what he calls the “dyadic model” he outlines the “two faces” of energy. “Instead of being two separate things, it's the energy as the basis of our existence in matter. And, it’s the basis of our knowing and information,” Mitchell explains.
“We had not had, in science, a definition of consciousness. The only definition of consciousness from the dictionary is that at its basic level it is awareness. Consciousness means to be aware, and then we have different levels of consciousness depending upon how complex the substance is. It has been demonstrated many times over in laboratories that basic awareness is demonstrable at the level of plants, at simple bacteria, at simple life forms.
This is done with Faraday cages. It's shown that this information at this deep level, at the quantum level, can transcend electromagnetic theory. And, now we're getting into quantum physics and we don´t want to go there at this point. But it's a very fundamental notion that awareness is at the very basis of things.”
Mitchell believes that perhaps both the theologians and scientists have missed the mark.
“All I can suggest to the mystic and the theologian is that our gods have been too small; they fill the universe. And to the scientist all I can say is that the gods do exist; they are the eternal, connected, and aware Self experienced by all intelligent beings.'
In response to DeRegnier questioning whether or not Mitchell believes in the idea of God, he responds that while he does not believe in the traditional “grandfather figure” version of God, “we do have great mystery about what is the origin of the universe, how it came to be. There's a great deal of question as to whether the big bang is the correct answer to the way the universe arose, and under what auspices and conditions. I don't think we have the full answers to that yet. Hopefully in due course we'll be able to find a much better way to describe all this.”
But while Mitchell does not claim to know how to perfectly interpret his experience, he is certain that it was a glimpse into a largely ignored reality: People, places and things are all more closely connected than they sometimes appear. He also mentions the need for better stewardship of our precious planet.
“The great thinker Buckminster Fuller, philosopher, now deceased but for a goodly portion of the twentieth century, pointed out at the beginning of our space exploration that we are the crew of ‘space ship earth’. But we 're a crew of mutiny and how can you run a space ship with a mutinous crew?”

HOORAY for the 10th District Court of Appeals!

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:44:00 +0000

We all know the importance of separation of church and state, not just for our Pagan religions but for ALL religions. Here is the latest development in one of the ongoing battles being brought about by those who think that their religion is THE Religion and that we should all subscribe to it.

From WLTX.com in Columbia, South Carolina on June 9:

Court Says Ten Commandments Monument Endorses Religion

DENVER (AP) -- A federal appeals court has ruled that a Ten Commandments monument outside Oklahoma's Haskell County Courthouse "has the primary effect of endorsing religion. "A three-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sent the case back to federal Judge Ronald White so he could issue a new ruling consistent with theirs. White previously rejected arguments that the monument promotes Christianity at the expense of other religions.

The latest ruling prompted Haskell County Commissioner Mitch Worsham to say, "Whoever was the judge in this, I feel sorry for him on Judgment Day."

Haskell County's attorneys can now ask all the judges on the appellate court to review the panel's decision, or appeal the case directly to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Worsham says, "We're not going to take it down."

To read comments from readers re this article go to: http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=74780&catid=142

To read the Court's decision in the Green vs Haskell Co. Commissioners case, click here: http://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/opinions/06/06-7098.pdf

Then, from the Tulsa World (Tulsa Oklahoma's newspaper) comes this follow-up:

LeFlore County's proposed monument is on hold after the circuit court ruling.
By MANNY GAMALLO & SUSAN HYLTON World Staff Writers
Published: 6/10/2009 2:21 AM

POTEAU — Plans for a Ten Commandments monument on the LeFlore County Courthouse lawn were scrapped Tuesday, a day after a federal appeals court ruled against a similar monument in neighboring Haskell County. Former Poteau Mayor Don Barnes, who was spearheading the effort for the monument, said that after consulting with his legal adviser it was decided to abandon the local project.

"I hate it. Everybody hates it. No one likes it," Barnes said of the decision by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. "But we don't have any choice," he said. "We don't want the county to be sued."

Barnes and his supporters have already raised more than $3,500 for the7-foot-by-3-foot granite monument — more than enough money to build it — but for now he and supporters will hold on to the money to see if Haskell County prevails in an appeal.

To read the entire article, click here: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090610_12_A\1_POTEAU70187

Handfasting History: An Old Tradition Made New

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:04:00 +0000

Many Pagan and Wiccan couples choose to have a handfasting ritual instead of a traditional wedding ceremony. In some cases, it may be simply ceremonial -- a couple declaring their love for one another without the benefit of a state license. For other couples, it can be tied in with a state marriage certification issued by a legally authorized party such as a clergyperson or justice of the peace. Either way, it's becoming more and more popular, as Pagan and Wiccan couples are seeing that there is indeed an alternative for non-Christians who want more than just a courthouse wedding.
Read more:http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/handfastings/a/HandfastingHxy.htm?nl=1

Green men cut in church stonework

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Sun, 03 May 2009 14:53:00 +0000

The curious carving below, of vegetation growing from a man's face, is fixed to the roof at Norwich cathedral. The cathedral has 1,016 roof bosses, the carvings on the underside of heavy keystones in the roof vaults.

Read the entire article here:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherhowse/5258164/Green-men-cut-in-church-stonework.html

Most American Christians Do Not Believe that Satan or the Holy Spirit Exist

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:23:00 +0000

A new nationwide survey of adults’ spiritual beliefs, conducted by The Barna Group, suggests that Americans who consider themselves to be Christian have a diverse set of beliefs – but many of those beliefs are contradictory or, at least, inconsistent.
The survey explored beliefs about spiritual beings, the influence of faith on their life, views of the Bible, and reactions to faiths other than their own.
Here's the complete article:

http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/12-faithspirituality/260-most-american-christians-do-not-believe-that-satan-or-the-holy-spirit-exis

Wicca Smackdown: Starhawk calls out the Pope!

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:11:00 +0000

Here's an article by David Gibson on BeliefNet blog

Starhawk, one of the nation's most prominent advocates for Wicca, the modern-day reincarnation of neo-paganism, has an "On Faith" column at the WaPo today calling on Benedict XVI to apologize to witches. (I want to know how you get called by one name, like Starhawk and Benedict, Madonna and Price.) Sounds like a top-bill Thunderdome match up.
In her piece, Starhawk does not cite the pontiff's remarks regarding superstition (witchcraft, as it was widely interpreted) in Africa, which I wrote about last month at the Wall Street Journal. But it seems that's what she is referring to:
"How about an apology for the Papal Bull of Pope Innocent the Eighth, in 1484, that made Witchcraft an heresy and unleashed the Inquisition against traditional healers, midwives, and any woman unpopular with her neighbors for being too uppity? It's high past time to apologize for the Malleus Maleficarum, a vicious document written by two Dominican priests in 1486 that created a whole mythology of Satan worship, attributed it mostly to women, and unleashed a wave of accusations, torture, and judicial murder that have haunted us ever since. An apology won't do much good, now, to those accused, tormented, and destroyed because someone coveted their property or needed a local scapegoat, nor to their children left motherless or fatherless centuries ago. But it might clear some air."
Read the rest of the article here: http://blog.beliefnet.com/pontifications/2009/04/wicca-smackdown-starhawk-calls.html

WICCAN MOM ASKS FOR ADVICE

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:29:00 +0000

The Washington Times has an advice columnist named Miss Vicki, and recently she received a note from a Wiccan mom about some problems at her child's school, which you can read here: Dear Miss Vicki. Bascially, her kids are being harassed because other people found out the family is Wiccan -- and not just by other students, but by teachers and administrators as well. The mom goes on to say that she tried to be an advocate for her kids, but her husband is worried about how this may reflect on his career in the Air Force. Now, this mom doesn't know what to do. (Read the complete article here) http://paganwiccan.about.com/b/2009/02/06/wiccan-mom-asks-for-advice.htm

I'm New To Wicca...How Do I Get Started?

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 22:06:00 +0000

Answer:That's a question that comes up a lot, and unfortunately it's not a simple answer. It's not like you can just fill out an application and get your handy membership packet. Instead, there are several things you should think about doing. Read the complete article here: http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/faq/f/GetStarted.htm

Thirteen Books Every Wiccan Should Read

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 22:01:00 +0000

The thirteen books are by no means all inclusive, but for anyone serious about following a Pagan path, these are recommended:http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/recommendedreading/tp/Starter_Kit.htm

Remedy Against Fear That A Duck Is Looking At You

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:48:00 +0000

From Katrananda's Book of Useless Magick
(Magical Satire)

During a new moon, gather two cups of unstrained pond water.

Allow it to stagnate from new moon to half moon in a crystal pitcher, signifying clear vision. Shoo away flies and mosquitoes, and fish out any tadpoles. Bless the tadpoles as a representation of Change.

At the end of ten days, under the half moon, add two squirts of your chosen brand of eye drops (from your local pharmacy), five duck feathers plucked at Full Moon from the tail of a Muscovy duck, two pinches of wormwood (to protect against pond nasties), two pinches duckweed (connection to Earth, Water, and ducks), two pinches spirulina powder, and one shredded corner of a Donald Duck comic book.

Stir this mixture widdershins, whilst chanting:
"Ducks, don't look, there's nothing to see,
Ducks, don't stare, stop looking at me.
I release my fear to the stars above.
Ducks, don't look, same goes for the dove."

Stir your remedy 314 times, so either chant fast or stir slowly.
Pour your herbal remedy into a glass or crystal decanter and allow it to sit from half moon to Full Moon, in the moonlight.

At Full Moon, your herbal remedy will be ready. It is recommened that you drink a thimbleful each day. Before consuming the remedy, bless the potion by waving a blindfolded duck over it, tracing out the symbol of the pentagram.

You will soon feel very different.

Helen Patrice

Helen is an Australian witch, writer, and mother. She teaches creative writing, meditation, and Middle Eastern Dance at various community centres in Melbourn's eastern suburbs. She is writing "Katrananda's Guide To Useless Magick", and appears regularly in Australian new age magazine NOVA.

From Circle Magazine, Issue 101, Summer 2008

CONTEMPORARY PAGANISM

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:55:00 +0000

Paganism today:
Paganism is a collection of diverse contemporary religions rooted in or inspired by indigenous traditions worldwide. Pagan religions are characterized by Earth–centered spirituality, belief in the interconnection of all life, personal autonomy, polytheism, and immanent divinity. Pagans value diversity, good works, living lightly on the Earth, individual freedom, personal responsibility, community service, gender equity, and spiritual development.While the largest segment of the Pagan population is Caucasian, highly educated, and middle class, Pagans come from all walks of life. Most are avid readers with interests in ecology, creativity, and personal growth. Many work in scientific and computer–related disciplines. Since Paganism is not an organized movement, it is difficult to determine the number of practitioners. Estimates range from 100,000 to several million in the U.S. alone.Pagan religions may draw on ancient historical practices or be entirely new. In the case of the former, Pagans look to the beliefs, practices, gods, symbols, lands, music, and myths of a particular historical culture and adapt them for contemporary needs. Anachronistic elements, such as ritual violence, are rejected. Elements such as reverence for the natural world, honoring of the ancestors, and responsibility to the community are retained. Pagan religions which are not historically based take their inspiration from visionary, artistic, and libertarian traditions to create vibrant spiritual systems centered in Pagan values. Characteristics of Pagan faiths: Paganism as a movement grew out of the growing environmental awareness in the 1960s, though it encompasses some traditions from the Middle Ages and earlier. Consequently most Pagan religions are nature–centered. Pagans rethink the way in which we relate to the Earth. Rather than seek dominance over the environment, Pagans work to live as a part of Nature, finding a balance between the self, the biosphere, and society. Part of this rethinking goes along with the resurgence of Goddess–worship, which is widespread in the Pagan movement. Many Pagans look to the fertility Goddesses of old and find vibrant, dynamic models for ecological balance. The myriad Goddesses from the past also provide Pagans with a vision of powerful feminine divinity which is missing from other Western religions. Unlike many mainstream religious traditions, Pagans view Divinity as immanent rather than (or in addition to) transcendent. Rather than pray to some form “out there,” Pagans view all living things as sacred. Diversity is seen as an expression of the divine order. People are viewed as essentially good and holy, although still capable of acting unethically.Because of this, Pagans view the relationship with Divinity as a deeply personal calling. It is up to each individual to develop a relationship with Divinity as s/he defines it. Because of this, there is no institutionalization within Paganism. There is no single holy book, common creed, or hierarchy of religious representatives. Spiritual communion, even when in groups, is direct and immediate. Each congregation is autonomous, as is each individual within that congregation.While leaders are respected for their wisdom or service, there are no charismatic gurus within the movement.There is no one spokesperson for Pagans. All Pagans value choosing one’s own path and beliefs and consequently do not seek to convert others. Pagans self identify; there is no one body or rite which confers membership in the Pagan community. However, almost all Pagan organizations require members to abide by specific guidelines and principles. Pagan culture: This emphasis on personal exploration and development creates a highly dynamic culture of diverse people who share values of intellectual and spiritual freedom. Rather than conform to a specific set of beliefs or practices, Pagans participate in a vibrant marketplace of ideas, where people contribute and take away what resonates most deeply with them. Community is created through regular gatherings and festivals, numerous publications, and an extensive Internet presence. While specific ethics are discussed at length within the Pagan community, the most common summation is “If it harms none, do what you will.” This combines personal freedom with responsibility to the community. Pagan religions are dynamic, changing systems based on timeless values of faith, freedom, justice, honesty, responsibility, creativity, courage, and respect. Specific beliefs and practices vary as people adapt concepts to their particular needs. Pagans celebrate rituals to mark the Wheel of the Year, as well as life transitions such as marriage, moving, birth, or death. Some traditions celebrate rituals to commemorate specific historic events, while others celebrate natural transitions such as the first snowfall of the year or lunar phases. Pagan religions are a way of life, affecting choices from how we pray to where we shop. Pagans believe religions must change to meet the needs of people on an everyday basis, while connecting them to their most deeply held spiritual beliefs. While some Pagan religions can be quite esoteric, most Pagan beliefs and practices are rooted in everyday, natural experience. Some Pagan religions: Most American Pagans practice adaptions of ancient ethnic traditions, the most popular of which are Celtic, Greco–Roman, Native American, ancientEgyptian, Baltic, and Norse. Ásatrú: Norse Pagan religion based on the principles of courage, truth, honor, fidelity, discipline, hospitality, industriousness, self-reliance, and perseverance. Church of All Worlds: Promotes celebration and honoring of all life and the planet as a living, divine organism: Gaea. Druidism: Many varieties of Druidism are practiced, with varying emphasis on scholarly research into the original Druids, who were the priest/ess and judicial class of the ancient Celts. Witchcraft: Also known as Wicca or simply the Craft. Honoring of Goddess and God (some traditions honor the Goddess alone), use of magic, and healing, all within the context of “If it harm none, do what you will.” Pagan Witchcraft has nothing to do with and is antithetical to Satanism. Recommended reading: Drawing Down the Moon, Margot Adler People of the Earth: The New Pagans Speak Out, Ellen Evert Hopman The Truth about Neo-Paganism, Anodea Judith A History of Pagan Europe, Prudence Jones and Nigel Pennick Positive Magic, Marion Weinstein

FAQ: Why Be Wiccan?

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 03:02:00 +0000

From Patti's Paganism/Wicca Blog
I got an interesting email the other day, and wanted to share it with you. I believe the writer really is trying hard to understand, but is laboring under the Dominant Religion Lens Factor, so I took the time to answer her question. She asks, "I'm not Wiccan, and I'm trying to understand why people are leaving Christianity to follow Wicca. What is it that makes people turn their backs on a God of love and peace to worship Wiccan gods?"While I could have just said, "We became Wiccan for the fabulous potluck dinners," I truly think it's important to address the question, and here's why. The writer appears to be under the misconception that Wiccans are simply people who got disgruntled with Christianity, and that's just not the case. It has nothing to do with who has cooler gods. Read on for my response to her: Why Do People Become Wiccan?

SHAMANISM

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 02:26:00 +0000

The word shaman originated from a word in Siberia and eventually came to be applied to all medicine men and women of indigenous cultures who's practice includes the flight of the soul. Anthropologist studying indigenous cultures throughout the world, began to find that for different cultures, there were similarities in the way the medicine men and women worked with healing and connecting to the spiritual aspect of people and the world. While there were differences specific to culture, removing the the cultural reference revealed a core system of practice. The core practices are called core-Shamanism - a phrase coined by Michael Harner.
Shamanism is the practice of these core techniques, either for healing or to gain spiritual knowledge. Shamanism is sometime studied with the cultural reference, sometimes without, but the essential nature of the shamanic practice does not change, nor has it changed since ancient times. It has adapted to fit the times or the culture, but its essential core has been the same.
Shamanism is not a religion, not unless you want to make it into one. It has been and is being practiced by peoples of many religions, from Christianity, to Judaism, to Hinduism. You will find shamanic practitioners of every faith.
So what then is shamanism?
It is a direct experience of spiritual knowledge. Because of the direct nature of the work, it tends to facilitate growth in every religious faith. People will share shamanic experiences in groups, but the insight you gain from shamanic practice are unique to you.
As a healing practice shamanism has been very powerful for both the people of today and those reaching back into the beginnings of recorded history.
The reason that it is so powerful is because each healing is tailored to the needs of the individual being healed. Western medicine seeks to find one cure that works for many, if the number it helps is too small it isn't offered at all. The shaman provides unique treatment, which holistically addresses what a person needs at this time.
Shamans work with the spirit or the soul. They heal illness at the soul level. They gain knowledge and insight from working with the spirits of nature such as rocks and trees, the land, and they gain knowledge from working with spirits of animals and humans such as their ancestors. For the shaman everything is alive and carries information, you can call this spirit, energy, or consciousness.
In order to communicate with the spirit or consciousness of these things, the shaman will shift his or her own state of awareness. Shamans can do this through various means, such as meditation, repetitive sounds such as that of the drum or rattle, or through the help of psychotropic plants. The shaman will then "see" through a new set of eyes, they will see what is going on with you on a spiritual level. The shaman's practice is also characterized by the soul flight. The shift of consciousness that the shaman makes, which allows the free part of his or her soul to leave the body. The shaman can then go retrieve information for your healing and growth. They can retrieve healing power, or things that you have lost along the way in living your life. During the soul flight the shaman is both in the room, and going on this "journey" so that he or she has an awareness of both at the same time.
Other activities which shamans have traditionally performed, in addition to healing people, also involved healing the land. For centuries, shamans have been involved with earth healing by using their ability to communicate with the consciousness of land, bodies of water and other such natural features of their landscape. Whether it by determining why crops would not grow in a certain location, or reasons for draught; working with growing things, the weather, and the land has been a traditional activity for the shaman. They would also communicate with nature to find plants to heal illness. Many South American shamans are responsible for discovering the healing property of certain plants, which later formed the basis for specific medicines we use in the western health system today.
No shaman wants another to suffer. A shaman does the work because of a desire to ease your way, and out of wanting the best for you. However, most shamans understand that illness can be a great teacher. In fact it is the shaman’s own illnesses / difficult times that have created an open and compassionate heart. It is this compassionate heart that allows the shaman to heal.
A shaman knows how to be with you when you are suffering because of his or her own times of suffering. Therefore a shaman will not assume that curing your illness is the best thing. Instead he/she performs healing for your highest good. That means that instead of forming preconceived notions about what is best for you the shaman lets the spirits / God / the universe make that decision and acts as a vehicle to bring healing to you.

I have ordered and used psychotropic herbal products from" I Am Shaman". I found their service to be very good and they have good quality products.

SAMPLE WEDDING VOWS

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 11:42:00 +0000

The following samples of wedding vows may be used as is or modified to suit your taste.
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I come here today, (name), to join my life to yours before this company.In their presence I pledge to be true to you, to respect you,and to grow with you through the years.Time may pass, fortune may smile, trials may come;no matter what we may encounter together,I vow here that this love will be my only love.I will make my home in your heart from this day forward.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Today, (name), I join my life to yours, not merely as your (husband/wife),but as your friend, your lover, and your confidant.Let me be the shoulder you lean on,the rock on which you rest,the companion of your life.With you I will walk my path from this day forward.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Name), with free and unconstrained soul, I give you all I am and all I am to become.Take this ring, and with it my promise of faith, patience, and love,for the rest of my life.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~What have I to give you, (name)? The promise to take you as my only love from this day forward,to stand by your side, to listen when you speak,to comfort you when you cry, and to join your laughter with my own.Take this ring, and be my (husband/wife)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~As freely, (name), as God has given me life,I join my life with yours.Wherever you go, I will go;whatever you face, I will face.For good or ill, in happiness or sadness,come riches or poverty,I take you as my (husband/wife), and will give myself to no other. Love has given us wings, and our journey begins today,(Name), wherever the wind may carry me,I will stay by your side as your (husband/wife),Take this ring as a sign of my love.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Where there has been cold,you have brought warmth;where my life was dark,you have brought light.(Name), I pledge before this assembled companyto be your (husband/wife) from this day forward.Let us make of our two lives, one life,and let us always honor and respect each other. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Name), our miracle lies in the path we have chosen together.I enter this marriage with you knowing that the true magic of loveis not to avoid changes, but to navigate them successfully.Let us commit to the miracle of making each day work - together.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Whatever lies ahead, good or bad, we will face together.Distance may test us for a time, and time may trie us.But if we look to each other first, we will always see a friend.(Name), look to me for all the days to come;today I take my place as your (husband/wife).~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~On this day, (month, day, year), I, (name), join myself to you (name),before this company.May our days be long, and may they be seasoned with love, understanding and respect.

INVISIBLE GIVING CIRCLE

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 14:23:00 +0000

There's an invisible giving circle in the universe. As soon as one gift leaves your arms, another enters. How sweet it is!

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

noreply@blogger.com (Singingcrow) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:12:00 +0000

The Pagan community needs you. We need your vision, your strength, your hope, your joy. We stand on the shoulders of giants. We breathe the gifts of the Gods. Each one of us can give back to our community. Here are some suggestions for ways you can make a difference:
* Make a commitment to the Pagan community. In ritual space, meditate on what it means to be Pagan and who your spiritual teachers have been. How have those who have gone before made your present path possible? Ask your Gods for guidance that you may be transformed through love, service, and respect. Make a commitment to the community, whether it's to your worship group, an organization, or a particular cause.
* Participate in Pagan culture. Subscribe to Pagan magazines. Join Pagan organizations, whether worship- or activism-oriented. Donate to a Pagan community or scholarship fund to support your fellow Pagans in need. Put your gifts and skills to the service of the Pagan community.
* Support Pagan leaders. Pay administrators for services rendered. Recognize work well done. Offer encouragement and support, not just suggestions for how it could be done better. Develop leadership within yourself. Work magic for Pagans in need and encourage other Pagans to do the same.
* Participate in the Pagan economy. Support Pagan business, not just the stores but also the Pagans who offer services or goods for barter or cash on an informal basis.
* No more Witch wars! Commit yourself to responsible conflict resolution. If you have a conflict with someone, try one-on-one discussion. If that is unsuccessful, seek out an impartial mediator. Do not take the problem to the larger public. Take responsibility for your conflicts and develop your ability to resolve them.
* Commit to attending at least one Pagan festival, conference, or other gathering per year. Explore what it means to be Pagan, not just in the safety and privacy of your ritual space, but in the living, breathing world that is contemporary Paganism.
* Come out, come out, wherever you are! Redeem the ashes of those who have gone before and claim your birthright of freedom. You will find strength you did not know you had. Your relationship with the Gods will grow tremendously. You will gain self-respect and pride in your people.
* Participate in interfaith dialogue and networking opportunities. Pagan views on the environment, sexuality, and childrearing are all needed in the public sphere. Your organization can join with other faiths to sponsor a public forum on any of these issues. Encourage respect and dialogue among all faiths.
* Share your vision of what it means to be Pagan, and where you want the movement to go in the next twenty, fifty, or one hundred years. Set aside ritual time to visualize our healthy future. Clearly visualize the world you want to live in. Breathe life into this vision. Call on your Gods to assist in its manifestation. In so doing, you give birth to your own potential.
Get up, get active! You can make a difference.