Southern Fried Pagan

I MOVED!

2014-07-14T01:28:00.003-05:00

HERE IS MY NEW BLOG ADDRESS COME FOLLOW MY FURTHER ADVENTURES!!!

http://southernwiccanclergy.blogspot.com/

"Well bless your heart!"

2014-02-19T20:54:00.000-06:00

This was a blog post I started on and realized if I published it at the time, it might cause a "swarm of trouble" so it lay in my archives for quite some time. However, now that I have closed the Facebook site down, and do not get as much traffic if you are just reading MY OLD BLOG this is for you!

Here in the South, we all know when someone say "Well bless your heart!" they do not really mean it. They mean something really awful like...you are as dumb as a "box of rocks", you are "off your rocker", or "you are a b*tch!" but my mama raised me to be a lady so I won't call you any of those things. I have always hated when people would not state their mind; but find that with age comes some wisdom and I find that the tool of "Bless your heart!" is enough for people to understand what I mean.

Just recently, I went through a whole month of "Well bless your hearts"! I find that now that I am Clergy it sort of forces me to say this phrase and bite my tongue in ways I would have never imagined before. Two years ago I refused to do it; but as my sojourner Terry Riley would say..."How is that working out for ya'?" It was not working out for me. People say they want the truth, but to be factual they really do not. People want you to say what they want to hear; or to "cushion the truth" in a big ole' barrel of sugar.

Now I hear what you are saying! You think this is not being honest and almost down right lying, but I am betting you as sure as I can raise an eyebrow from what little experience I have had at the Clergy job; that you really do "attract more flies with honey than vinegar" and it does not hurt your teeth to bite down on a peppermint and smile when answering someone that rubs you the wrong way. Yep, I am human people are going to rub me the wrong way. They will ask me things that you would probably not ask normal critters because I have pink hair, I'm pagan, I dress in vintage clothing, and I am a minister. I mean I would probably ask me weird and intrusive questions also if I met me...why not? What do you have to lose except the other person being snipey!

I am asked if my hair is real, people pull it and want to touch it all the time (this really makes me feel intruded upon but I cannot say that can I?). I am asked about my tattoos (did they hurt?), about why I moved to Memphis (was it to follow a man?), what my religious orientation is (I find this rude coming from a stranger), and then when they find out I am Pagan/Wiccan/Witch then it's on. I am asked everything from "Anton Levay Satanist questions" to how do we get married, and how do we raise our children. I usually tell them I get married in swamp water with bat wings, and raise my children in the seventh level of hell...(no just joking). All of these questions I got asked before I was Clergy, and then I could say..."None of your business!" and walk away...but now, I find myself taking a deep breath, pasting a smile on my face and saying..."Why we get married like anyone else the ceremony might be a little different but then Muslims and Jews get married traditionally also right?" and I find myself explaining and sharing with people what I love...my spiritual path.

Now how you can explain this turn about, I have not clue other than the Gods must have a hand in it...but it has happened. I find that the love I had explaining to only Pagans my path I also am sharing with everyone else that wants to ask...and ask me they will. Now do not get me wrong I still do not want people asking about my "sex life" though they still will and I really do not like "people saying things about me to my back that they would never say to my face" but I will be honest with you all of these things happened before I was Clergy and now the only difference is how I handle them. So I am going to share with you a few things that are practical that I was taught and have come to live as Clergy that I am working to integrate into my life better but sometimes still bungle.

1. Always listen. This seems obvious but really is not; you would be surprised how many people just want you to "notice" and "pay attention" to their feelings, hurts, accomplishments, woes, new relationships, epiphanies. What does it cost to listen? Nothing, nothing at all.

2. You are human, be kind to yourself just as you should be kind to others. This was a hard one to me, I could be kinder to other people and give them more "breaks" than I ever could myself. However, I find that apparently I thought that being Clergy meant I would instantly be "a better human being" only to find I am the same human being trying to be better and I will "make mistakes". Everyone does, so if I can love and comfort a stranger or member in the our Church why would I not "love and nourish" myself?

3. People come to people for advice this does not mean they have to take it. Yep, this one is hard people will come to you as Clergy and to you the answer is as obvious as the nose on their face. Heck, if they knew the answer and their way was working they would not have come to you would they? Well, you will find that most people have to attempt to work out the same issue (me included) several times before they get it. Most people will ask you for advice on the same issue over and over again not taking your advice over and over again...but eventually they will get it.

4. Patience ain't only a virtue it is half of life...waiting. You wait in a line at the bank, you wait in a grocery line, your child waits in line at the cafeteria, you wait for a raise or promotion at a job, so why do we have such a hard time waiting for an answer to a prayer or a "solution" to something that has bogged us down? Why do we give up on people, including family members, when if you plant a seed or become pregnant with child you know it is going to take almost a year to see a harvest...Why not accept that answers, and solutions do not always come fast . In fact if you are asking for a BIG solution it is going to take some time; take a deep breath and do not tap your foot realize that the answer is on its way to you! A door is opening somewhere, and PEOPLE can change for the better!

5. You are not naive to have faith in people and in concepts. I cannot tell you how many times I thought my husband was "naive" for always believing and seeing the best in people; but I have found over the short amount of time I have shared with him that he is mostly right. Humans are wonderful! People generally do want to do good, and if given the opportunity to shine and do just that they will. Yep, that is right not only do they come through but will step up...I have seen it happen in our Church and in our Community and those are things I never knew until I became Clergy. As for concepts, like "peace" and "reconciliation" and "acceptance" and "forgiveness" I have also seen these all play out on the physical plane within a record time of three years and I never would have thought these ideas would have been applied to me and others in such a clear simple way...but they have, so what did I know?

6. Admit you do not know everything, but stand strong and do not buckle on what you do know. When working for other people you have to know what you know, and admit what you do not. You will find that outsiders or people within a group will challenge the whole dichotomy of things but while that is okay you cannot let people "walk all over you" and that is what truth and acceptance is all about is it not? Admitting the "truth" you have seen, experienced, found, heard, or brought back into this incarnation...(while also acknowledging that in others) is being strong and why you have been chosen to be the leader and what makes you a leader so stand there; don't let another person determine for you your truth. Do not worry if people, tell you "No, you are wrong. Or no, it can only be done this way." Nothing at all not even truth, can be done, or seen only one way. I can tell you after, studying ethics and philosophy for over four years that there are many ways but "wrong" really isn't one of them. Depending on the culture, generation, gender, and politics is where we get this word from. Do not even apply it to yourself exactly...wrong for you might be right for Sally and Bill!

7. If people say "why bless your heart" smile back and say thankyou. No, do not say something "one uppish" "sarcastic" or angry back it will not do any good any way just will prove to others you are a person that is a little wonky. Do not try to jump through hoops, or do relay races for people that do not "get you" or "what you are about". Please do not play that game! I have done it; and it did not work out at all. In the end they did not like me any better; and I did not like myself for having done it. Even if it is just "an experiment" to see if shifting and changing and trying something different might be who you are...and you return to the self you used to be that is great! BUT never ever let people, a community, family members, or friends put peer pressure on you to be ashamed of your weight, clothing style, makeup or not makeup choices, lifestyle choices (as in your sexual preferences which should be sacred and secret), hair styles, what you read, what you do with your spare time, anything at all to do with your music choices, or how you present yourself in public. I say this because all my life, people have done this to me to some extent and it is not cool and has absolutely nothing to do with what kind of character I posses. So "let them bless my crazy heart" cause who I am is who I have to be; and remember to honor this in others also.

Remember, life is a journey ( no not a game, destination, or race), be patient, not stating right away what you are thinking is a GOOD thing most of the time, and when you need to stand your ground, then do it...being a doormat is not what you were born to be! Know thyself, know your truths, and be proud and open and honest to share them admitting when YOU DO NOT KNOW. Believe in others, because it is nice when people believe in you. Do not get upset if people do not listen to you and act right away sometimes they heard you, they just did not get the "wisdom" until life gave them the experiences to process it. Lastly, be kind to yourself and others remembering if you do not listen (truly attentively listen) then how are you going to learn or help others when you need too?

Thank you for the gift of your time, and for letting me share some wisdom that I have learned the hard way.

Buttermilk and Cornbread

2014-02-06T10:00:00.000-06:00

Times to make amends, and move on further down the road; I have enjoyed posting my thoughts, and what I have learned from time to time. At times, I realize I was “downright preachy” and at times I was “really whiny” but then there were times of “strength” and stretching out my wings to fly. All of this was done with all of you; and I thank you for taking the time to read it, and comment.

When I got to the point in my life when I realize that what I blogged would not only be “criticized” but “magnified” looking for error and possibly as a “bad image” as what Wiccan clergy and leaders can say and cannot say in public I realized; my life had changed. Southern Fried Pagan was a blog set up to help share with others my feelings on various things; but truthfully one cannot and should not as Clergy share their feelings freely without realizing that they are an example to someone and so they should be given a filter when they get that license. Wanting to be the best example possible (yeah I really want to be good at what I do), I found that rather than publish my meanderings of the mind to the public; I was writing them down “for only me”….and I am okay with that; some things should only be for you…and possibly burnt or published after you die; whichever the people left behind choose to do with it.

Somewhere around year two blogging, I realized my passion for the Path had gotten concentrated really on my own personal path which was Egyptian while my public life was one of service to an Eclectic Wiccan church but the sheer doggedness and stubbornness of my personality would not let me “give up” or “give in” the blog…I thought I might still have something to teach, share, or say and so I kept on a blogging even if it was with the help of others who have a gift for writing. Thank you Jenn Kahn, Kevin Red Patrick, Julie Jeznach, and even Ashlee Misee of Teflon Cauldron days!

What I did not get to talk about on my blog since it was Southern Fried Pagan was my interest in the Old Occult authors, or in what is considered “High Magick” or “Energy Work” I just kept it sweet, southern, and clean…and no matter what I posted; I found some person in the community seemed to always think it was about them. Thus I started posting recipes, bath salts, how to make incenses, and encouraging people to be happy, and accept love from the universe cause these are such simple principles and cannot be re-instated enough; and they kept me safe.

I am not really tolerant of whiners, or bitchers, or people who slander, gossip, or stir the pot in a community. So no matter what has gone on in my personal life for years, I have not commented on it here…and so I asked myself; what has been the point? The point was, I got to grow and think aloud with words with you all…the point was I got to learn discipline, not my voice really, but something akin to what my higher self would want me to say and then it became MY VOICE. The point was, I got to see and meet a lot of kin and kin folk that “related” and understood that here in the Bible belt there was some huge moving and shaking going on…and they were in the form of Wiccan churches. Yep, that is right I helped co-found one and it has made me grow more than miracle weed, and I am not the only one folks there are more and more being founded every day. (Thank you Goddess for that!)

I am not a perfect person, I am far from it, the way I see it is that if the Goddess and God can use me or even see me as a possible leader of any kind then I know for certain they can use anyone. Seriously, they can! I have shared with you all my transformation from being a fiery personality, to more of a stable Earthy woman…the irony being that in my twenties I could not even find that part of myself. I have withstood death, abuse, loss, bankruptcy, heartbreak, betrayal, all kinds of crap…just like you all. I have raised three children over 23 and now I am doing it all again with a three year old; I was an iniate, a dedicant, a maiden, a Highpriestess, and now I am Wiccan Clergy. I have been Maiden, Mother, something in between, and now I am walking with the Crone through menopause which is really sort of cool. I am not dead, very far from it and happy to be so…I am just transformed.

I have walked a cycle of life, in these little size 7 ½ feet and I want to walk another cycle…where it leads me I have no idea…but I know service, worship, being a better Clergy, building a better community, enjoying what the Gods have given me and all forms of abundance and love is part of it….and that means you all I have to thank cause you have helped me get here.

I have not a clue, if I will ever blog again…but if I do, I will pick a less confining name, and take my time before I leap in because now I have come to REALLY understand the power of words (the irony of this statement is not lost on me since I teach it to first degrees ) .

I encourage you all to know that you are Sacred, perfect as you are, so loved that you have no idea, and worthy of all that love and the best in life. I pray if you long for a Wiccan/Pagan/Witchy group that if you cannot Find one then you Found one; we could use more people like us…we make life colorful, magical, and full of potential. Lastly, be patient with yourself and with others, babies take time to be born and so do you. Remember, children of the earth that you are never alone and the time for action is not tomorrow or yesterday…it is always and always will be NOW!

"Before I went to bed at night, my daddy would share a glass of buttermilk and cornbread with me in a beautiful Tall glass with a spoon. I loved the taste of bitter and sweet mixed together the cold and the dry textures all mixing like a typhoon in my mouth...."

Thank you for all your time, and energy…and stop in to see me sometime at the Temple of the Sacred Gift-ATC (www.tsg-atc.org) I will be there, with a glass of sweet tea and a smile on my face, and a bear hug…cause if I know anything at all, I know that you can never love people too much (so let me love you).

Burning away the old, to erect the new

2013-12-31T14:01:00.002-06:00

I have had a Heck of a Year! I am pretty sure you all have too. These past few weeks, like many of you I find myself looking back to see what was accomplished and to take the time to float, dwell, dip into those memories that made the year potent.

Some of these were: My son turning 3 and his wonderful birthday party. Spending time with the Southern Delta Wicca Clan. Spending time with my friends Bella and Joanna. Loving moments with my husband. Traveling to Pagan Unity Festival and sharing the Sacraments of the Gods with Pagans, and having the privilege to share what I had learned in the form of Workshops. Traveling to Gathering of theTribes doing a HUGE main ritual, and teaching several workshops, and getting to sit on a Board to help people that are wanting to "start up" new Wiccan organizations. Moving from one small Temple worship building; to another larger Temple worship space and converting it together with others for the Gods. Cultivating friendships with people in my immediate circle and community that will last forever!

I am not ignoring the bad (I despise this word it is not adequate as an adjective): criticisms, complaints, harassment, threats, slander, lies,arguments, heart-break, helping people I love with diseases, cancer, visiting hospitals, crossing overs, crying nights, lonely desolation, and hands tossed up in the air. I just realize that the BOTH make a hearty brew of the year 2013.

On our path, there is no light without dark. On our path, learning how to direct the "dark" within yourself and that is outside of yourself (yep you cannot control this) into a productive activity, project, or life lesson is the challenge.

"We take the yule log and we pour into it all we have suffered...everything. We take the time to let the weight and darkness come into us and the tears fall. I have bathed my Gods and Goddesses in those tears. We let the pain rip through us until we can bear it no longer....the agony, the heart that feels that it will never be healed. Then we drill five holes into that log. The angst, anger, frustration, of not being able to control heartache, disease, death, loss, is thought about as we realize we can control the drilling, the accuracy of the circle we are drawing slowly and deliberately into that piece of Oak. The mind flutters and merges with the Oak. The Oak has survived much pain, much loss, dropped the dead weight that was dragging it down; so that it could grow....we thanked that Oak tree for the gift of the log. It is grateful to be able to give to us the gift; for everything is useable. Everything is transformative.

Five holes were made. One for Air, one for Fire, one for Water, one for Earth, and one for Spirit. The Gold candles which were chosen carefully are placed within the log. I, the Priestess think on the story of how ISIS, my Goddess, took a baby and ran him through the flames of a fire over and over to purify him...just as gold is refined removing the dross. I know that she will refine us like Gold. I know that Spirit will come and make us see; that this is part of the cycle of life. It is not all happy and light, it is not all laughter....but it asks me to FOCUS ON THE GOOD!"

When I am looking at everything I have a choice on what to dwell on. I can dwell on the sorrow, or I can dwell on the relief and happiness and joy. I can choose to focus on the loss of a income or to focus on the fact that I have food, a roof over my head, a heater, clothing, a bed, a wonderful family. I can choose to let people who have hurt me make me bitter, or I can choose to focus on the people who love me no matter what and make me whole; and a better person. I can choose, to let negative energy focused on me bring me down; or I can choose to filter it and use it in a way that promotes and propels the community in a new direction. CHOICE. I have CHOICE. I am not powerless. I am POWERFUL. I am never Limited. I am LIMITLESS.

I look at the old discarded dead Oak branch that we have now decorated with boughs of greenery, holly, ribbons, golden decorations, gilded ribbons, and have crowned with oiled beautiful golden candles. I guess you can "make Beauty out of Shite" even though I have heard here in the South you cannot. My community has. My family has. My friends have. I have.

THIS is the lesson of Dark and Light. This is the lesson of Death and Life. This is the lesson of Joy and Sorrow. This is the Ankh.

Tonight we will all embrace a NEW YEAR, start with a CLEAN Slate, and begin a new. Let us all remember life is not about Winning, or Losing. It is about Choices. It is not just a Journey; it is an Adventure. It is a privilege. YAY for all of us who have made it to 2014! I just know this is going to be our year!

Thank you all for another year, and the gift of your time. May you be like the Phoenix rising from the Ashes, and may you RELISH and EMBRACE a LUST for LIFE!

Looking at the Season through the Eyes of a Child...

2013-12-13T13:05:00.000-06:00

This morning, I did the usual thing I have to do every three months. I removed my old contact lenses; and put new fresh ones in. While I was busy throwing away the old ones and preparing my eyes for the new ones I realized that this was a wonderful Spiritual Analogy. Especially since the Holidays are upon us and at times it is SOOOOO hard for we Adults to get all "jazzed" about something that is "old hat" and very "expensive" to us.

However, having four children, and four grandchildren has kept me not just frugal but seeing this season every year anew. My kids all love Holiday songs, they do not care if it is Christian, Pagan, World Music, Classical, Indie Pop, they just love the Winter Holiday songs. They sing Jingle bells, and Have yourself a merry little Christmas, just as quick as Rudolph. They love candles, and stars, and elves, and snow men, and nativity scenes, and Santa Claus. Of course they do, you could say, because they do not realize how much money goes into the season or how "commercialized" it is. BUT you know what? I do not believe that.

Children, love peppy songs and songs that are happy! There is hardly any Sad song played during the Holidays even the Love songs say...well you ditched me last year, but this year I did better! This holiday is one where we all shift to what we can do for others and seeing the POSITIVE in everything. My children and grandchildren do not get alot of material possessions during the season, we do not watch commercial Television here; so they are not "caught up" in the materialism but they do understand that this season is one to ask..."for their hearts desire" cause' Santa/the Christmas Witch/Holly King some MAGICAL being is going to bring them a present that they could not get any other way than to ask for it.

Look at the faces of Children when they go places during the Holidays, my toddler boy Cayden points out the lights everywhere, and the decorations in people's yards, and he even notices how it "smells different" he says. I took a whiff the other day and realized he is right, Pine, Peppermint, Chocolate, and human sweat are all mixed together during this season but maybe we should bottle that smell and wear it all year long so that we are more giving, and see the world through the eyes of a CHILD.

If we saw the world what would we see? That is what I find myself asking today...I know I would have more hope, and believe in the innate good in people more...but what else could I see through the eyes of a child? THIS week, I am going to ask my Goddess and God to help me see the world like a Child does, every part of it...and I am going to laugh louder, smile wider, and be more open to the possibilities around the corner.

When I get up on December 21st YULE morning for us, I think I am going to run in there and slide down the hall in my sock feet and have an expression of wonder on my face and clap my hands! What will you do differently this Season? How would your perspective change and what newness would you feel if you put in "NEW EYES" and saw this world from the Eyes of a Child?

Happy Holidays Ya'll!

Hoppy Holly Daze !!!

2013-12-07T13:30:00.000-06:00

I believe that we Pagans are becoming dogmatic. I know this, because I am one. When I was a younger “Seeker” I had no problem reading anything from the “Four Agreements” to the “Book of Thomas” I practiced Angel Magick, to reading about “brahma” but once it was evident I was going to start and maintain my own coven…I let “what others thought Pagan was” and “what I was told and taught Pagan was” influence the direction of my coven. Then after years of reading only "Pagan/Wiccan" books I forgot about my original heart song.

Now, I would like to think that I was such a strong spiritual leader that it did not matter what others thought or would say about my practices but that would not be true. I was so young that it was important to me that my teacher patted me on the head and told me I was doing great and that the people coming to me were focused and directed only on Witchcraft, or Wicca. I am not stating that she stated that I could not do these things; I just felt a "Wicca/Witchy" peer pressure not to be X.

Being, an easily bored curious sort I let my own spare time go to practicing and dabbling and reading whatever I wanted but sharing that with people in the coven did not happen….I was “scared” they would think I was too “fluff bunny” too “white light” and so I continued on teaching only God, Goddess, and the five elements because it was expected; and traditional. It did not matter that the Wiccan Rede did seem to believe in Universalism…”All Gods or Goddesses are just the face of one God/Goddess; or that all paths or just different roads leading to the same destination.” Any time, I tried to explore that option with others that had come to the craft it was shut down if it seemed “too Christian, too New Age, too fluff bunny”. (Fluff bunny in the Craft is a derogatory term used to make people feel bad about their path and themselves because they would never cast against another and they concentrate on light work ) Ps. I am what you would call a White Lighter or Fluff bunny....:)

After, ten or more years of this if any of these paths were presented to me or people I had a “wall up” I had gotten so used to “not listening” or “considering it an option” I was closed off. Several years ago, after we started the Temple (A legal Wiccan Church) I had a seeker say to me…”he had thought to tell me he was going to dedicate his life to Jesus…” just to see what I would say. He laughed; I stopped and wondered…Why and when did it happen that I had become so rigid? I asked the question, but I had no answer right then. Then, the hundreds of invitations came in inviting me to go to Christian Churches, and I naturally assumed they wanted “to convert” me since I had founded a Wiccan Church. This made me resistant; but in truth I could “claim busy” and point out to them…I did not “invite them to my church their pastors, so why invite me?”.

This theory is true, and the logic very astute if you are looking for conflict and being very defensive but it did not lead me to where I was headed; or where my Goddess wanted me to go…so she gently nudged further. Another student (a few years later), asked if Jesus was a valid option to worship as a Pagan God. I found myself saying….”Yes, that is a valid option…why not? Tell me why you see him that way…” Voila! I opened. A few months later, we had to do a Baby blessing, and it became clear the person involved wanted something unique…to present their child to all spiritual paths. Jesus, came a calling.

“Sonya, why are you so angry at me?” he asked. My heart hurt, I thought of all the bad experiences I had felt and experienced as a child, as a junior high student, as a high school student at the hands of a Christian Church and School. “ What did I have to do with any of that he asked?” "You didn’t" I had to say. So, I let it go, I cried, and I felt the love and comfort of that Deity. I thought of how I had sung so many times as a young person…”What a friend we have in Jesus” and how I had loved that song. I realized I was not angry or hurt at Jesus at all; just hurt and angry at the humans that had been angry, mean, cruel, or judgmental to me. The Baby blessing was fantastic, and I had made peace with Jesus and I had noticed he had not “judged me or preached I was going to hell”. (BTW he never has, to me)

Two more years have passed, and another Baby blessing rolled in…the Father was Christian the Mother Wiccan and so it seemed Jesus and Hekate would be called to bless the child. Brian and I presented the Child to all paths; and there was not hesitation or tugging within me a beautiful ritual happened. As we started that Circle, one of my Elders asked me what aspect of the Goddess I would call in…I stopped and asked Spirit, who would you like to come? Hagia Sophia it said, and so I said…I am Hagia Sophia. I have had rapid visions of her lately, the Queen in Red with Angel Wings. I am devouring all of her words, any mention of her, and of course the connection with Isis is obvious. But then, Isis does have 10,000 names and faces.

I panicked after a month of this obsession realizing that I was walking into deep Spiritual mysticism, and Gnosticism I asked advice from fellow Clergy because once again I seemed to “need and want” peer support. Luckily for me, I am surrounded with ATC Elders that encourage me to go and find, learn, search and grow; apparently I had not “grown” enough to not need that support. It was interesting and refreshing to note that at this age I had enough backbone to be honest; and to freely share my fork in the road. It panicked me, all my life I had been hardcore Witch/Pagan/Wiccan and now it seems...I am Wiccan. I am a Wiccan being led to explore the other paths and see how they merge with what I already knew.

I want to apologize for my former resistance and rigidity. I had become dogmatic and not willing to consider any other option. I helped create a spiritual environment that was "not truthfully exploring all options". I had become hypocritical saying all paths lead to the same destination but letting excuses and "feelings from my past" hold me back as a spiritual leader. I see that now, but I cannot fix the past only remedy the future. No excuses just truth.

I do not want the future of any Spiritual community to be "closed off" especially one as cool as Paganism/Wicca. I would like to share openly and peacefully with other faiths like I do in my mind but in the physical planes, and truthfully live in a world where we all share our ideas and learn from each other. I am (with the help of many others) taking big step to get there and tearing down all defenses and walls that I have erected to place myself in such a "neat Wiccan/Pagan box". Of course, we might want to start with ourselves by not labeling our own lightworkers as (practicing black magick, too fluff bunny, not good at magic, etc).

I still take offense to any path that does not see the “divine feminine” but those are not fighting words to me anymore. We, as Wiccans/Pagans do not even hardly acknowledge the “divine masculine” we seem to shy away from it and are embarrassed of it at times (it’s our backlash at Christianity and the Patriarchy). Maybe, if I start to take steps in this direction with all the other Temple members then we will be more than a ripple in the ocean?

I am still Wiccan and still Polytheistic and I know Wicca as a Spiritual Path has much to offer the Spiritual community, it is a system easily used to commune with any Angel/Guide/ face of God/ddess, it delights in the divine feminine. It also has no issue of having Mary Magdeline and Anubis or Hekate and Jesus being called in to work together to dispense the Sacraments and share wisdom. That is what is wonderful about Spirit; it is showing us that we can all get “beyond” our boundaries…and live in a “time and space” beyond our human limitations. I love this path for this reason.

I have learned that love is the answer. I have learned that if you pick up the sword you will die by the sword and that bitterness, anger, cruelty, anger and revenge are all things I struggle with but refuse to choose as my path. I have learned that if you pick up a shield to defend yourself, you will have to fight because to defend is to fight. I have learned that Love, and acceptance are more powerful energies than anything I have ever conceived and they can truthfully MOVE MOUNTAINS. I am grateful that Jesus, Isis, Sophia, Sekhmet, Osiris all do not care what I call them but Humans do…and I have learned, that I cannot let others tell me what to believe, practice, or what is right for me. I have also learned to stop being so dogmatic, stubborn, rigid, and to stop judging and labeling others.

So this HOLY season know this. Whether you Pray to or resonate with the Holly King, Jesus, or Horus they are all the same to me; and I believe in your heart you know this too. If you spend time dwelling with the virgin Mary, Isis, or Brigit it is all good because they are all Goddesses that are communing with us at this time of year. This time of year is not about who is WRONG or who is RIGHT or who started this Holy Day first or who stole it from WHOM. This time of year is about re-birth, re-newal, about a new clean slate being born for us and you.

Thought for the Season: What will you write on this new clean slate handed to you by Spirit? What will you do with it? I am not positively sure what I will do with it yet, but I know the first word I am going to write on it is Love, the Second is Acceptance (and yes that is for myself and for others).

Thank you for the Gift of your Time.....

Are Pagan's Thankful at Thanksgiving too?

2013-11-17T10:23:00.000-06:00

It's the holiday season for most Christians. Personally even though I am a Pagan I find this time of year to be wonderful because everyone is nicer no matter what faith they are. Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrating our coming to this new land and finding our new freedoms. I, for one, have a lot of things to be thankful for. Most people do; and yes that includes Pagans.

I love Thanksgiving it is one of my favorite holidays. I love to cook! Anyone who knows me can attest to this. Since I am a Kitchen Witch cooking is a big part of everything I do. It is a major way I show love to people. The saying that feeding someone is the best gift wasn't a lie. To spend time thinking of someone and preparing nourishment for them is a big deal. I wanted to share with everyone some of the recipes that I have that have been passed down to me from my Grandmother that I love to cook for this time of the year.

Oyster Dressing:

Two cans of Oysters chopped up

One stalk of celery chopped finely

Five cloves of Garlic chopped finely

Two sticks of butter melted

One loaf of bread cubed

One onion chopped finely

Saute the celery, onion, garlic until translucent pour over the cubed bread and oysters and mix well. Then transfer is into a turkey or bake in a dish and enjoy!!!

Jenn's Roast Turkey:

I use the biggest Turkey I can find because usually I am feeding a ton of people( seriously more than I can count)

Make sure your turkey is thawed out and then run your hand under the skin of the turkey to separate it from the meat.

Mix together 1tblspn each

rosemary

basil

garlic

celery salt

Cajun seasoning

black pepper

butter softened 1 stick

Take this mixture and rub under the skin of the turkey rub down the skin of the turkey. Slice up an orange and stick under the skin as well and in the cavity.Rub down the skin of the turkey with melted butter. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees. Every hour check the turkey and bast with the drippings from the pan.

Jenn's Gravy:

Take half a stick of butter melt in a sauce pan and add about a 1/4 cup of flour mix around and cok for a couple minutes. Then add to it the drippings from the turkey pan slowly as to make sure you do not make the gravy to watery you can always make it thinner but it is hard to thicken it back up without making it lumpy. I sugest adding the liquid about a cup at atime stirring with a whisk the entire time. add salt and pepper to taste.

Apple Pie

Everyone has a recipe for apple pie!

4 apples cored and sliced thinly

1 cup of sugar

1/4 cup of brown sugar

1 tbsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract

crust

1 bag vanilla wafers crushed finely

1 stick melted butter

Mix wafers and butter and press into the pan and bake till golden at 350 degrees

mix sliced apples and sugars and vanilla extract pour into the crust and bake for about 45 minutes let cool for a little while to let the pectin set up in the pie then serve with vanilla ice cream

Garlic mashed potatoes

NOTE: You will need 2 potatoes for every person you are cooking for peel and cubed and boiled till soft 8 cloves of roasted garlic smashed; mash the potatoes and garlic with 1 stick of butter and about 1/2 cup of milk add salt and black pepper to taste.

I hope that you all enjoy these recipes with your loved ones and talk about all the things you are thankful for with your family. Enjoy, and HAPPY Pagan Thanksgiving!

Jenn Kitchen Witch TSG-ATC

Jenn Kahn is the "Queen Kitchen Witch" at the Temple of the Sacred Gift, Atc. A first degree student, maiden at the Temple, and understands that she is priestess and Goddess while walking an Egyptian Path. She also is an accomplished seamstress, makes specialty cakes, a fabulous belly dancer, decorator, and plays viola. While doing all of these other interesting accomplished things she still manages to have a career in the mundane world, and raise three healthy beautiful pagan children.

Being Thankful for What’s on the Inside

2013-11-10T19:15:00.002-06:00

November has arrived and with it the season of Thanksgiving. Cultures around the world recognize and celebrate the harvest reconnecting them to ancient ways. In the United States the connection of Thanksgiving to the harvest festivals of old is not taught as part of the history and meaning of the holiday celebration. This is not surprising in a culture dominated by a religious group that strives to disconnect itself from anything that existed prior to its inception outside the history recorded in its holy text. I was taught that as an American I was to give thanks on this day in honor of the pilgrims befriending the Native Americans at Plymouth Rock and receiving their aid in surviving the harsh winter. The only connection to celebrating the harvest was the poorly documented history of a feast celebration. I found the celebration left a bad taste in my mouth as I got older. I disliked celebrating this feast because of the resulting devastation of the Native Americans at the hands of the immigrating people from across the pond. It took me many years in my pagan path to realize that Thanksgiving was a twist of the harvest festivals I celebrated as Lughnasadh, Mabon, and Samhain. So here we are in the throngs of yet another harvest festival yet this time we also find ourselves in the midst of windershin spiraling. We have celebrated the grain harvest. We have celebrated the fruit harvest. And we have celebrated the livestock and soul harvest. So what are we to celebrate now?

We are taught that this celebration calls for us to be thankful for all that we have. As a pagan, I have celebrated my thankfulness for all that I have in my life three times over now. I learned that in conjunction to celebrating the grains, fruits, and meats each of the harvest festivals is a time to list all the things I am thankful for in my life and honor the blessings bestowed upon me by the gods. So as I watch the thanksgiving parade of Facebook posts each day describing one thing each of my family and friends are thankful for I find myself thinking I’ve already shown the gods my thankfulness for these things; family, extended family, friends, job, pets, health, home, etc. My list got longer and longer with each harvest festival but now at Thanksgiving I seem to have run out of things to give thanks for. That is when I realized I was working against the spin of universal energy. I noticed many of the posts and nearly all of the things on my list were external and I needed to be internally focused.

During this time of year, many pagans turn to self-reflection and shadow work. My shadow work, like many others I have talked with, involved looking within for negative aspects so that we may work on them in order to learn and grow. But I conjecture that not all shadow work must flow in this frightening manner. A positive, thankful spin can help in addressing our shadows and keep us in the holiday spirit. This is also a great way to begin one’s shadow work for the winter months and show our thankfulness to the gods for their teachings over the previous year.

In recent years I have begun to review my personal journal and think back to all things that I didn’t record. Like many, I start the year out making daily entries but within a few months those entries get further and further spread out. I look for situations that I either recorded something about myself that I learned or situations that now looking back I realize I could have reacted differently. I make a list of all the lessons about myself I have learned over the past year. Some of the things this year include not reacting in anger to someone else’s anger, state my beliefs and opinions in conversation in a manner that is not argumentative as if trying to force others to believe as I do, and do not give ultimatums I am not willing to live up to. These are but a few. Some of the lessons have appeared on previous years’ lists. Some of them may show up on next year’s list. I take note of lessons that repeat and those that do not. This year I plan to incorporate a small personal ritual. I will cast a circle and call to the gods. Light a pink candle for self love and acceptance, and a black candle for banishing. In the cauldron I shall burn incense made of 3 parts Frankincense, 2 parts Myrrh, and 1 part each of Mugwort, Rosemary, and Bay. I will have on my altar several slips of paper, a new journal, and a writing instrument. I will begin by lighting the candles, which will be anointed with my personal power oil and charged for their purpose. Next, I will write each lesson I have learned on a slip of paper; something like, “I reacted with violence when emotionally threatened.” The next step is to thank the gods for helping me to recognize and learn from this lesson. I will then banish my old habit by lighting it in the flame of the black candle and announce, “I banish my fault of violent reaction.” And throw it in to the cauldron to burn away. I follow this by focusing on the pink candle and allowing myself to recognize that I have learned and grown from the experience. I will thank the gods for my growth. Next, I will write in my new journal what I have learned, “I am thankful I have learned to think before I act especially when threatened emotionally.” I will continue in this manner with each lesson on my list. When I am finished I will again thank the gods and ask them to help me remember these lessons I have learned and to not make the same mistakes again. Of course this means that the gods may give me opportunities to show what I have learned. And I hope I live up to the experiences. I will ask the gods to bless my new journal. And lastly, I will dismiss the gods and close the circle.

One lesson that always seems to make my list is the poor recording of my experiences. The gods have given me an opportunity to begin anew this year by inspiring me and gifting me with the pleasure and honor of being a part of this blog. I do hope that in the coming years this lesson will be learned.

I thank you for your time in reading my article and hope that at least some of you have found it informative and inspirational.

Blessed Be.

Kevin Red Patrick

Kevin Red Patrick is a seeker at Temple of the Sacred Gift – ATC. Raised in Memphis, TN, and educated at the University of Mississippi. His pagan path began at the age of thirteen after understanding that his views of life, spirituality, and sexuality did not align with his Christian upbringing. He has followed an eclectic Wiccan path with strong Celtic influences for twenty-two years. Divine direction led him to TSG-ATC in December of 2012, where he is now receiving formal training with aspirations of becoming clergy. He now lives in Southaven, MS with his partner of thirteen years and two dogs.

Blow out the Candles and make a Wish....

2013-10-24T18:07:00.002-05:00

Every year, I post on my Blog about what I have
learned and decided to "let go" from the previous year so that I can celebrate getting a year older and hopefully wiser. It was really hard for me this year to post; I was busy being clergy visiting hospitals; and running to do handfasting rituals, keeping the Temple workshops flowing, and dealing with the day to day counseling that I have grown into doing.

This does not count, that I am a wife. I love my husband and we have four children and four grandchildren. Somehow, we try to make time for them also. Yes, I have immediate family two brothers and nieces and nephews galore...and all of these people I am glad to say I care about too.

A very best friend made my birthday cake this year, it was a Sugar Skull skeleton that was filled with eyeballs and truffles. Bright Pink and white I smiled, for it was the color of friendship. One eye of the Skeleton had an eye missing...and while I felt love looking at the cake; I could not help but ponder the significance of that one empty eye socket.

Every year, I walk some of my students through a Odin ritual. In this ritual they come to understand that they cannot "gain wisdom and understanding" without suffering and sacrifice. It is not the kind of suffering and sacrifice that we deal with day to day but the kind the god ODIN agreed too. He wanted the gift of wisdom, and to get that he had to "willingly sacrifice something" . If you know this story, you realize Odin gives up his right eye; in exchange for one drink from this well. Of course, Odin does this and because he does he gains the wisdom that he is seeking.

I do not ask my students to give me anything; I convey to them the idea that the Gods and Goddesses will ask you to willingly "sacrifice" something important to you for you to "gain something" much more important for the world you live in. The key, I remind them, is to realize you must "willingly do it". The ritual is over...hopefully they understand.

I look at the beautifully wrought cake, my buddy has made out of the love of her heart for me. I gaze at the eyeballs laying all about it and notice once again the empty socket. I see the convergence of what I have shared with others, and what I am being asked to do. I lean forward, and joyfully agree...."Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday dear Sonya...Happy birthday to you....Now blow out the candles!!!" I hear everyone yell gleefully. I close my eyes.

I blow out every last candle, and there were many to blow out and not one missed. Thank you, I say to Isis; and yes I agree to whatever it is I must do for the gift that you would like me to have.

I have given up, any outside dreams of traveling the rounds as a celebrity stylist; or futher developing pinup hairstyles with photographers I adore. I gave up the idea of being a gypsy and touring forever with one band or another playing for whatever I could pull together. I gave up the idea of being single and traveling the world in the second phase of my life after my eldest son went to college. I gave up the dream of being a professor. I gave up moving out of Memphis, Tennessee, and decided to stay and help the Gods and Goddesses and Spirits of this city with whatever they asked me to do. I have given up most of my spare time, and any hobbies. I have given up hair appointments, nail appointments, facials, massages, and extra special things like faster cell phones to serve. You would have thought; that there was nothing else I could give up...but then there is my right eye!

I hope this doesn't seem negative because at the age of 43 I am calm; and smile and laugh to myself. Whatever it is I am asked to give up, or do at this point in my life...I am there. I understand that I do not truly understand. I know that I know nothing. I see that I really do not see. I comprehend that feelings are not always reliable. I know that if I died I understand what my eulogy would probably be; and what songs I would like sung and whom would be there...and I am at peace with that.

I was told once, that there is a warehouse and in it is a door that stores every imagined "treasure" that you could want in your possible human life. These things are dispersed to us as we need them or ask for them. However, it seems (I was told) that many of us will not collect or even get a chance to glimpse our true horde the Divine wants to give us because we are not listening; because we do not ask.

I blew out all of those candles, and everyone asked "What did you wish for?" I wished for that " key to the treasure that the is on it's way to me" I said. They all laughed not understanding the reference or getting my meaning.

Today, I found a key in the parking lot of the hospital before we got in our car to leave visiting our member that is "under the weather". I almost missed that key, being so busy thinking of all the things I had to do today; and all the things that had to be accomplished for the week. BUT I did not miss it!

Spirit, has a way of responding to us if only we listen....if only we look...if only we pay attention. It is trying to interact, and co-create with us, and would love to give us all we think we need and want and more.

It has been another year. Maybe next year, I will be wiser because I got a key....and I gave up my "right eye" to drink from a well.

Thank you for the gift of your time! Please remember, if you do not ask; then get out of the way...you will never be able to receive. This is what I have learned this past year; and after three years of persistently blogging to you all....I want to thank you for still reading, and sharing and even CARING about my opinion. Thank you

Spirit in Retrograde

2013-10-15T21:35:00.001-05:00

October is upon us and autumn can finally be felt in the air. Samhain quickly approaches to bring another year to end. Many pagans, witches, and Wiccans recognize this Sabbat as the end and beginning of the year. But I would like to offer a different point of view, Spiritual Retrograde.

We can all agree the Wheel of the Year is a circle and we live within the cycle of that circle “with no beginning and never ending” as the enchanting Circle Within a Circle song reminds us. If this is true, how are we celebrating this old Sabbat as an ending or beginning? How is this “New Years”? Did our ancestors celebrate Samhain with this intent?

Sir James George Frazer, the Scottish anthropologist often considered one of the founding fathers of modern anthropology, popularized Sir John Rhys’ theory that Samhain was the “Celtic New Year,” but did acknowledge that the evidence for such is inconclusive. Ronald Hutton, the English historian, says the evidence is flimsy. The evidence consists of Rhys’ inference from contemporary (modern) folklore containing customs with what he felt were “associated with new beginnings.” He also found that the people of the Isle of Mann sometimes called October 31, “New Year’s Night.” Other evidence includes calendars that place Samhain at the beginning like that of the Gaulish Coligny calendar. However, these calendars are lunisolar and contain a great deal of Roman influence. They are attempts to synchronize the solar year with lunar months. I have found little evidence in my research to suggest that the ancient Celts followed this type of calendar prior to Roman influence.

We do know the Celts began each day at dusk rather than sunrise, thus the dark preceded the light. Some debate remains about this suggesting the commencement of each day began at midnight or when the moon was high. We also know the Celts celebrated four festivals; Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnasadh -- none these being solar in nature despite being labeled “fire festivals.” It is suggested the Celts celebrated the solstices and equinoxes but little evidence supports this. Because the Celts were mainly a pastoral people and not agriculturally focused, it is my belief they did not celebrate the solar holidays as a people. Rather, farmers recognized these holy days that held little significance to the nobles that held festivals.

I conjecture the ancient Celts celebrated Samhain as a festival to honor the dead; to cleanse, bless, and sacrifice livestock for the survival of the people through winter; to gather the tribes for trade and politics before winter, and to honor the turning of the spiritual cycle inwards, Spiritual Retrograde.

People would return home for the long dark winter after ensuring they had everything they needed to survive the cold months. During this time they had little to no contact with the community or teachers until Imbolc or perhaps even Beltane. Their spirituality would thus spiral inward, or in retrograde to the forward motion of perceived physical time. It is this retrograde motion that magically causes the veil between this world and the world of the Otherworld to thin so as to allow for easier communion with deities, fairies, and those who have passed on from this world ensuring that people still grow and learn despite their separation from community.

Modern times provide many of us the luxury of not becoming separated from our community but we still need and desire the easy communication with our deceased loved ones. We have also incorporated the solar holidays into our neo-pagan practices. Me being a neo-pagan, neo-Celtic Wiccan and the engineer of my own spiritual traditions and beliefs, I set the parameters of my belief.

For me, Samhain marks the point of the year our spirits spiral in retrograde to the universal cycle of the Wheel of the Year causing the veil to become thin. The thinnest point of the veil is on Samhain night or the night of the dark moon closest to this day, this year falling on November 3. Our spirits remain in retrograde and the veil thin until Winter Solstice, or Yule, when the Sun is reborn. During this time of the year, the God rules from the Otherworld with the Goddess by his side, both in their dark aspects. Because the God and Goddess have designed our spirits to spiral in retrograde creating a thinned veil, we can more easily communicate with them and feel their love through the darkness of the Otherworld and the darkness of winter. This is why as pagans we embrace the darkness and do not fear it; for we know love exists even without light. The spiritual retrograde is also why, in my belief, many pagans feel it appropriate during this time of year to cast their circles in widdershins.

This is how I have come to understand the turning of the Wheel and the integration of what I know of the ancient Celts and the modern practices of Wicca. I assert that although the label of the “Witch’s New Year” makes the holiday appear more festive and less scary in the eyes of non-pagans, Samhain is not New Year’s. The Wheel is a circle, no beginning, never ending.

Blessed Be,

Kevin Red Patrick

Kevin Red Patrick is a seeker at Temple of the Sacred Gift – ATC. Raised in Memphis, TN, and educated at the University of Mississippi. His pagan path began at the age of thirteen after understanding that his views of life, spirituality, and sexuality did not align with his Christian upbringing. He has followed an eclectic Wiccan path with strong Celtic influences for twenty-two years. Divine direction led him to TSG-ATC in December of 2012, where he is now receiving formal training with aspirations of becoming clergy. He now lives in Southaven, MS with his partner of thirteen years and two dogs.

May the Circle be unbroken.....

2013-10-14T14:54:00.000-05:00

“Ancestors, those of blood and not of our blood. Those of our Bone, and not of our Bone we call you forth tonight and ask that you join us in our Temple….”

Samhain, the time when the Crone Goddess aspect comes into power, and the time when the God dies; the time when we all dress up our “witchiest” and gather and do what? We gather together here in Memphis to honor our Ancestors. The above phrase is always used every circle; but at Samhain it becomes more real. Many of us have lost loved ones while the wheel of the year has turned: children, siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, pets.

We all come together and bring a candle to represent our Ancestor (usually we paste a picture of them on the candle) and the circle is cast widdershins (counter-clockwise) because things are about to change. From that point forward until IMBOLC all circles will be cast in that direction for the time of the Crone has come into play. Some midsouth circles will bring in the “Bone mother” as they call her (Cailleach, Nephthys, Hekate) some of us will just call in the Hag. Many of us will send the God to the underworld with gifts and offerings (this is my Egyptian practice), some will not mention his “absence” at all.

Stones will be piled high on the altar to make a monument that will honor our ancestors, and we will all walk a spiral to the center to call, and get an answer from them regarding something we want to communicate with them about. For many this is just an apology, for some of us it is just to “reconnect” and say hi; most will ask for advice since it seems Ancestors crossed over are released from mundane worries and responsibilities and give us better advice than what we would choose for ourselves from time to time.

A dumb supper will be laid out, the table all black and mourningful, many of us will wear veils, the candelabras will be burning, the tissues aplenty…and we will eat in silence with our dearly departed as they speak, touch, and communicate with us in waves of spirit-filled emotions during that dinner.

Every Ancestor ritual we do at Samhain I leave out offerings for my Grandparents and friends…but I communicate especially with my Mamaw and Papaw who I held so near and dear to my heart (and still do). It is good to take the time to pause, and reflect and to acknowledge in a healthy way our loss. It is a catharsis of the spirit that I look forward to every year; and never grow tired of this release. I realize of course, I can speak to my Mamaw or dearly departed Elders every day of the week…and I do many times. However, taking the time to set aside one day of a year; before the changing of the clock and my “new year” starts is what I have come to find as the meat and potatoes of my spiritual practice.

After the serious crying, mourning, communication, divination…then we will play drums, games, break a piñata, decorate pumpkins and eat so much candy our bellies will hurt. We know too that our Ancestors, and dearly departed impart that wisdom…”enjoy being human, and those things that make you happy to be so.”

I do not know what you do to celebrate this ritual at your home, or in your circle and would really happy to have you share that underneath this post. As always, I thank you for the gift of your time, and the love that you send to us and ours here in the Bible Belt as you read this post.

How to have a “Dumb Supper”:

Cook some of the favorite dishes of people you have known and loved. For example my Papaw loved German Chocolate cake thus I always bake one at Samhain. Sit at the Table with your family and leave an empty chair (or pull it up to the table) for your dearly departed. Pray, invite them to partake of the food with you.

After you are done eating “re-decorate” the table and make sure to pour drinks in the glasses, use the good china, and fill plates to a heaping. I lay out one for every person I can think of (make sure the table is full and the food is a heaping). Leave the food out overnight, and in the morning clean the table, burn incense, and thank them from the bottom of your heart. If you have a candle you designated just for them, let it burn down to the end to release all the love and happiness you send them. Your Ancestors will thank you for it, and you will be grateful you took the time to acknowledge all those people in your life who formed and shaped you into the wonderful person you are!

“To all of those who came before me, I thank you. May I leave the tree of our family sturdier, and may I leave the path behind me wider and safer for those who follow behind me…” SMB!*

(P.S. The pictures are to give you a clue where I came from...Hope those are Southern enough for you!!!!)

May the Circle be Unbroken (LISTEN TO THIS LINK...CLICK)

Rev. Sonya Miller is a Highpriestess of the ATC and the Co-founder and Priestess of the Temple of the Sacred Gift-ATC. She teaches classes at her Temple offering hands on learning face to face. She has taught workshops locally for the Pagan community, had the pleasure of Presenting and Performing a ritual at the Pagan Unity Festival in Nashville, Tn helping people Erect " Little Egyptian altars everywhere" in an Egyptian ritual.

She presented a workshop at Gathering of the Tribes and delivered main ritual with an "Egyptian Flare" for the Tribes to build permanent structures in their cities and towns sending them home with firm foundations and Pagan Pride. She has persistently published Southern Fried Pagan and was honored to be a presenter at her mother church in Index, Washington sharing the mysteries of Ma-at and Anubis at Hecate's Sickle ( The Aquarian Tabernacle Church Fall Mysteries).

Her greatest feat thus far has been meeting her hero Pete Pathfinder (and secret crush) face to face, marrying the man she truly loved, and delivering safely a young "Golden Child". She lives in East Memphis with a handsome Highpriest husband, Brian Clark, a rambunctious pagan toddler, a Boston Terrier named Betty, a Cat named Bowie, and a rabbit named Ruby. Her motto in life is..."Fortes fortuna adiuuat"-----and you will find her almost every night of the week at the Temple of the Sacred Gift (www.tsg-atc.org)where the Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot!

Personalizing the Sabbats to Make Them Holy

2013-09-23T18:24:00.000-05:00

By Kevin Red Patrick

Happy Mabon!! The Wheel of the Year turns another spoke continually taking us forward along our path. We all know this as the Autumn Equinox or the Second Harvest, but few of us know why we call it Mabon (May-bawn, Mah-bone) or how it relates to our personal tradition. What we do know is that this is the time of year that fall seems to begin and the “holidays” will soon be upon us.

The name Mabon for this pagan Sabbat was coined by Aidan Kelly, founder of The New Reformed Orthodox Order of the Golden Dawn, sometime around 1970. He derived the name from the Welsh Celtic hero Mabon ap Modron. This hero’s name is interpreted as “son of the divine mother.” Modron is derived from the Gaulish goddess Matrona, the divine mother goddess. Mabon was taken from his mother’s arms three days after his birth and locked away in a dark watery prison. While imprisoned, Mabon learns various skills associated with hunting and battle. He is rescued by the legendary King Arthur and his knights on their quest to fulfill forty impossible demands of the giant Ysbaddaden and win the hand of his daughter Olwen for Arthur’s cousin Culhwch. Mabon is the only one who has the skill to hunt the dog Drudwyn, the only dog that can track the boar Twrch Trywth. The giant is slain after only a few of the tasks are completed allowing the two to marry.

So you might be wondering, what this has to do with the second harvest. The coinage of this sabbat’s name appears to be quite arbitrary. Kelly has seemingly taken the name of a Celtic God of a favorite myth and applied it to the holiday just so it would have a specific name like the other modern pagan Sabbats instead of the mundane description of autumn equinox. This is what makes the name of this Sabbat controversial, however it has been accepted by the majority of the pagan community and has become the traditional name.

The second harvest is the time to gather the fruits from the vine. The Roman festival of Dionysus, God of Wine, which is celebrated on this day is more closely related to the meaning of this holiday than is the tale of Mabon ap Modron whose story is about freedom, love, quests, and marriage. The myth of Persephone and Demeter is more symbolic of the turning of the Wheel of the Year. This marks the time when Persephone descends into the Underworld and the bounty of the earth begins to diminish due to Demeter’s anguish. All of these deities give us reason to celebrate this day. We thank Dionysus for the bounty of fruits. We honor Demeter for her gifts of the harvest and support Her as she mourns, and we honor Persephone’s sacrifice to willingly go back to the Underworld each year.

“But I’m not Greek or Roman!” you exclaim.

One might wonder how they can celebrate this Sabbat because none of the myths associated with it include the culture that inspires their own personal path. Some may simply accept it as a “traditional” neo-pagan holiday and wonder why anyone wouldn’t celebrate an equinox; it has astrological significance. Either way I find it a more personable experience if I can relate it to My tradition through the myths of my chosen cultural influence, the Celts and my Gods. This is why it is important to learn the myths and legends of your personal path as well as those of others.

My Celtic inspired path marks Mabon as an extension of Lughnasadh. For me, Lughnasadh marks the time when the Sun God Lugh, as the Great King of the Tuatha de Danann, defeated the king of the Fomorians, Balor and secured the grains of the harvest for his people. In addition to this, Lugh established the celebration of his adopted mother Tailtu on this day, who died as a result of her tireless work making the land good for planting, on this. This is why I honor Lugh as the God of Light (knowledge and skill), God of the Sun (as the King of the divine race is typically equated to the Sun), and the god of the harvest. But it is the legend of Lugh’s sacrificial death that lends itself to my relation of the Sun God to the celebration of Mabon.

My journey of research, meditation, and journey with Lugh has led me to the following description of the death of Lugh.

Lugh, known by the Welsh as Llew, was cursed by his birth mother to never have a wife of the people who now inhabit the earth. The magicians Gwydion and Math, both protectors of Llew, used great sorcery to create the most beautiful and fairest and graceful maiden that man ever saw, Blodeuwedd. A woman made of magic, oak, broom, and meadowsweet, her name mean “flower face.” Lugh loved Blodeuwedd. But many years after their marriage, Blodeuwedd fell in love with another. Lugh was told of Blodeuwedd’s adultery but his love for her kept him from taking actions against her. The two lovers plotted to kill Lugh but the god could not be killed in any ordinary fashion. Blodeuwedd betrayed Lugh a second time and revealed to her lover Gronw the secret to killing her husband. Lugh could not be killed on either on land or water, neither clothed nor naked, neither indoors or out, neither in the day or night, and neither in the summer or winter. Blodeuwedd lured her husband into a garden pavilion at dusk for a bath on the autumn equinox. When Lugh was in place half in the bath with a wrap about his waist as the sun set, she called for her lover who struck Lugh with a spear. Lugh let out a screech when he received the fatal blow and immediately transformed into a raven and flew away. Gwydion searches for Lugh finally finding him at Samhain perched in an oak tree. He sings the bird down, restores Lugh to his human form and retreats to the underworld to care for his wounds. Lugh, Gwydion, and Math return to take back the kingdom form Blodeuwedd and Gronw. A battle ensues. Lugh refuses to allow Blodeuwedd to be killed. In the end Gwydion turns Blodeuwedd into an owl so she would never again have the light of the sun upon her face and Gronw escapes to the land of his people. Gronw appeals to Lugh for forgiveness but is denied. Lugh demands that Gronw stand on the bank of the river Cynfael and receive a blow from his spear. Gronw agrees after all others refuse to take his place and he secures the condition that he can place a stone between him and Lugh. Lugh of the long arm throws the spear with such force it pierces the stone and his enemy.

This is my interpretation of the myth as I have come to know it. You may not agree with my willingness to adapt the legend but I assure you that this tale has come to me through study, meditation, and divine influence. The tales of the Celtic people, and many cultures throughout history, have been lost either in part or in entirety. There is no way to prove this true or false. But as pagans we know that each person’s journey is personal. How do you incorporate this Sabbat into your own personal belief system? Do you have a myth that you equate to this spoke in the wheel? Is it from the culture that inspires your spirituality?

Having a myth that ties your beliefs and your gods to each Sabbat makes each Sabbat a personal holy day. As we walk the Wheel of the Year, we are encouraged to be in tune with its cyclic turning. What better way than to find a personal connection through the myths and legends as we come to know them.

Happy Mabon!

The Sabbat before Samhain.....by Julie Jeznach

2013-09-22T12:44:00.000-05:00

Mabon. Second Harvest. Pagan Thanksgiviing. That Sabbat before Samhain.

In the South autumn is not yet in full swing at Mabon. We might have seen a slight drop in temperatures or realized that Hallothanksmas is in full swing at the local craft or drugstore, but that special feeling of fall just hasn’t arrived yet. The tomato vines are full and the leaves are firmly attached to their branches and the Green Man is still virile. The last physical harvest is still pending.

As southern urban pagans our daily connections to nature are climate controlled or covered in asphalt. We must seek out experiences with nature instead of being pulled into the flow. External and retail oriented indications of the seasonal change inspire hurry and a sense of impending need. It is easy to get caught up in the anticipation of Samhain, Halloween, Yule, and Christmas (as many pagans celebrate both our religious holidays and secular ones with extended family)

How do we connect back to the Wheel turning without the seasonal cues of those in more northernly climates? Remember that there is magic and beauty in the ordinary. As the temperatures slowly dip below 90 at sunset and twilight begins to arrive just after supper instead of at bedtime, reserve time to step outside and listen to the music of the tree frogs singing. The late blooming crepe myrtles have offered up their blossoms but there is also beauty in the rich green of plants past the flowering stage.

Plan a trip to a local farmer’s market and head to the stalls still selling the last of the tomatoes, pole beans, okra, peppers and peaches, the rewards of a longer growing season. This is the beginning of pumpkin flavored everything in retail but there is time for that, the last harvests of summer are still waiting to be savored or canned.

Though our weather may not have caught up, Mabon is an equinox and a time of balance between the light and the dark. It is in this time of between we find our connections to Mabon and our harvests that are the culmination of the things we have spent our time and effort on; our intellectual and financial harvests as well. Set aside time to plan for the the coming short days and long night, create a space in your home for reading or crafting or other activities that feed your spirit through the Dark of the year. Start a journal or scrapbook to reflect on the gifts of what you have harvested through the spring and summer, family outings and vacations and summer games.

As urban pagans our lives are no longer dependent on the cycles of the growing season but our spirits remain tied to the cycle of Light and Dark. Set aside this time as the days begin to shorten to gather the gifts of the Light and know you have the harvest of strength, courage, and wisdom to step into the next cycle of the wheel.

Julie Jeznach is a Mother, student, and practitioner of an eclectic Wiccan life. She has been studying Wicca and Paganism for 31 years while pursuing varied careers and raising her children. Julie is currently a second degree student and Maiden with Temple of the Sacred Gift and a talented tarot reader. She is skilled in fiber arts and jewelry making and channels her inner magpie collecting gemstones, yarns, and various small “pretty things.” She loves recipes both delicious and magical. Julie shares her home with her two wonderful children, a cranky orange tabby, and a loving border collie that keeps things running smoothly.

Mabon Fixins with Jenn Kahn, Southern Fried Pagan Style............

2013-09-15T12:22:00.000-05:00

At Mabon, we celebrate the goddess in her aspect as the crone, or the Dark Mother. She is Demeter, she is Hecate, she is the wise old woman wielding a scythe rather than a basket of blooming flowers. This makes me think of the Grain of the Fields, and instantly makes my hands itch to make and create wonderful fixings for me and my community!

Here is me sharing one of my Bread recipes and hoping you will use it to celebrate Mabon with those you love. Remember (while you are preparing your food in the kitchen hum, sing, dance, and spell it with visuals and a whole lot of love).

This honey wheat blend is a delicious way to celebrate the end of the harvest and say farewell to the fertile months of summer. Serve warm with herbed oils for dipping, or with a big scoop of Apple Butter.
Make this either in your bread machine, or by kneading it by hand.

Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Ingredients: •2 C. warm water •1 Tbs. active dry yeast •1/3 C. honey •3 C. whole wheat flour •1 tsp. salt •1/4 C. vegetable oil •2 Tbs. butter •4 C. all purpose baking flour

Preparation:
Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Add honey and mix well.
Stir in the whole wheat flour, salt, vegetable oil, and butter and mix until a stiff dough has formed. Gradually work the all-purpose flour into the mix, one cup at a time.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured countertop, and knead for about fifteen minutes. When it reaches the point where it's sort of elastic, shape it into a ball and place it into an oiled bowl. Cover with a warm, damp cloth, and allow to sit and rise until it's doubled in size -- usually about 45 minutes.

Punch the dough down and cut in half, so you can make two loaves of bread. Place each half in a greased loaf pan, and allow to rise. Once the dough has risen an inch or two above the top of the loaf pan, pop them in the oven. Bake at 375 for half an hour, or until golden brown at the top.

When you remove the loaves from the oven, allow to cool for about fifteen minutes before removing from the pan. If you like, brush some melted butter over the top of the hot loaves, to add a pretty golden glaze to them.

Note - If you're doing this in a bread machine, remember, the recipes makes two loaves. Halve everything if you're allowing the machine to do the mixing. If you hand mix it, you can still drop the single-loaf balls of dough into the machine to bake.

**************************************************************************

If we lived out further we would be pulling something out of the smokehouse, or going hunting to bring in a nice meat to eat at Mabon. In Memphis, we go to our local supermarket and bring in the kill already skinned, de-boned, and ready for preparation. We traditionally serve Pot roast at this time of year, this is my Southern Fried Pagan twist on that traditional dish.

All things Harvested Pot Roast:

4-5lb pot roast
1 stick butter
1 large onion sliced
3 celery stalks chopped
1 garlic clove chopped
¼ tsp. dried thyme
¼ tsp. dried parsley
1 bay leaf
1/8 tsp. black pepper
¼ tsp. salt
2-10oz cans French onion soup
4 large potatoes, quartered
1-8oz package raw baby carrots
1-16oz pkg. frozen broccoli/cauliflower mix

In dutch oven or oven safe pot w/lid brown both side of the roast, using half the butter. Set the roast aside. With remaining butter, saute' the onion, garlic, and celery until onions are tender and beginning to brown. Add the the thyme, parsley, bay leaf, and pepper. Mix well and then return the pot roast to the pan. Sprinkle salt over the roast and add the french onion soup. Cook at 325 degrees for 4 hours. Baste meat as needed. Add potatoes and carrots and salt to taste. Cook for another 45 minutes. Add broccoli/cauliflower mix and cook for 20 more minutes. Serve with hot bread. (Makes 8 servings)

***********************************************************************
You cannot have a Southern Mabon without a great dessert! Dessert is what we all oooh and ahhh over; and what makes us eat less Pot Roast and bread saving room in our bellies for delight. Keeping that in mind, and what is plentiful for us in this part of the region we use apples in everything around Mabon. I am sharing with you my coveted "what's that special ingredient" Crumble pie, knowing that whether you fix it in a skillet, a bread pan, or a pyrex dish it will make you the talk of the Potluck event.

Lunch Crumble:

5 apples
1 cup rolled oats
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
6 tbs. butter
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. allspice
2 tbs. apple juice or orange juice

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Lightly butter a 9-inch square baking pan or a casserole of the equivalent size, then dust it with flour. Peel, core and slice the apples, and arrange them in the pan. In the bowl of an electric mixer, blend the oats, brown sugar, flour, butter, cinnamon, salt and allspice on low speed until it forms a coarse meal. Crumble the mixture evenly over the apple slices and sprinkle with the juice. Bake for 35 minutes.
Makes 6 servings. (Serve warm with chilled fruit and vegetable plates, buffet style)

Don't forget to say a prayer of thanks to the Goddess and thank her for her bountiful blessings that she so richly shares with us....ENJOY!

Happy Mabon: Egyptian-Heka Style

2013-09-05T12:23:00.000-05:00

So if you are Wiccan/Pagan or a Witch that walks the Wheel of the Year (this means celebrating our Sabbats) you know that MABON is on the horizon. But here in the Midsouth, Autumn is not even tipping our trees. The leaves are not falling, and the hottest most humid months are at their peak. I think that because the Wheel of the Year is based more on the UK that at times it is really hard to adapt here in the United States; but that is another blog/story altogether.

If you walk the Egyptian Path like me, you might find it difficult to find our Wheel and correspondences at all in the Celtic/British Wheel. So today, I am going to help you find it...it took me a while; but I did. Mabon is not just about the Autumn harvest it is about the Son Mabon (Lord of Light) of the Goddess (Modron) coming into his own, as his father MAKES a Sacrifice for the Greater good of the whole. It seems Mabon the young God was hid away and protected by several animals until he grew strong enough to come forth and help the people of the world.

Well, strangely enough this story very easily corresponds with Isis/Horus/Osiris. Isis had to hide her son Horus, he is well hidden and grows strong and withstands many lessons and challenges and is taught by Thoth the Ibis, and Serqet the Scorpion, and Wadjet the Cobra, and Heket the Frog, and Tauret the Hippo. When the time is right, he emerges and is ready to face of against Set the God of Chaos so that things can be set back into place...and that the wheel of Human years will flow with "the stars". The Celestial Map that the Egyptians walk by in short more Astrology and Sun guiding you externally, and the Moon is used to illuminate the lessons of the Sun.

Some facts about HORUS and his names because these are the qualities of him you want to concetrate on for MABON see which name he brings to you (Ask him personally to help you know which one to use)! Use that name working with him until the next Sabbat/turning of the wheel!

Harsiesis (Horus son of Isis) This Horus was the son of Isis and Osiris. He was conceived magically after the death of Osiris and brought up by Isis on a floating island in the marshes of Buto. The child was weak and in constant danger from the scheming of his wicked uncle Seth, who sent serpents and monsters to attack him. But his mother, Isis was great in the magical arts and she warded off this evil by using a spell against creatures biting with their mouths and stinging with their tails, and the young Horus survived and grew.

Harpokrates (The infant Horus) As a child he represented the new born sun and was often pictured being suckled by Isis. he was usually represented as a seated child, sucking his thumb, his head was shaved except for the sidelock of youth. Even as a child, he wore the royal crown and uraeus.

Horus Behudety In the form of Horus of Edfu, he represented the midday sun. This Horus was worshipped in the western Delta and later, as his cult spread south into Upper Egypt, a cult center was established in Edfu. Horus of Edfu fights a great battle against Seth and an army of conspirators. He is pictured as a winged sun-disk or as a hawk headed lion.

Harendotes (Horus the avenger of his father).
Heru, Hor, Harendotes/Har-nedj-itef (Horus the Avenger),

So if you are Egyptian and you wanted to relate this all to your Pagan/Wiccan/Witch sisters and brothers what are you to do?

1. Do a ISIS and Horus ritual!

EGYPTIAN MABON RITUAL
by Rev. Sonya Miller Egyptian-Heka Tradition

Items needed: 1. Red carnelian, Blue Lapis Lazulu (these are to represent the two eyes of Horus)

2. White feather, or Ostrich feather for Maat (you should always have one of these on your Egyptian Altar)

3. Sugar cookies shaped like triangles (a modern representation of shat- cake) thought to be his favorite

4. Dark brown beer for HORUS

5. Milk for ISIS

6. Rose petals for Isis

7. Honey for her the best you can afford.

8. Ankh on altar

9. White and Black candle

10. Cauldron

11. Charcoals to burn incense on

(12) Incense (Rosemary is always associated with Horus, Khufru incense is my favorite, Juniper berries ground always work well, and Frankincense and Myrrh, Sandalwood and Rose)

(13) Paper and Pen

The Spiritual Lesson you are supposed to be gaining from Mabon is there in the Mythos of Isis and Horus. Isis has given birth to a new creative being (we call him Horus); and she and many other Gods and Goddesses have fought to protect that new idea/creative project/ physical manifestation all year round. Now is the time to THANK HER for doing this, and to ask that Idea she has helped you co-create come into Physical Manifestation or form so that you can see it, and work with it, and walk with it yourself. The symbol for that Manifestation is Horus. For he is the new Young Strong God.

Cast a Circle of Protection (I say a pyramid) make sure you do not forget below you is Geb, and above you is NUT. Invite in Isis and Horus. Take your piece of paper and start writing down all you are grateful for that has happened since the last Sabbat to this one (take the time to figure out what that period is BEFORE circle) Roll it up loosely sprinkle some of that incense in it...burn it. Say THank you ISIS, sing her a song, dance wildly, or just send her all the joy in your heart.

Next, think of the best and strongest thing in your life or idea that has manifested a possibility that you might want to develop. Mine is a "writing project" pick yours! Now write that down, and blow on it and say Horus at least Nine times....(with the name you feel intuitevely he sent you or use all the names...it cannot hurt) Burn it, and as you do look at the smoke and flame and visualize it transforming to a HUGE BIRD flapping its wings until it rises and becomes a huge SUN.......Hold up your offering to Horus and thank him before hand. NOW tell him what you are going to do to make that dream manifest in the next Sabbat.

Bless your food, eat a cookie, drink some of the beer and the milk (pick your order how you want to drink it I use mild first then beer for my tummy)

Take down the pyramid.

Take the ashes outside and when they are done burning...BLOW THEM TO THE WIND.

Go inside and look at your calendar and start setting aside time each day to make that dream a reality. Does it mean waking up an hour early? Does it mean no television or less facebook. Remember you Promised Horus you would make it happen with him. Now the rest of this period everytime you feel like procrastinating or putting it off or feel stuck, call on Horus (use that sacred name he gave you) and know IT IS DONE, just go collect your Prize!

Duat Horus!

Duat Isis!

Enjoy ...and if you have any questions please feel free to POST THEM UNDER THIS. I will be gone for the weekend at Gathering of the Tribes 2013, see you when I return.

How to be a better Witch, Wiccan, Pagan, etc...

2013-08-28T14:33:00.000-05:00

I get emails from people asking me this question alot. I should be amused, and in the beginning I was taken aback but by now I am comfortable with this question. First, you obviously need assurances if you ask this question and so let me say...there is no WRONG way to be any of these things. There are ways I wish you would not portray our "Craft/Path" but these are my perceptions and this is my blog and I do not wish to fill it up with silly drivel or assy statements about who "embarrasses me" or my brothers and sisters of the craft. That is not my job; my mission is to help others and encourage them.

That being said...and remembering there is no award or Trophy for what we do.....

How do you get better at a Path? Well you practice it. You put down the book you are reading, or the blog you are looking at right now and you do something to help you grow. These are some suggestions, not mandatory things I think can help you. Actually, I know they will help you.

1. Go for a walk. If you live in a suburban neighborhood like me, look at the trees, notice and smile at your neighbors and listen to the birds, notice the clouds.

2. Go out every morning and greet the sun.

3. Go out at night time and connect with the moon.

4. Notice the stars and the formations and planets, see how many you know. Learn a new one. Hey download that Google app for it on your phone hold it up to the sky! Now you know what you are looking at.

5. Pray. Yep, I said it pray. Talk to Spirit, feed it your dreams, your hopes, your fears, ask for direction and wisdom.

6. Respect the planet you live on. Do not litter and yes this counts cigarette butts and cups from Mcdonalds.

7. Give the benefit of the doubt to others that either share your path; or do not share your path. If you truly believe we are all Spirit, then respect another person's Spirit.

8. Share your observations with others if they ask how was your day? Say I got up and saw the sun and stretched and it made me smile and think of you and how there were Goddesses like Isis and Saule, and Amaterusu that were female and considered to be part of the Sun Energy. Why do you think that is?

9. Look for the Goddess and the God all around you, and within you, but most importantly WITHIN others!

10. Get up every morning and turn your day around by humming, singing, dancing, and tapping your foot (even it is impatiently why the coffee is a brewing). ASK God/Goddess how you can serve them.

11. Help others. If you can possible help someone, do it. Do not starve yourself to help another, but yes stop and help someone change a tire; or buy a used tire, or just give them a book to read or send them a text. Don't sad face them on facebook, or air hug them...reach out...be real!

12. FEED your soul! Pagans have an issue with reading daily devotionals because they notice they are geared to Christians. SO WHAT? I mark out Jesus and put in Isis in it's place same principal. Hey! Read a Self-help book, but feed your soul...IF you do not feed your soul, then how can you grow?

13. Have altars set up in your home. Yes, that means if it is a picture, a plant, a gnome in the front yard take the time to make your space sacred and a sanctuary.

14. Go to a meetup for Pagans/Wiccans/Witch's you don't have to commit but you might find out about something going on in your area you want to take part in or could help others with...and that is always good. Plus, you learn about others paths and they help you. Learning is cool!

15. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, or clothing swap, or any kind of public charity and let them know YOU ARE PAGAN! Yep, help change our public image by showing people that we are real, and normal (well that is overrated but you get my point) and we do make a positive difference.

16. Be a great parent! ( I am leaving this open because you know what that is to you and I do not judge other's parenting skills unless you harm the child or starve them)

17. Share your abilities. If you are Pagan/Wiccan/Witch then please share whatever you do with the public. If you do Reiki, share it. If you read cards, share it. If you are a medium share it. Gifts are not given to keep or hide under a bushel.

18. Go to a Pagan festival. This will help you grow more than anything I know because you will be forced to open your mind and heart to others that walk your path and it will show you how diverse it is!

19. Spend time with an Elderly person. Yes, I said that because it shows you the Crone and the Sage in the Physical form and it teaches you to be comfortable and see the beauty and swap off that comes with ageing.

20. Trust yourself. Believe in yourself. Believe in your connection to source.

Now I am sure you are going to think of others, I can right now as I write this. However, if you do one of these a day I guarantee you will grow. I say this, because the only way to be better at anything is to grow. You know when you stop growing? When you die.

Thank you for the gift of your time, and keep those emails a coming!

Are you sure it isn't the Cherry on top?

2013-08-26T14:20:00.002-05:00

I just got back from New Orleans, Louisiana. My husband Brian and I went there to get some “couple time”. It is a funny thing that happens when you start running any kind of business or organization when you get married you get to running around so much you forget what got you propelled to where you are in the first place. I have not forgotten. Before I met Brian I was pretty cool. After I met Brian everything fell together for me, and I relaxed into life.

We fell in love. I think we knew the minute we met each other that nothing from that moment would be the same. We are still in love. People forget this at times since we are just a 40-something couple and a High priest and Highpriestess of a Wiccan Temple. No, we don’t bandy about naked underneath the full moon. No, we are not swingers or in a cool “open” or polyamorous relationship we are just two people; who met and fell in love. In short very unusually boring for a Pagan anything especially in the year 2013.

We open and close the Temple of the Sacred Gift four (at least) out of seven days a week with a few other couples in the church. It is hard to maintain a good relationship with your significant other when you both work all day, and then come home to grab food and run up to teach a class, shake hands with strangers, sell wares, run circles, bless homes, and banish spirits. Usually one of us has to stay home with our Pagan Toddler so the other can serve the community and maintain the ministry; but, somehow or another we have maintained it.

How? By feeding and filling our well. Normal people, call it “hard work” I will call it taking trips to New Orleans, trips to Nashville, trips to Gatlinburg, renting a Hotel room, going out to dinner, and buying each other things to express our love for one another. When we chose together the Temple logo we placed in the middle the cup and athame; a symbol for the merging and interconnectedness of the God and the Goddess themselves. Many look at this symbol for the “Great Rite” and laugh and say it is all about the sex. Hey, I will not lie sex is a physical way of expressing the “Great Rite” in fact it is probablly the cherry on top of all of life. However, after being married in more than one way to a person I will tell you it is more about the collaborations that occur between the female and male within each of us and being comfortable enough to share that with each other than great bedroom shenanigans that truly is the GREAT RITE.

We have collaborated on raising four children together Brian and I. We have collaborated on paying bills together, on retiring together, on taking care of each other when we are sick. We have collaborated on building a physical worship space together and a spiritual one not only for people that come and ask for guidance; but for each other. He has his path, which is Eclectic and I have mine which is very much Egyptian Heka. We collaborate on work schedules, and doctors’ appointments, and on insurances, and on who is going to mow the lawn and who will fold and put up the laundry. In fact, there is not one area of our life that is not collaboration, and I feel that this is truly what the” Great Rite” is all about. It is not about two people becoming one in a hot sweaty embrace it is about two people whose lives intersect and respect, love and admire one another in and outside of the sexual act.

Today, I read a prayer aloud to the Goddess Opis and re-minded myself who she was and what Opulence truly is. It seems many people can define Opulence as being diamonds, pearls, fancy cars, chandeliers, and over the top “lifestyles of the rich and famous”. Yet, it seems to me since very few of us will ever experience that kind of opulence that maybe what it really is about is figuring out what your Opulence is. To me, Opulence is being married to and being the Highpriestess of Brian Miller. To me, building a life with this person, sharing a world with him, living in a home with him, and co-creating a Temple and community with him is Opulence. BTW so is the Great Rite with him…J

Thank you for letting me share what I feel is the "cherry on top" of life!

Under the Sun

2013-08-19T09:59:00.000-05:00

This weekend I was honored to take part in my very first pagan festival, The Brothers of the Sun. What an amazing experience! I was welcomed in to a group of pagan men from various traditions as a brother. I learned so much about male camaraderie, masculine energy, and other male mysteries. And I definitely learned a good bit about myself. What I learned most was that my family tree of pagans has more branches and deeper roots than I realized.

I wish I could share with you all everything I learned this weekend, but these are men’s mysteries. What I can share with you is that I learned that this community of men is not a group of bystanders at the will and service of their witches. These men are roves seeking their own destiny, fathers shaping their future and the future of those they love, and sages manifesting the will of paganism as a whole. I am proud to call these men my brothers.

I can also share with you what I learned about myself. I practiced a solitary path for many years. When I was led to formal training at Temple of the Sacred Gift I looked upon this training in a preconceived notion of what a church is supposed to be. I also looked at my training as a training of rules, guide lines, and how-to’s on the right way and wrong way to practice and worship. I had decided without thinking that because this training was from an eclectic church and not a coven I would still be a solitary witch. I would be a part of a fellowship of like-minded individuals and learn what has been written and recorded about witchcraft. I would take this information and apply it to my own spiritual practice but ultimately I would still be a solitary because I wasn’t practicing like anyone else; my roots were my own.

Just before I left for my men’s weekend, my teacher invited me and others to be a part creative part of Southern Fried Pagan. Our first task was to create our bios for the page so that readers would know who we are and from what perspective our views originate. I did this quickly, because I had began writing a blog of my own earlier this year. I sent it to her and she wrote me back to inform me that I needed to look at blog bios because they tend to be short and to the point. And I wasn’t a solitary like I claim any longer. My first reaction was who is she to tell me I’m not a solitary. I latched on to my ideas of what my training was going to be and swung from the tree limb beating my chest. I have thankfully learned to avoid discussing things until I have had time to think about them. I used the weekend to plan on what I was going to say to my teacher to make her understand and accept my idea. Funny I know. Tell your high priestess she’s wrong about something she’s been formally teaching for a few years.

I was involved in a casual conversation with a sage of high respect as a brother one night during this weekend. He was saying something about the students he teaches and how he has to teach to each one differently because they are different people. This sparked in my head and I said, “Aha!” I realized now why I needed to go to college to become a teacher of elementary school only to leave that field. Differentiated instruction, the biggest concept of my college training. And this high priest has been using it for a lot longer than it has been in practice in public schools. I then began to think about teaching and how friends in college would tell professors that the idea of differentiated instruction, teaching to reach every level and type of student and to each individual student, was good in theory but wasn’t realistic. After some time examining lesson plans of differentiated instruction and some training on how to construct them, I was quite able to apply this skill. I thought, “How dumb are they to tell the teacher their wrong.”

“AHA!”

What had I just done? I had to think about this. I looked around and saw the men and the ways they did things. I learned the connections these men had and why they had them. I saw practices of various sages being used by the fathers and learned by the roves. Some of these were discussed openly after rituals and workshops. And the answer to my quandary was revealed. Traditions were made and passed on and are being passed on. These traditions were not limited to the men or this festival. I realized I wasn’t just learning what someone else had learned; I was learning traditions. Now my high priestess and high priest and maiden and squire had told us this many times. It never made it past my preconception. This weekend I saw the traditions from one hand to the next. I was a part of these traditions. I learned a way of thinking and doing that had been passed down from generations much older than one that attended the festival.

No I am not a part of a coven, but I am part of a tradition. It is an eclectic one. But it is a tradition. I have brothers and I have sisters. I have fathers and mothers. I have grandfathers and grandmothers. I am not alone anymore unless I choose to be. I choose it no longer. I WAS a solitary pagan. Now, I am a Templite.

My advice: If you are practicing solitary do not seclude yourself. Get out and be part of the community. If you wish to be part of a group, which in my opinion most of us do, get out and do whatever it takes to find an accepting, loving group. A new light will dawn within you. The Charge of the Goddess states, “If that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee, thou wilt never find it without.” I hold that some things cannot be found within unless we actively seek them without. Paganism is about community and traditions. If you do not make yourself a part of the community you will not know paganism completely. I may be wrong. These are just the ideas of a seeker in training.

If it don't take the first time, can I get a second dunkin'?

2013-08-15T11:11:00.000-05:00

I get allot of emails and people asking me about Initiations. They want to know if I am "self-initiated" or did I have a teacher. They want to know if they can "self-initiate" and if so why do they want or need a teacher. Here in the South, we have some deep "Christian" ways of thinking that go down deeper than the psyche possibly into our bones that we are not aware of. I think this is why this question comes up allot down here. I am going to try and answer this question; and I am going to honestly share my OPINION. This does not make me an expert, just someone who has been around a bit!

First, I want to specify what Initiation is; according to Webster it is the following: "Initiation is a rite of passage marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society. It could also be a formal admission to adulthood in a community or one of its formal components. In an extended sense it can also signify a transformation in which the initiate is 'reborn' into a new role. Examples of initiation ceremonies might include Hindu diksha, Christian baptism or confirmation, Jewish bar or bar mitzvah, acceptance into a fraternal organization, secret society or religious order, or graduation from school or recruit training."

So if we look at this definition is is HIGHLY Unlikely that you can give yourself an initiation. For how can you declare yourself part of a group if you are the only person? If, however you are trying to declare to the Universe or the Source that you are now officially a "Pagan or Wiccan" then I guess you could do that by yourself. I find it baffling that in the year 2013 we whom are Pagan/Wiccan/Witch still remain Solitary and are "non social" and "very judgemental" of other groups, circles, covens, and Pagan organizations which will gladly offer these services to you in exchange for your discipline, time, commitment, and exchange of energy. How are we to be "light bearers" and "be one with the earth" if we are so standoffish and solitary? (Notice I ask this question but cannot answer it).

In my tradition, Initiations mean something. They mean you have crossed a fork in the road, devoted a year or more of your life, that you have devoted yourself intensely to the God or Goddess of your choice, that you have given all you have and you would like your community, your family and your teachers to still continue on with you down the road you choose. They mean that you are ready to learn, and to grow, and to share yourself with the world. They mean that you are ready to "set yourself aside" and try to work with others for common goals that you think will help the city you live in and yourself. It means you stand for something, and you are willing to accept a few "responsibilities" and "roles" and the expectations that come with them. It also means, you will not walk that path alone ever...that I (if I am your teacher) will give you part of myself and stay connected to you forever. That is the deal I made with my Goddess Isis, and thus she too will always be there for you if you need her.

Back in the late 80's early nineties many of us were initiated in a way that reminds you of a fraternity rite. We were picked up without warning, we were blind folded, a bag placed on our head, our hands tied together, and we had to sit in a car or back of a truck and ride not knowing where we were going. When we arrived at the destination the bag was removed, our feet tied together, and then the Priestess started to ask us questions that we should be able to answer if we had studied diligently and paid attention. Then you were anointed, cleansed, and saged. You would be unblindfolded, then untied on your hands, then your feet, and this would be so that you could "see the new path before you", and so that you could "use your hands for the craft" and "walk the path before you in dignity and grace" . You would take an oath to your High priestess, and Circle and community and Gods . You would mean it and the difference would be palpable. Then you were measured and given a cord by your High priestess and it was understood that you and she were tied together like a mother and baby; and all your brother and sisters in the coven would rejoice. You now were initiated!

I have done some of these (minus the putting a bag on someones head) and I have experienced it. It is a tad bit scary but this is about trust. Do you trust your Gods? Do you trust yourself? Do you trust your circle/tribe/community? If so then you have put yourself in a very uncomfortable place...and now you are ready TO GROW!

Today in 2013 I will not blindfold you, I am not going to bind you like this...but I am going to make sure you feel like you are on the spot. I am going to make you feel a tad bit uncomfortable, I am going to make it sacred, and reverent, and you are going to answer questions to prove that you have learned what you needed to in that year and a day, you are going to take an oath, you are going to hear the words of the Goddess and the words of the God, you are going to be reminded of the ethics and values of the Tradition you have been trained in! (However, none of that can happen unless you have gone to your classes and turned in your lessons for a year and a day not missing more than three sessions and turned in a BOS to your teacher that she/he approved several weeks before). Yes, you have to have discipline and focus to be part of our tradition. Then, your teacher and I will give you a cord and explain to you the significance of this act. The Clergy will share once again with you the tools of our Path, you will be reminded that not just "anyone" needs to know the secrets of our traditions because they not all will understand them and we will anoint your third eye, your lips, your throat, your heart, your hands, your belly, your feet, and you will be iniated! Everyone will celebrate, you will be hugged allot, and at the end you are given a graduation certificate.

CAN YOU DO THIS ALONE AT HOME? You answer me .

The following Rites of Passages are also Initiations: Baby blessings, Weddings, Graduations, Funerals. NONE OF THESE do you do alone...so why would you do your most important decision in the world alone ? (Well I thought it was one of my most important things I have ever done maybe you don't think this)

You would think the majority of students in our classes would be young twenty somethings fresh faced and eager for the Craft not knowing the consequences of the decision to be Pagan forever. However, I can tell you after all of these years the majority of people that come to learn and take classes at the Temple are not. They are people that have been solitary for ten or more years. They know basics; they have read hundreds of books they come to learn a "tradition" the come to learn structure and the "order" in which to do things. They have already figured out that "intent" is nice but knowing how to formulate the spell is really more important than just copying and pasting from Facebook. In classes, they are helped to find their OWN personal path, they find their OWN God and Goddess, and they are forced (through their own consent and life) to work only on a few things for a year and a day and do them well, they are forced to work with others and learn to get along and deal with "discord" gracefully and wisely. They come out learning skills that help not only them spiritually but practically. I know I did and still do.

To be a THIRD degree in the Temple means you have devoted at least (and this means you have not missed a single anything and were a genius) three and a half years of your life studying and applying that knowledge and contributing to a community. Once you have done this, you are ready (we feel) to lead a group and start a circle within the community thus contributing to the greater whole and sharing YOUR PERSONAL gifts!

I pray now that I have explained what Initiation is and how we do it you can answer this question better. Oh, and if you have been iniated in the Craft and you decide to get married and start a family, and then revisit it later...you can always pick up where you left off. YOU DO NOT have to get "Re- baptized" or ask the Gods to observe your decision again" :) We are Pagans after all.

THANK YOU for the gift of your time....

Because of Isis We give thanks! (Ritual to Isis included)

2013-07-26T13:53:00.000-05:00

I rarely, if ever, do this; but I am going to jump out on a limb here and share one of my private group rituals with you (the public). They are very easily duplicatable, and I feel pretty much full proof. If your goal is to worship the Egyptian Gods and Goddesses and to "walk with the Gods" and to live in Ma-at then this is the ritual for you!

I also hope that people will search Google and find this, because so many people nowadays use other people's group rituals or base on on them from something that someone else wrote on the internet. I am embracing technology and offering you the opportunity to experience what we at the Temple of the Sacred Gift feel every other weekend. Enjoy! and Thank you Isis.

RITUAL TO ISIS for her BIRTHDAY

Bowl for water, blessed water from the River (the closest body of water to you will do mine is the Mississippi), two cloths one dry one wet, blue lotus oil, candle, confetti, beads on a safety pin to hand out (Looks like a friendship pin from the 80's)

Purify the space before starting any ritual! Sage, sing, beat drum, sweep up the residue!

CLEANSE the worshippers

Have everyone wash their hands before entering washcloth, one wet , one dry, and blue lotus oil in the bowl…

Cast circle SONYA: RA INTONED OVER AND OVER UNTIL CIRCLE IS RAISED

….

CALL IN ELEMENTS: SONYA AND ANGELA TOGETHER Who walk to every quarter

TOGETHER (this is the HPS/HPor HPS and HPS): Before us is SHU

EAST: (Evocation) Shu, God of Air please bring a Gift to this circle and join us in the circle tonight to honor your Grandaughter Isis. Hail Shu!

To the right of us is SEKHMET

SOUTH: (Evocation)Sekhmet, Goddess of Fire please bring a gift to this circle and join us in the circle tonight to honor your friend Isis. Hail Sekhmet

Behind us is Neferet

WEST: (Evocation) Neferet, Goddess of Water please bring a gift to this circle (keep it open and let her decide what to bring) and join us in the circle to night to honor your Sister Isis…Hail Neferet!

To the left of us is OSIRIS

NORTH: (Evocation) Osiris, God of Eternal Life please bring a gift to this circle (keep it open and let him decide what to bring) and join us as we celebrate your wife’s Birthday Isis…Hail Osiris!

Below is always our father GEB

THE EARTH POINT DOWN: ( EVOCATION) Geb, Father, we feel you under our feet please bring a gift to this circle (keep it open) and join us as we celebrate your daughters birthday isis…Hail Geb!

Above us is always NUT our Mother the Sky

THE SKY ABOVE YOU THINK ATMOSPHERE POINT UP: …(Emily evocation) Nut, Sky mother you stretch out above us smiling please bring a gift to to this circle (keep it open so she can bring what she wants) to celebrate your daughter’s birthday Isis…Hail Nut!

Now we will call in the Special guests…

Aspirant: Horus, Golden one, will you please come and join this circle and bring a gift for your Mother Isis as we celebrate her day of birth today? Hail Horus!

Aspirant: Thoth, Scribe of the Ages, will you please come and join this circle and bring a gift for your friend Isis as we celebrate her day of birth today? Hail Thoth!

Angela: Hathor, will you please come and join this circle and bring a gift for your friend Isis as we celebrate her day of birth today? Hail Hathor!

Sonya: Isis, Will you please make a grand entrance and join this circle because we are all gathered here today to celebrate your birthday! Thank you for all you have done for me, and the Temple of the Sacred Gift! Hail ISIS!

ANGELA: I am pretty sure that you all know by now it is Isis birthday. I think it is pretty awesome that out of all the Goddesses I have met that Isis has a birthday! She was born according to Historians on July 17^th. All Egyptian Goddesses have birthdays. Back in the day people from all over the world came to celebrate, party, dance, drink, laugh, and be happy that a Goddess had been born on that day!

SONYA: Did you know that when Isis was born, she was not the ALL POWERFUL glorious Goddess she is now, she was not even in the top ten worshipped! Hathor was the Top Goddess of Choice, along with Sekhmet and Wadjet, Bastet and many others including Neith! But as time passed, she endured surpassing them all in popularity. I know Osiris would say it was because she married him; but I would like to say it is because she is the most easily relatable.

Angela: Isis was human like us, she was a child, she was a teenager, she fell in love, and she married. She became a princess and lived in the palace and visited all of her fellow Goddesses who also had palaces, and then her husband was killed and she was dethroned. Then she became…

SONYA: Homeless, and poor. She had to find a way to make a living. She took up the art of hairdressing, she became a perfumer, a midwife, an herbalist, she worked as a maid, she became a Nanny, and apparently she wasn’t very good at any of these jobs…because every story entails her being fired by her employer. Then she became …

Angela: ANGRY and SAD, just like our modern day emos she cut herself with her nails until she bled, even her beautiful face, she pulled her hair out in clumps, to remove the pain that was inside herself. It is said that she was depressed, and cried all the time, to the point where people stopped and asked what was wrong only for her to ignore them and not take solace from others. She was so angry it is said her screams rivaled the lions, and the vultures, and her words were like poison and even the scorpions ran in her presence. Then she became….

Sonya: Focused and motivated, she devised a plan and went out searching and gathering every piece of her lost love Osiris and decided to re-construct him. She approached the Gods and Goddesses and asked them to help her with her plan…they pointed her in the right directions, and her step son Anubis promised to sew him back together. Then she

Angela: Like us her plan fell apart, Anubis sewed him back together but nothing happened; he remained motionless. Only Ra could bring the dead to life. Not be undone…She unveiled her trickster aspect and got Serquet and Wadjet to give her poison so that she could trick the King of Gods into giving her his power. She then places a thorn in his path, while he is doing his daily walk (which means she had to stalk him and do detective work hiding in the bushes) and he steps on it becoming poisoned…then she

Sonya: Offers to heal him, because Ra calls her to his bedside to make him well. She offers him a deal (becoming a business woman) I will do this in exchange for your powerful name. He gives it to her, she returns only to find out that once again Set had scattered her husband….The bastard! THEN SHE….

Angela: becomes tenacious and reassembles are the parts and finds that he is missing his penis, creates one from gold (yep she is a sculptor and artist) and then becomes the Queen of Magic raising the first person from the dead. Thus it is stated that in this Act Isis the Human becomes Isis the Goddess, and is given the crown of the Sun disks (the first female Goddess ever to wear this crown)

Sonya: Isis then loses her husband to the underworld, but gains the throne, only to wander for forty years, while gaining armies, allies, and friends as a Goddess protecting her child, then as a mother providing, and not as a princess or queen but as a savage warrior who slays anyone who approaches her child.

ANGELA: Isis is considered the best mother and is the epitome of all Mother Goddesses we study, she holds the child to her breast to feed it, just as she feeds us, she fights for her child, and she raises him to become a leader and to claim his destiny like all mothers do…

Sonya: I know you are all thinking, yeah, well I don’t worhship isis…well you might

Angela: If you worship: Astarte, Aphrodite, Erishkagel, Innana, Ishtar, Ixchel, Fortuna, Thalia, Venus, Vesta, Neferet, Hathor (even) Athena, Artemis, Diana, Selena, Demeter, Babao, Amaterusu, The Virgin Mary, Mother Goddess, you could be worshiping Isis.

Sonya: As time progressed Isis was so popular that as other Goddesses temples fell, she came in and resurrected them adding her name and a hyphen to their name. In the case of Venus and Aphrodite she saved their worship in an age where men could not stand the idea of Women being powerful.

Angela: She is also the first Goddess to travel the world, leaving her own continent and spreading her love and message to people of every race, color, caste, and sexuality (she had transsexuals priests in Persia!)

Sonya: In the year 300 ad it was written by the Historian Theolipius that it was a mystery as to who the people would worship…Isis or Jesus

Angela: It seems the trinity of Male Gods only won, and Isis became sitting in the corner of every Temple with a shrine, at every Christian church… as the Virgin Mary.

So in her honor today, we are going to sing a little diddy I wrote to her…

Have people pass confetti around while singing this….

"Because of Isis, there is a heaven

Because of Isis, there is an earth.

Because of Isis, the river floods in springtime

Because of Isis, the trees bear fruit

Because of Isis, Because of Isis, we give thanks

Because of Isis, Because of Isis, we are here

Because of Isis because of Isis because of Isis we give thanks

Because of Isis because of Isis because of isis we are here

Because of Isis

Because of Isis we are here

Because of Isis

Because of Isis we give thanks..... "

SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY….throw the confetti, and blow the horns,

Light a birthday candle…….

Then have everyone get a bead from Isis as a party favor….

(TELL PEOPLE) These are from Egypt and are called Mummy beads or ubashi beads you wear them every day until you die, then they go with you to the underworld so that the spirits realize that you have spent time with the Goddess Isis.

Now it is time to party…I hope all the Gods want to join us…

Leave the circle open and feast or potluck with the Gods. Then play dance music and shake a tailfeather! Then take down circle, clean up...and Sing Because of Isis all the way home!

Why is it so hard to start a coven? OR is it really that hard to start one?

2013-07-07T18:00:00.004-05:00

" Xwitch made a suggestion that it hard to get into a coven. I think this would be somewhat true and depends on where you live. e.g., I would love to be able to organise a study group/coven in my local area, I thought about doing flyers or a mail box drop advertising as such but then I feel that I would get phone calls or emails from negative people and/or a mole might get in, kinda like what we get in this group, and a heap of other factors that have turned me off it completely. Mind you though I have gotten a flyer in my mail box about a local churches bible study group so I see it as a huge unfairness on us as Wiccans that we still have to hide away even with all the laws protecting us."

I have decided to address one of these today on a public forum because I want there to be MORE Pagan/Wiccan/Witch groups not less. But for that to happen, I need to share in a bigger way how to start your own coven. FIRST, let me state there are not "all of these laws out there" protecting you as a Wiccan unless you decided to get organized and get a Legal 501c3 Religious organization license. For you to think that your coven will be protected is naive, study the law and all of the cases and you will see time and time again the odds are stacked against you. You live in a world where people understand Church, Temple, Worship center but they do not understand "coven/circle/grove/backyard". So if you think that forming a coven will protect you and your buddies from "discrimination" and that you can do anything you want and sue then think again...that is not the way the law or the world works. This is why after years of leading covens my husband and I banded together and organized and formed a legal 501c3 Wiccan Church with a whole bunch of other fabulous folks (Wicca is protected Pagan and Witch are not).

IF however, you want to form a coven with people because you have a sincere desire to learn, to grow, and to practice magick with people you enjoy then you have the RIGHT reason to form a coven. So first I would advise you to sit still and figure out WHY you want to form a coven. If it is for POWER POWER POWER or because you are Lonely then DO not form a coven those are not good reasons. NEXT, what kind of coven do you want it to be? Do you want it to be a women's only group? Do you want it to study the Celtic path? Is it eclectic? Hellenistic? etc. Do you know anything about these areas? IF not, then be honest and say I want this to be a coven for people that are new to the path and want to learn together. DO NOT( and I repeat this do not) call yourself a Highpriestess if you have no experience on the path; give it time you will grow into that role the Goddess truly initiates her own and you will know when that "title" is right for you. Priest and Priestess we all are, but Highpriestess or Highpriest is earned.

This is the tricky part...are you starting the coven alone? If you are then you have to decide are you going to be the leader? Would you rather it be a leaderless group? If there is a leader will it be just you or are you going to share that responsibility oh and HOW WELL do you know them? Where are you going to worship, a park or your back yard? Do you want to have a bunch of people worshiping in your home but you have no control over what happens? If not, then you do not want a leaderless group worshiping in your back yard. (BTW I love how people say this alot because I do not believe in leaderless groups, whomever founded it and whomever home it is at is the leader and if who founded it and the house used to do it are owned and run by two different people there usually are issues that arise I am sharing this from alot of experience. Because truthfully we humans like boundaries, rules, leaders, and struggle with control all of us do.)

What kind of rules do you want to have? Yes, Covens have rules, like you have to study with us for three months before we decided whether we want to take you on or not. OR you are only a first degree after a year and a day and we initiate you. Oh yes, what kind of initiation will you have? What kind of mission will your coven have? Or you all going to do things to help each other, help the library, what about the food bank, etc? How will you dress? Will you wear robes, wear street clothes, etc?

HOW many people do you want in your group? Remember the more people it seems the merrier but if this is your first time the more people who share energy the more you have to get them to mesh, get along, and be in sync and this is so much harder than it looks on the surface. WHO or HOW are you going to pay for all the rituals? Cakes and ale, herbs, resins, stones, incense, altars, altar cloths, God and Goddess statues, cauldrons, sage sticks, all of these things cost money...so how are you all going to pay for this? When I first started we all rotated this together one week I provided candles the next the sage and incense, etc. HOW often are you going to meet? Every week thus every moon cycle, every new moon, every full moon, only dark moons, etc...THIS is important for if you do not meet enough the bonds are not there and the group falls apart. IF you meet to soon you burn out and then the group also falls apart.

HOW long do you want the coven to work? Would you like to re-address it every year? Every three years? How will you know when it is done...I am not saying you will have the answer to all of these going in, but if you think about all of this BEFORE you try to form a coven then you have a leg up and might be able to make it work. Because, let it be stated here that leading, organizing, and running anything is hard work so if you work 40 plus hours and have many other obligations (like many children and a high maintenance marriage or full time college) starting and running a coven is NOT for you! Being in one, now that might be more your speed and for Goddess sake if you cannot run one and know it please be nice to the person that is sacrificing their time, home, and energy it is a HARD job; respect them!

NOW after you have done all of these things, and have decided you have the time and energy and money to do this thing and know where you are going to meet then what? Advertise. Yep, you heard me, advertise. Do it on Facebook say I am forming a group, and send me an email if interested. PUT up flyers in the coffee shop, or occult store, or at the New age place, or at your local Wiccan church. Twitter it if you want! Once again have them email you if interested not call you. DO NOT advertise your phone number that is a mistake!

WHEN they email you send them back a list of questions that answers for you why they are interested, what their experience is, and if they have psychological issues, or drug and alcohol addictions (yes, please ask this sure they can lie but you will be surprised how many will be honest and you don't want to start off with people that might not benefit from this spiritual path due to psychological issues or addiction issues). Read the emails, screen them, pick your favorite then call these people back and set up an appointment to meet them face to face! Make sure it is in a open area like a coffee shop and go meet them and talk and see how you feel about them. IF you like them set up a date for a future time and get together again, do this until you feel comfortable and add people as you go...and then VOILA! You have the startings of a coven anything more than three is just that...!

NOW see it really is not as hard as you thought? It really is more common sense than you realized? Of course it is. IF you feel a need or a calling to start a group, then please do so...if it does not work out then so what you tried. If it does work then WOO HOO you are on your way to growing together!

GOOD LUCK, and GODDESS BLESS. My email is revsonyamiller@gmail.com if you need any further advice or help in this area for that is what I am here for.

No matter what you call me I will always be your mother....

2013-05-21T11:57:00.000-05:00

Mother, Mommy, Ma-Ma, Ma...These are all words we down south use to describe the Female person that gave birth to us. I say this because it is important to note, that you can have several mothers over a lifetime. Those who are adopted say...this is my Biological mother but such and such was my "real mother". Children of divorce say "step mother" and "real mother" of course this does not reveal which they love more. I have met many people that never knew their "biological mother" or had a "step mom" but had a "nother mother" usually a friends mom, or a teacher, a mentor, and sometimes just sometimes she is or could be your Highpriestess.

I have decided to talk about Mothers because Mother's day has just finished. The Temple this weekend is doing a "Mothering Rite of Passage" and so I find that my mind has been on trying to define this "title" again and again so that it is not exclusive and more inclusive. Here are some of the discoveries I came to about this term and role.

First of all we all have in our minds a stereotype or expectation of what a MOTHER is. Yes, think about it you do. It is not fair, nor is it correct but each and everyone of us can tell you very quickly whether we think our own personal mother was a "good one" or a "bad one". Also, I want to point out that women ourselves judge each other by our own standard of what a "good mother" or "bad mother" is. We say..."she is not a great mother", or "she does such and such" implying a woman is a bad mother. Really who are we to judge?

Of course if you are locking your child in the basement and not feeding it, or clothing it child protective services should be called in...but if it is just that one mother is more "protective" or "disciplined" than another mother who cares?

Look at the picture above you this is ONE of the many faces and aspects of my Goddess ISIS. She is considered one of the major Archetypes of Motherhood. She is the Universal MAMA. Horus called her Mommy. We never see her scold him, or here her get stressed out and tell him "no!" We do not read her typing blogs that give tips on "raising a toddler" or "cussing because he is driving her insane (tongue in cheek)" but I am sure there were days when Isis felt this way even about her little Godling child. People assume that Isis was the PERFECT mother and with this assumption if you worship her or are her priestess you find that you as a human fall short time and time again. It is okay though, because I am going to share with you a story about her that fills her in a bit better and shows you more of the kind of mother she was and is.

Horus was a young man (think twenty something like our millenium children). He had decided he was going to get revenge for his father Osiris' murder and slay Set his uncle and his Mother Isis brother. He had been told by her, and by his Uncle Thoth that he could not kill Set and that he had to be patient and let the council of Gods discuss and figure out a way to peacefully settle the dispute between him and Set so that both people and all the population of Egypt could live their lives pretty smoothly. Horus was impatient, this seemed stupid to him and obvious that the Elders and his Mother was wrong. So he went out and confronted his Uncle Set near the Nile and challenged him to a duel for the kingdom.

Isis (being a mother) sensed her son was in danger and came to the river banks to help. She decides that she must "save" Horus from his older and stronger Uncle/her brother and pulls up a harpoon and launches it at Set to kill him. However, Set being clever sees it and pushes Horus in front of it thus her harpoon pierces her son Horus' side. Horus, without thought, immediately runs to the river banks where his mother is and in a fit of rage and without explanation chops her head off (kerplop!). He does not ask Why, or give her time to explain the accident he acts on his own accord judging her actions and does a horrible thing. Thus beheading the woman who risked her life to give birth to him.

Thoth, the eternal wise God, appears and replaces Isis' head with that of the Sacred Cow or Bull depending on the dynasty and so from this point on she is not seen with the headdress of a THRONE but with the sacred Horns upon her head always. IN the year 2013 it is hard to find an Isis without this headdress on and a very rare and highly prized possession indeed to find her wearing the throne or the wings of a vulture alone. BUT, before her son Horus cut the Apron strings from her she was primarily a bird goddess, a moon goddess, a ruler, and a mother. AFTER, all of this muckity muck with her own Son Isis still goes on to defend him and argue very logically on his behalf sticking with it patiently until he finally does "win" his quest and acheives his goal of the throne.

Isis was not perfect. She deserts her son at times in the story to search for her husband leaving 7 scorpions to take care of him and other nature deities. Isis lies to Ra and tricks him to get her husband Osiris resurrected. Isis slays people in her way, and does anything she can at times to protect her child and make sure her husband and his kingdom is properly taken care of. YET, after all this time most only see Isis as just a Mother. If she lived today...what kind of mother would we judge her to be?

When I first started on my Path with Isis she nurtured me and coddled me, but after about a year she started to tell me that "I could figure it out" and that "I knew what to do" or better yet "Handle it and let me know how it goes." I did not like this answer from a Goddess I thought would be a good "Mother" to me. As I have aged, and have raised more than just four children I have come to see that I judged her very "harshly" and that maybe the best thing I could do is worship a Mother Goddess who constantly evolved as she grew thus forcing me to do the same. I wanted her to coddle me, I wanted her to "lie" to me, I wanted her to "do it for me". Hmmmm sounds strangely familiar huh? No wonder why people seem to give Highpriestess and Clergy if they are female a hard time sometimes....They expect us to be an unrealistic Goddess Mother.

Things to think about...What do you think being a Mother is? What are your expectations of a Mother? What kind of Mother are you? What kind of Mother did you have? What kind of Mother do you want to be? How do you Mother yourself? Do you have unrealistic expectations of Goddess as a Mother?

I want to end showing you this picture because I think it is a pretty accurate representation of our Modern times, and Isis likes it...because everyone is not perfect we are just learning.

A modern day ISIS perhaps? Let us all re-think Mother, and Mothers, and Goddess Mothers and Women in Mothering roles and see them bloom and unfurl as they are naturally evolving like the Goddess we worship.

She was as quiet as the raindrops hitting a tin roof....

2013-05-02T23:19:00.000-05:00

I haven't spoken to you all in a while. I did not know what to say. I felt whatever I said it would be read under a microscope, picked at, scraped at, and possibly misconstrued. Then I realized, sometimes silence is okay; but being "scared to be judged" is not. Let us all be honest here, you would think with me being Clergy of a Wiccan Church I would expect to be judged, and scraped over the coals. You do and that is by the Christians usually, or people that just really ""have no idea" what Wiccan/Witch/Pagan is; BUT you do not expect fellow Pagans to do the same; but they will. What sets an Elder Clergy apart from a "pretty new only four year Clergy" apart is the attitude. They have all been burned, and hurt and threatened at many points and probably continually but their hides are thick and their shields even thicker and they have been there and done that and realize that you "cannot please everyone" and that "someone has to do the work". Yet, they still love and have compassion and take chances on new people every day!

By the way, believe it or not, Pagan Clergy is a fastly growing phenomenon in the South. Especially in the ATC (Aquarian Tabernacle Church) which we are an affiliate of. It is not that I lacked training, my local elders gave me classes. My Midsouth elders heaped more classes on me, I have read more than twenty books on it and I am constantly increasing my library to be better at it; but in reality there is NO real preparation that can happen to prepare you for the transition from Highpriestess of a coven to Clergy of a Temple. You have to get that the "old fashioned" way my Elders did through trials by fire.

Let it be stated at this vantage, that the Elders here in the Midsouth/South are the best I have ever met. They have stamina, they have passion, their magick is incredible, their wisdom deep, and their love and acceptance for the new Clergy makes one feel right at home. When you hurt, they listen and they will pat your back from time to time but the best thing they do for me is push me and prod me and make me jump back in there and believe in the "work" even when I do not "mentally" feel it. In fact, they have taught me that "following the will of the Gods is paramount" and that to "serve others" and "share the sacraments of the Gods" with others my real calling. I felt the call, I was naturally a driven person but for some reason we people that want to "give and share with others" seem to think we can please everyone. I am one of those people; and guess what I cannot.

I share this with you because I want you to understand that Pagan Clergy are not super human, we have frailties and flaws and we learn from our mistakes just like everyone else. Sure we know a few things, maybe a lot of knowledge, but what makes a great Clergy seems to be time, consistency, and love oh my Goddess the love just pouring through you like an invocation that never stops...."Isis, please use me today. Isis please help me be better. Isis, please help me listen with your ears. Isis, please as I walk your path may I be considerate to others. Isis, show me how to help my community." Then one day you realize it is this constant "nagging" that shows you are insecure, sure you want to serve but you don't exactly know how to do that and so you have to come and "trust" a power higher than yourself to walk you through it. You are constantly improvising; gathering knowledge as you go understanding that every case is different and every situation new and unfolding.

I thought I was a horrible candidate for clergy five years ago. I probably was, but my Elders saw something in me (just like my Gods did) that I never could see. It might have been my determination, or my passion for my Gods but they have held up a mirror to show me parts of my self and have taught me to love all of them even the "darker ones". Through this, I have come to accept "dark and light" in Sonya and have come to see that it all works as balance and counter balance and that all of my skills that are called into play are "light and dark" at times. All of life is not happy...in our circles we point out that life is where "joy and sorrow, pain and happiness all come together and meet making one energy". How funny I could say that line for more than five years, and yet until recently could not apply it to myself.

We women had gathered for a healing circle. Beside me were two mighty sisters and Crones, next to me a sister I have come to love more and more; the energy was being raised for healing. We all intoned wordlessly together and there in that circle patterns and harmonies and melodies arose! Each woman singing her own natural tone, her own natural rhythmn and it was beautiful to hear! As the energy wound down I looked over and saw one of my own community sisters crying; her pain was so fresh it hurt me to watch. Without thought, I ran to her and put her in my arms and held her head to my shoulder and rocker her until she was calm and okay. We toned a sorrow howl together for a moment, it was just her and me though all those women were still singing.

RIGHT THEN I remembered telling an Elder Clergy I would never be that kind of woman, the kind that babied people and held them while they cried; I did not see that I was capable of it; but that woman had evolved and she had embraced change and sorrow and joy and happiness...and there Me and she was and I KNEW. I was going to be good at this job! Hell, I might already be good!

I could credit all the Ministers who coddled me and fed my spirit (White, Black, Christian, Catholic, Presbyterian, UU, Episcopalean, Pagan Female, Male). I can point out journeys, or insights I have had from my Gods that verify this path for me....but none of that has mattered until that "moment" a few weeks ago.

So if you don't like this post; ignore it. It is okay, NO ONE is for everybody! However, if you can relate and this post resonates with you...pass it on. It is important (I think) for people to realize Pagan Clergy are human, and we learn together as the WHOLE community grows (and if you are pagan that means you!). I am so grateful and so very happy that this is my path, and that I have the opportunity to share that joy with so many of you!

THIS week...remember that all of you is Sacred even the parts you do not like. Remember that all of you is necessary there is only ONE you and you are the most unique wonderful you ever!

As always...thank you for the gift of your time.

I found myself, now what do I do with her?

2013-04-01T22:49:00.000-05:00

It takes silence to listen to the Gods. There are many layers of existence that are going on at the same time on so many different dimensions; but if you focus and you ignore or get "past" the everyday sounds of non silence (like TV's blaring, the sound of yourself typing, the sounds of trains on the railroad tracks, or cars driving down the road, or airplanes zooming over head). If you can tune out all of that then you can hear what is really going on. Especially in the mornings when you have not had time to cut on your "chatterbox" that is rattling what you have to do for the day, week, month in your head. You know that voice that immediately reminds you of the laundry you have to put in the washer, or fill the coffee pot, or pack your lunch, or what you are going to wear that day...? Yeah, that voice.

If you get up before that voice is "awake" then you can hear the Universe........

The sun rises slowly in the east illuminating the sky with white light. It's beams circle like halos on the earth, and you very easily can reach out and drink in its perpetual light; lighting up your stomach with the light of the sun, sending it down to your pelvis, further down your calves, into your feet, your toes spread sending it down into the earth that you feel yourself connecting too. You hear that? That is the beat of the Earth God Geb below you . Yep, that's right! The sun energy you sent him made you connected to him. Beat, beat...Bump, Bump....Beat, Beat,.....Bump, Bump.

You sit there swaying to the energy of the Planet Earth's heart beat until you feel it feeding you. It pushes you up and back...You need a quick breath. In hale! That is Shu...(Say it like Shuuuuu), yep say his name outlide and let it roll of your tongue...SHEWWW. Feel his light blue light filling you up, entering through your mouth, coating your tongue, tickling your throat, going to your chest and swirling around there. Blue light blue....Send that swirling energy down to your navel, further down into your pelvis, let it trickle down your thighs and then creep into your calves, rushing down into your feet...spreading your toes and planting you firm.

Look up. Notice the beautiful blue sky stretching over you and the clouds chasing each other. That's Nut (pronounced Newt) Say it...NUUUUUT! That is your big atmospheric Mama protecting you! Isn't she just beautiful! Yep, you do live in a bubble and that Bubble is cradling you and protecting you! Doesn't it feel nice to know you are that loved and taken care of?

Breathe in the Shu, Sway to the heartbeat of Geb, Look up at Nut and Feel that you are loved.

Feel the bright sunshine prickling your skin. Notice its warmth; let it enter into every pour of your being. Notice that it is illuminating you and that for a moment our vision is smeared like Vaseline on a window pane. That is Ra, Grandfather Ra. Say Thank you Ra, for that insight today. (Hear yourself saying those words and notice how heartfelt they are and how happy you are right now!)

Now go on get inside and get ready for whatever your day is unfolding to be. Prepare in joy, let your pace be the same as the universes, may you flow and understand that you are so loved; and truly truly a remarkable being...and while you are driving to drop off your children at school, going to work, or just taking your dog for a walk; remember that heart beat, feel that sun flowing under your skin! SMILE! You are connected!

Thank you for the gift of your time!

They are as happy as if they had good sense.

2013-01-14T18:05:00.000-06:00

Yule passed. The log was burned, gifts were exchanged and the new year of the Roman calendar slid in like a barge on the Mississippi river. This past year has just been a blur. I know many of you feel the same it seems as if I could hardly hold on to the Momentum pushing me. I am here...I used to be there.

Brian (my hubby and highpriest) have experienced such large changes that I am surprised at times to still see him standing next to me smiling, and nodding. I don't tell too many people this but I really most of the time cannot figure out why that man asked me to marry him in the first place. Goddess knows I tried my best to scared him off, and if I did not buck like I had a burr under my saddle for the first three years my name is not Sonya. It seemed as if deep inside I really did not think I deserved a life partner, that if someone really saw the pace I ran my life on and dealt with all of my issues he/she would run to the hills screaming. There had to be a reason why my parents weren't very nice or affectionate to me; and no man had really stuck around that long. I was blighted, I was cursed, I was really just awful my shadow self said..and I accepted it; because there was nothing solid and hard to tell me any different here in the physical to prove otherwise. Though it should be stated I had faith and hope I was wrong.

Heavens knows why immediately after we got married we decided to co-found a Wiccan/Pagan church together when we should have been honeymooning it up but Brian and I did just that. Then, not very long into that venture we got pregnant and brought a new son into our newly found love and life that we were trying to construct. When I was pregnant he was the perfect husband not just there but always loving me and making me feel super sexy (how he did that I will never know but he managed it). When I stress over the bills of the Church getting paid, or the next years syllabus, or a ritual, or a member of the church that is having a difficult time...he is there. He hugs me, and listens and guides me to my higher self. Pointing out what I do right; never ever whipping me with what I do wrong because he knows that I am the harshest critic of myself..and that my parents did a superb job feeding my inner self with all kinds of criticisms that looped in my head constantly.

He has not circled what I needed to work on one time...NO not once. Through his tireless quiet demeanor and love and admiration of me I have grown to become a gardener who eliminates those weeds of harshness and criticism of myself. Once I was able to do that, I was able to be less harsh and critical of others...funny how it works that way huh?

When people in the community outside were critical and harsh to me because I was a transplanted southerner he just held me closer and walked with me tighter never letting me think about "quitting or giving up" because he believed in me as a person, and in me as a highpriestess and the clergy I could become. This is why I still look at him in amazement thinking, well damn he really does love me and always will walk by me.

Brian and I struggled with "pre-conceived" gender roles in parenting, marriage, jobs, and as clergy. I am more projective and pushy, Brian is really more receptive and nurturing. I am more of a giver and giving to the point of hurting (sacrifice is part of my makeup) but Brian is more of a receiver thinker when it comes to giving he has taught me to choose more wisely and I have taught him how to give without thinking! It is not over our partnership, or our marriage but now that we both realize we really are here to stay and have worked through some of the biggest hurdles we think most people get tripped up on; we both feel happier than a cat who ate the canary....and I find it has changed me! Being Happier makes your jaws sore :))))))))

I posted these pictures today on my blog to remind us that the Goddess many of us worship is DARK and LIGHT. Right now it seems so popular to say I am a DARK Pagan and not into Wicca that is too "light" for me. OR I am a being of light I cannot stand "death, dark, and dead things" but we forget that our Goddess holds a sycthe in her hand, and is the face of death and life. That the moon is DARK and LIGHT that its cycles go toward full and then toward void. My Goddess is ISIS and yet she is the Wife and Co-ruler with Osiris the God of the Underworld (you think that's dark enough)? If not maybe the God Anubis (the Dark Lord, the Bone father, The Guardian of the Gates of Death, Psychopomp) seems a bit more your speed? I dedicated myself to him last year for a year and a day with my third degrees and he has taught me so much my head has not stopped spinning.

These Gods and my Goddess would not let me fly like a bird until I acknowledged, realized, and purged out of myself the deepest darkest fears and lies I had been telling to myself for years. They did it by sending me a person (and it should be noted many other friends) to love me. Until I could accept that FULL love that came to me where I was and elevated me to where I am I could not become better, or happier, or smile in the mirror truly SMILE at myself.

I am not a Practioner of only DARK magic. I am not a practioner of only WHITE magic. I worship the Dark and Light, the Sun and the Moon, I dance with life and with death. I AM BALANCED and when I am not...one of the many Gods and Goddesses I worship will let me know how to fix it and address it; but it will not be Brian he will always look at me with pride in his eyes and a smile on his face.

This Blog post is dedicated to the person who has taught me more about life, love, magick, manhood, parenting, marriage, friendship, compassion, laughter, acceptance and the list goes on and on. He is my Dark Lord and my Sun God; and I am as happy as a person with good sense!