PaganWitch

Project Pagan Enough

Kendra — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 06:17:24 +0000

I found this really great project through The Domestic Witch. I thought that this is a wonderful idea. Being a Christian Witch, I often find that sometimes Pagans are more intolerant of my beliefs than even Christians are. So I wanted to have this on my website to remind everyone to be more tolerant I suggest that if you believe in these same ideals that you should join in the project.

Project Pagan Enough seeks to say that – no matter your beliefs, practices, looks, or loves – you are pagan enough. We can argue theology back and forth all day long and disagree with one another’s fluff-factor until the cows come home, but it is high time that we stop denigrating one another’s level of being pagan. Paganism does not have a set definition, and there is definitely not a dress code or music-loving requirement.

If you listen to Lady Gaga right alongside Kellianna, you are still pagan enough. If you don’t mind wearing Abercrombie & Fitch, Prada, or other name brand, mainstream clothing to the local pagan festival, you are still pagan enough.

Also, Project Pagan Enough seeks to encourage members of the pagan community to be more tolerant of other religions, beliefs, and practices. What do I mean? Aren’t we the most tolerant of all faith-based communities? Well, what happens when you hear the word ‘Christian?’ Are you still that tolerant, loving, inclusive pagan?

Many of us, and this is not specific to Paganism, choose not to really understand other faiths. Thus, we base our ideas of that faith on actions of the people that practice it. We say that Christianity is a mirror of the Christians who claim it as their faith. But, this is a horrible method of learning about other faiths, just like trying to learn Paganism by looking at the actions of self-proclaimed Pagans. People kill in the name of all faiths. People hurl insults in the name of all faiths. People foster hatred and jealousy and ill-will and harm in the name of all faiths. Project Pagan Enough seeks to say that we should be secure enough in our beliefs and ourselves to truly tolerate other religions and stop laying blame for what we consider to be the evils of the world on the doorstep of other faiths.

So, Project Pagan Enough is a movement, a cause, a Harmonious Riot that includes bloggers, podcasters, pagans, non-pagans, me, you, and the whole pagan community. It is my hope that the Project Pagan Enough logo becomes a beacon of progress and change for those of us living a magical life. By putting the Project Pagan Enough icon on your podcast’s site, blog, or other website, you’re making a set of promises:

1. You are pagan enough, despite how you look, act, smell, dress, believe, or are.
2. You recognize that others are pagan enough despite their appearance, smell, manner of dress, belief, practice, or other aspect.
3. You recognize that you can have an academic debate on the finer points of belief or practice, but that it does not take away from someone else’s level of being pagan.
4. You welcome, befriend, and encourage others in the pagan community despite their appearance, dress, or other physical or superficial characteristic.
5. You promise to treat members of other faiths, despite the faith, with honest-to-goodness fairness, equality, and grace, not judging them or their faith based on the actions of fringe members of their same faith.

Like the points of the pentacle, these 5 tenets of Project Pagan Enough work together and will, I hope, launch our community into a new era of tolerance, love, and all of the qualities we like to think we have.

Tarot Tuesday – Two of Swords

Kendra — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:41:53 +0000

Tarot Tuesdays

Good morning everyone! I hope you’re week has been going well. Today is Tarot Tuesday and it’s also the day after “Napping Day” which is the holiday to celebrate naps and to help you get more sleep after the dreaded Daylight Saving Time. I hate hate hate the time change! LOL! The only good thing about the time change is the fact that there is more daylight. More time to do fun things! Instead of it being dark and cold (which I actually prefer), it’s warm and bright. Which means picnics, BBQ’s, trips to parks and beaches and lots of other out door activities. I mention this on Tarot Tuesday because the card I pulled today is:

Two of Swords

Description:

This is from the Witches Tarot deck by Ellen Cannon Reed. It is a young man on a hill top about to go into battle with some unseen foe. The colors are Red, blue, white, and brown. The young man has one sword in his hand at the ready for battle and the other at his side in a scabard.

Interpretation:

Forceful action. Will power. Action does have energy behind it. Querent can move if he or she has found the proper direction in whic to do so. Reversed: Guerent may have desire, but desire is not strong enough for Querent to take action. In his case, Querent should consider if desire is a true one. Querent may be in the state of mind to do something even if it’s wrong. In this case no move should be made at this time.

My Interpretation:

This is definitely time for action, whether you’ve decided to take action or are thrown into it. If you’ve pulled this card it is a call to arms, you must and will move on whatever is coming toward you. And like it says above, inaction is sometimes as much of a move as any action you can take. Be prepared to make your move.

Ostara – Spring Equinox

Kendra — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:33:41 +0000

~Magickal Graphics~

Ostara – Spring Equinox

Ostara is the day that Spring begins, when night and day are equal. The exact moment will be at 1:32pm EST on March 20th, 2010. This is the lessor Sabbat named after the Norse Goddess, Ostara (who took her name from the Teutonic Goddess, Eostre).

When I was growing up, I was raised Christian and we celebrated Easter. Of course we celebrated it much like we did Christmas, in that it wasn’t really a “religious” holiday as much as a “family” holiday. Often we would take trips out to the desert where it was warm during the day and chili at night. We’d camp there in our motorhome for a week or two. We’d hide eggs, have chicken in a basket for lunch, and play lots of games. Sometimes lots of our extended family would come and visit, sometimes it’d just be a few. But however many people came to visit, it was all about family!

I still prefer to celebrate Easer/Ostara in the same way, with just a little added ritual to talk and show respect to the balance in nature on this beautiful spring day. One of the things that we’ll be doing this weekend is going to a ritual where we will have “divining eggs” and “balance sticks”. This should be a fun ritual to be a part of!

What are some of the things you do to celebrate Ostara? Do you hide eggs? Do you have bunnies and chicks on your altar?

Here are some more great articles on Ostara:

Ecclasia – Ostara by WitchPrince

Witchvox – You Call It Easter We Call it Ostara by Peg Aloi

About.com All About Ostara, The Spring Equinox by Patti Wigington

Tarot Tuesday – King of Cups

Kendra — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:07:45 +0000

Tarot Tuesday (err.. Wednesday)

King of Cups

Description:

A King dressed in blue robes stands. He holds a cup. His crown bears the zodiac symbols of Cancer, Scorpio & Pisces, with the Scorpio symbol the largest. The land around him is Winter. There is a stream nearby, but it’s frozen.

Interpretation:

That which is represented by card modified is at the point of creative urge. Some new emotion is coming and will be, but has not yet taken enough form. The Querent has chosen a direction for emotion, or feels the possibility of such. Querent may feel the urge to perform some act of divination. Reversed: Possible stagnation – nothing new has begun. If the modified card has to do with divination or scrying, the Querent may not be able to reach anything.

My Interpretation:

I look at this card and I see “Father Christmas” or Father Time. I feel like this is a time of reflection on what it is that I want to be, what it is that I want to become, and where I am going. A quiet time, waiting to see what the future holds for me. This is when I normally do my divinations to see if my path is clear, or if the signs that I’m seeing are accurate. This is also a good time to meditate on what the Universe, Deity, and my higher self is trying to tell me.

What is the card saying to you?

Wishcasting Wednesday

Kendra — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:04:00 +0000

It’s Wishcasting Wednesday!

What do you wish to give yourself permission for?

You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog and then add a direct link to your post in the box at Jamie Ridler’s Website. Support wishes by visiting other participants, leaving a comment saying “As (insert name) wishes for her/himself, so I wish for her/him also.” It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together.

I, Kendra, wish to give myself permission to be happy with myself and my life.

It’s funny, I would think that this should go without saying. Why do I need permission to be happy with myself or my life? Shouldn’t that just be automatic? Well, yes it should be automatic, but unfortnately it isn’t always the way things are. I’m sure I’m not alone in this feeling. Like you’re always waiting for someone to tell you your life isn’t good enough somehow, or that the things you value or want are somehow not up to someone else’s standards. Well, the reality is, that only YOU need to be happy and fulfilled by your life and the way you live it. You don’t need someone else’s approval. Just your own! That’s what I’m giving myself right here, is my own approval of my values, my ideas, my lifestyle, my life! I am happy with who I am and my life!

Tarot Tuesday – Two of Pentacles

Kendra — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:45:05 +0000

Today is Tarot Tuesday, where I draw a card from my Tarot deck and we learn about that card and what it means.

Tarot Tuesday – The Empress

Kendra — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:56:58 +0000

You are almost to the end of a cycle or project. All restrictions and obstacles are removed. Abundance, fertility, success, all around just around the corner. Reversed: You are about to begin a cycle or project. The urge to move is joined by the understanding of what to do. Ideas begin to formulate.

Review – The Earth Child’s Handbook – Yule Volume by Brigid Ashwood

Kendra — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:20:56 +0000

The Earth Child’s Handbook – Yule Volume by Brigid Ashwood

I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of this amazing little book, The Earth Child’s Handbook – Yule Volume by Brigid Ashwood. This is a little book that she has available on her website for download, and at only $3 it’s a steal! There are a handfull of good pagan parenting books out there, and this is one book that I would suggest for any pagan parent, especially with smaller children.

This downloadable and printable e-book is 14 pages, with crafts, recipies, stories and other activities that are great for the Pagan family to do together for Yule. Actually some of the activities would be good for anyone at any age. I’m planning on doing one of the activities with my Wicca Class during our little Yule celebration. It’s a perfect little working for a small close knit group or family. I know my students will enjoy doing it and it will bring us closer together.

This volume includes the following crafts, projects and information:

Yule Altar ideas
Yule Facts and Correspondences
Yule Ritual
Yule Log Cake Recipe
Wassail Recipe
Yule Log
Wassailing Info
Holly Wreath Craft
Snowflake Ornament Craft
Cinnamon Solar Cross Ornament Craft
Yule Wrapping Paper
Coloring Pages, Maze & Word Search

Some of her other books include:

The Heavens, Stars, God & Goddess

Mother Earth & Elements

The Wheel of the Year – A Sabbat Primer

Samhain

And others to come soon.

I highly recommend checking these wonderful books out for yourself and your family!

New Crafts Just In Time For Yule

Kendra — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:52:13 +0000

I know I’ve talked about some of the items that my altar still needs… the main thing is the Pentacle tile for blessings. I’ve been trying to find one to buy, but none have really called out to me. So my sweetheart suggested I make my own out of tile samples from Lowes or Home Depot. Well, we didn’t get around to getting any, but one of my students said she had some tiles from her house laying around and would let me have some. She brought me five! That would be plenty! I could make one for the class to use, which would be a simple pentacle with the elements listed at the correct points of the star, and then the others I could make for my personal altar, the boys, and even have one left over to make to give away at the Yule raffle! So this weekend, that is exactly what I did. These are the pictures of how they turned out, except for the class one, which is just a basic one, no need to show that one off. LOL!

This is the one I will be giving away at Yule for Ecclasia. I made one like this for my youngest son Jack, as well.

This is the one that Roger picked for himself. It’s a golden circle around branches that make up the star with leaves coming out of the end of the branches. Originally I had the circle in yellow and red, but I really didn’t like the way it looked so covered it with the gold pain instead.

This is the last one that I made. It’s a celtic knotwork circle, with the colors of the 4 elements and silver rings and the star is gold.

I had a lot of fun making all of these pentacles and may very well decide to not only make more for gifts, but to sell them on etsy and ebay. What do you think? Is anyone out there interested in hand painted pentacle altar tiles like these?

My New Athame

Kendra — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:34:49 +0000

While I was on my “quick trip” to Southern California for Samhain, I picked up my new athame. I went to The Enchanted Crystal, which is up in Running Springs, CA. and was looking around, mostly for an athame, but well… it’s a New Age store, I”m a pagan, do I really need to explain why I was in the store? LOL! Anyway, I saw this really great “hidden” athame, which looked like a tree but the top branch came out and was an athame. I looked at the price and it was well within my budget. AFter about 5 minutes of me staring at the athame, Zenah, the owner of the store, came up and started talking to me about the athame. She asked me about what other things I had on my altar, and then suggested I look at other athames in the store for comparison. That’s when she showed me this one!

The entire peice stands about 18 inches to the top of the hilt of the dagger. The dagger comes out of the dragons hand, which makes for a very impressive flare during a ritual. The blade is dull and is actually a letter opener, but it’s heavy and feels good. It’s made of stainless steel as well. The dragon base is, I think, pewter or maybe ceramic.. I don’t know what it is, but it’s cool. So there it sits on my hearth. Since the new moon is coming up on Monday, I am doing a cleansing and consecrating ritual this weekend to bless and consecrate my new athame. Then the next class that has a full moon, we’ll be doing a ritual and I’ll use my new athame in the ritual. I can’t wait!

I’ve been looking through all my books and online to find a good athame consecration ritual. There’s alot around, but nothing that really struck me as the right words/actions. So I’m going to come up with my own. I know that’s what I should do anyway, but I didn’t want to reinvent the wheel if I didn’t have to. I’m lazy and pressed for time, so I didn’t want to try to come up with stuff. But the Goddess wants me to and isn’t letting me get away with being lazy, so fine! I’ll write my own damn words! LOL!

Which reminds me of one of my favorite pagan poems ever!

Butt Prints In the Sand ~ Anonymous

One night I had a wondrous dream,
One set of footprints there was seen,
The footprints of the Goddess they were,
But mine were not along the shore.

But then some stranger prints appeared,
and I asked Her, “What have we here?
These prints are large and round and neat,
But much too big to be from feet.”

“My child,” She said in somber tones,
“For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made me wait.”

“You would not learn, you would not grow,
The walk of faith, you would not know,
So I got tired, I got fed up,
And there I dropped you on your butt.

“Because in life, there comes a time
When one must fight, and one must climb,
When one must rise and take a stand,
Or leave their butt prints in the sand.”