Day 18 - Ethics

I feel I'm a rather ethical person. If it doesn't seem right, I won't do it (though that can depend on the situation). My ethics are fairly simple and don't necessarily stem from any one, singular religion or spirituality: "Be responsible; don't hurt others unnecessarily; think before you act; etc".

Ethics, though seem to be a bone of contention among religions, particularly Pagan religions. I see so many people threaten others with "what you send out comes back times three" and whatnot.

It's great to have ethics, and it's great to live by them, but when you start dictating to others YOUR ethics, then you've missed the point OF those ethics.

When I see people say "oh you can't do that because the Wiccan Rede says 'Harm None'", they've missed entirely the point OF the Rede. The Rede tells us we can do whatever harmLESS activities we want. If it's not hurting someone, do it. But it doesn't say you can never, ever, ever harm. That's just impossible. And when someone says they want to cast a curse on another (for whatever reason) and someone says to them they can't because it violates the Rede, 1) whose to say that person even FOLLOWS the Rede and 2) Just because you follow the Rede in a certain way, doesn't mean everyone follows it the same way.

Ethics are meant to keep YOU as an individual in line in regards to your actions and spirituality. What another does is none of your business because that person has to deal with the consequences on their own. Once you put yourself INTO the situation, then you can receive the backlash of the consequences yourself. It's best to stay out of someone elses situation until you know the full story.

Day 17 - Paganism and Major Life Events

I initially came to Paganism after one major life event...one most people would rather avoid, however unavoidable it actually is.

I lost my first born shortly after he was born. I knew well in advance he wouldn't survive long after birth, but I chose to allow him to at least experience life however brief it was. During my pregnancy, I used to go to church on a regular basis. I'd kneel on the kneel-bench and pray my hardest to Mary and Jesus to not take away my boy. After being disappointed by their failure to help, I determined it was a waste of time to go to church and ask for help. No explanation, no feeling of support. I got nothing from Jesus.

I was pretty spiritually numb for a while. I started doing some research online and stumbled upon Paganism. It seemed to make more sense to me than Christianity. It didn't service to dictate to me anything, and it helped me to understand why I lost my son...something I never got out of Christianity. All Christianity gave me was "it was God's will". What kind of a response is that to a mother who has just lost her infant son??

Paganism helped me in THIS major life even by helping me realize that death is inevitable. It's a transitional period in which we all must go through. It's not something to be sad about (even though it's highly difficult not to be). When we die we go to a place of reflection. Perhaps my boy had reached the point in his "evolution" that he had no more to learn and has ascended to be at one with the "All"...the source of all, including the deities.

In other life events I've felt my Pagan spirituality help me. The birth of my last child (another son who is, as of this post, 19 months) I prayed to the Goddess for her help. Help me to be calm and not fearful during labor and delivery, help me in a speedy recovery, etc. I tell ya, out of the four deliveries I've had (four kids...three boys, one girl), despite being in a great amount of pain, it was the best delivery I've had. I had VERY nice nurses, the doc was great, and afterwards...I recovered very nicely AND quickly (I was shopping at Walmart the day after we were released from the hospital lol).

In all areas of life and the major events that take place, I've felt a strong connection to my spirituality. I love how I can get insight when I need it, questions answered when I have them and the feeling of serenity knowing I have found what I'd been looking for (even if I didn't know I was looking for it).

Day 16 - Other Paths I've Explored

I've been pretty happy being an eclectic Pagan for the fact that not everything in specific spiritual religions fits my needs. I may agree with certain aspects of some systems, but the system in its entirety doesn't mesh with my spirituality.

Other Paths I've explored:

I've really only explored two spiritualities as I considered my possibilities. I'm not Italian so Stregha didn't make much sense; I'm not Scandinavian so Norse Heathenry didn't make sense to me, I'm not African nor Haitian, so Hoodoo/Voodoo didn't make sense to me either.

The groups I was a part of mainly spoke of Wicca and Eclectic Paganism. Many of them talked about RHP (Right Hand Path) and LHP's (Left Hand Path), and felt more comfortable with so-called "RHP", only because I was fresh into Paganism and didn't want to play around with negative entities or ideas.

As I continued to explore the various Pagan spiritualities out there, I started with Wicca. Yes, it interested me, and still makes much more sense than any other system out there, but I find myself disagreeing with many aspects, and can't seem to reconcile these disagreements. Mostly ethical.

Ethics seems to play a big part of whether or not I want to be a part of a specific system. I've also looked into Satanism, but more out of curiosity, rather than an interest for my spirituality. I wanted to better understand Satanism rather than go off third- or fourth- hand knowledge so I looked into the main websites. While for the most part, it has little (if anything) really negative associated with it. It has nothing to do with the stereotypical ideas like "living sacrifices" or "orgies" (as almost EVERY Pagan system is associated with), and more with living life for yourself, not taking crap from others, respecting others if they respect you, etc. Though I more disagree with their ideas that if someone annoys you, to "treat them cruelly and without mercy". Seems a bit harsh to treat someone like that who is simply annoying you. I'm more interested in saying "you're annoying, go away". It's little things like that that turn me off towards Satanism.

Wicca is pretty self explanatory if you look at my blog and some of the posts and pages I have. So you really know my stance on it and my experience with it.

Day 15 - Paganism and my Relationship

I believe I've already touched on this in my last post. My husband knows about my Pagan beliefs, but really, rather chooses to be oblivious to it. He has no interest in knowing about my Paganism, and I really have no interest in teaching it to him. He's of the mind that if it's not something he can understand, then it's "weird" and worthy of mockery.

The only times I educate my husband is if something Pagan comes up in the topic of conversation or we see something on TV I want to correct in him, that I feel warrants correction for his understanding. Otherwise my Paganism remains pretty closed. I often keep my books and sites closed when he's around because I don't feel comfortable enough telling him what all of it means. Am I afraid of his reaction? Not really. I more or less don't want to have to see the look on his face that I'm crazy or "a weirdo" for doing what I do because he just doesn't understand.

Does this drive a wedge in our relationship? No. Because he chooses to remain oblivious and I choose to keep things to myself. Like I said, he knows, he just doesn't inquire about anything, and personally, that's the way I like things. It DOES make celebration and actual practice a bit difficult because I don't get much time to myself, but spirituality goes beyond physical practices. I interact with my deity all the time. I just don't regularly participate in physical celebrations when the time comes. Something I think I might re-think in the near future.

As for Paganism and my relationship...it's not open, but it's not unwelcome either.

Day 14 - Paganism and my Family/Friends

Discussing my Paganism with my friends and family is understandably difficult. For the VAST majority of us, the term "Pagan" stirs up negative images in our friends and families thanks to the negative stigma that has been perpetuated for centuries.

I personally came out to my best friend, years ago. I told her I was Pagan, interested in the religion Wicca. She was happy for me, but being my best friend, naturally anything that made me happy, made her happy (I'm very lucky in that aspect). I told another friend (who is actually Wiccan) and he was rather blase about it. I don't know if he thought maybe it was a passing interest in me or what, but I've had very little discussion about Paganism with him since.

My mother and father found out once when they found one of my books. One morning, I entered my kitchen to find my Scott Cunningham book on the kitchen table, and my mother at the stove cooking breakfast. My father had little to say...except that he had family members who were participants of Druidry (hmm, interesting). My mother was a little afraid. She dabbled a number of years ago and was afraid I too was "dabbling". At the time they had found my book, was a number of years after I had come out to my best friend. I had learned this was not something to dabble in, understood what both Wicca and Witchcraft were and how to practice them with respect. So for my mother to assume I didn't know what I was doing or getting into just reiterated my family's idea that I am naive, even when I am not. I listened to my mother's concerns, and we've never discussed it since.

She HAS mentioned her own interest in Wicca, but I've found myself hesitant to discuss the religion with her. My family has a way of belittling my beliefs (either spiritually or practically), even if we're on the same page. For some reason, they believe I'm a naive numpty who doesn't know what I'm getting into.

My husband...he wishes to remain oblivious. He knows, he doesn't understand, doesn't really want to, so stays out of it. And that's ok for me, I suppose. While I wish I had a bit more freedom to practice as I want and when I want, I do what I can, when I can. My husband is Catholic, but as the years go on, he seems to be drifting away from the church. He believes but is often questioning. Sometimes we have debates and it surprises me when I actually win (because he has his fathers debating skills and sometimes will continue until he wins, only because you've become exhausted and don't want to debate anymore). He's of the mind of "Keep Christ in Christmas", yet I noted to him, that the "War on Christmas" was started by Christians who are threatened by the idea that Christmas does not hold monopoly on December, and that "Happy Holidays" is not trying to exclude or outright remove Christmas entirely, but is trying to include the OTHER 5 or so holidays that exist in December WITH Christmas. I made this point with him and I actually won the argument! :)

I dare not discuss my Paganism with my in-laws...at least my mother- and father-in-law. My mother-in-law's father used to be a Catholic Deacon. So Catholicism runs deep in that family (I STILL receive weekly e-mail bombs from my husband's grandmother from the Catholic site "Holy Love"). As I said above, my father-in-law loves debate and will debate until you just get tired and let him win because he's exhausted you. My sisters-in-law on the other hand...well it depends on who you are talking to. The oldest and the youngest have zero education on the matter and think it's all "Hocus Pocus" bullshite like you see on tv. The middle sister is set in her beliefs, but IS open. You won't dissuade her from her beliefs but is open enough to let others believe as they like peacefully.

As you can see, my being Pagan is hardly welcome, but is hardly shunned in regards to my family and friends. Most want to live in oblivion, others don't care...one is happy lol. But in the end, it doesn't matter what ANY of them think of my spirituality because it's really none of their business. My spirituality is mine.

Day 13 - Community

Community. The word springs to mind a tight-knit group of people, usually within a close enough distance for personal interaction. Fortunately, community actually means oh so much more. In the case of the Pagan community, "Community" means all of us practitioners can understand our trials and victories because we all, together AND individually encounter just about everything in the same way as each other...so instead of going to our neighbor and saying "Hey, this just happened" and your neighbor listens in interest or confusion, we can go online or to our next gathering in a nearby town and say "hey, this just happened" and everyone else will know exactly what you mean.

As a community, we understand how the world affects us because at some point we all experience the same kind of interest or confrontation; we also know the hard time we can have learning our crafts and gaining reliable information, and we also know the difficulty we have being taken seriously as a group (no thanks to the wannabes and pseudo-Pagans out there role-playing).

As a community we all tend to stick together and offer words of encouragement and comfort when we encounter difficult times, and words of praise and excitement in times of triumph.

Community exists even when we all live miles upon miles apart. Community also not only exists for Pagans, but I've encountered nation wide community in online parenting groups as well. In the same way Pagans will give words of encouragement or praise depending on the situation, parents do the same (as I have a soon-to-be 2 year old, and enjoy talking about the struggles and joys of new parentage).



But like in all communities you will have those who thrive on drama and conflict. The difficult part of community are those who want to keep us in the dark ages. Those who want people to do things THEIR way and no one elses. Unfortunately for the rest of us...trying to reason with people who thrive on drama is like beating on a brick wall. Nothing will be accomplished. These members need to just be left on their own to figure things out for themselves, then be there when they realize they were wrong, and offer them words of encouragement, experience and assistance when needed.

Community is indeed an important aspect to Pagans. While the majority of us work alone, this "community" is always there to help us...help us understand our spirituality, help us seek out the Gods (should there be a desire to seek one/some out), and help us when we feel there is nothing for us.

Day 12 - My Way of Worship

Being a solitary eclectic, I don't have any real "structure" when it comes to personal worship. In actuality, I'm pretty haphazard with it.

In my continuous pursuit of proper spirituality, I'm taking a leap and hoping to participate in a course that will teach me the proper basics of Wicca, taught by a Wiccan veteran of about 25 years. Am I thinking of becoming, once again, Wiccan? Perhaps. My main problem with Wicca in the past was a misunderstanding of their basic ethics, of which I am now becoming more educated on.

With this new pursuit of spirituality, I'm hoping it will help me with regular practice and veneration processes. At the moment, like I said, I have no real structure. I don't really participate in any Sabbat celebrations (at the moment I simply decorate my altar with a representation of recent Sabbats (the newest upcoming, being Mabon)), I don't participate in regular prayer or worship attempts, and when I DO pray, it's usually on the fly, or as I am going to sleep.

I've always hated the word "worship". To me, the word "worship" brings to mind a grovelling supplicant, bent at the feet of a deity, kissing them. To me this puts the deities on a very high pedestal. Since coming to Paganism, I've more put the Gods in more of a parental/guidance role, than on a pedestal in need of narcissistic worship. To me, my Goddess is there to guide me through life, not demand I worship her and grovel at her feet (in all honesty, to me she doesn't seem the type to demand worship). Since seeing the Gods in a parental role, I've felt more comfortable approaching them with my problems and have sought truly useful wisdom. I've acknowledged aspects of myself I'd rather keep hidden, I've understood tragic events that have happened, I've learned to interact with my ancestors and those who have passed who were close.

In these same ways I interact with my Goddess. I approach her through a meditative and visual process. She comes to me, sits next to me, listens to any problems I have and offers advice, (or generally tells me I've screwed up and need to straighten up, lol). During these times I offer her genuine thanks for things I am thankful for, offer her up my worries and fears, discuss stressful problems, and listen for solutions.

I'm not one for lighting candles, reciting pre-written prayers, conversing at length and ending with the extinguishing of the candles. My way of worship includes seeking her out on HER plane; going to her instead of asking her to come here.

Day 11 - The Meaning of "Earth Based"

***I'm altering these "30 Days" to 25 days because it's redundant to make five posts about the same thing***


"Earth Based" essentially means that the religion or spiritual system focuses on what happens in the here and now...the journey as opposed to the end destination. For most people, they're under the misapprehension that "Earth Based" some how means the same as "Nature Worship". This is almost similar to those who confuse Hedge Witchery to Green Witchery (see my topic on these two systems here).

An Earth Based religion is not a religion that worships nature. As far as I know, there aren't any religions that outright worship nature (aside from perhaps Eclectic Pagans or naive seekers who read sappy cash-grabs). Wicca, being one of the most recognized Pagan religions, is an Earth-Based religion, but is not a religion of nature worship. While you have a religion like Christianity whose focus is on living a certain life to attain their desired afterlife in which you can personally interact with their deity, in Wicca you focus on interaction with your deities and experiencing all you can in THIS life...here on Earth. It's a here-and-now system.

A "Nature Worship" system would entail one literally "worshiping nature". Praying to trees, being overly "green", obsessing with animal life and the idea that one needs to be a vegetarian (if not vegan), etc. Now, there's nothing wrong with revering nature. As Wiccans and Pagans in general, one can revere and respect nature until they're green in the face. The thing is...you don't have to be Wiccan or Pagan to revere and respect nature. Christians can respect and revere nature all they like because they are a part of what God created. Nature reverence doesn't qualify one's religion as "Earth Based". That's not what that means. While it's not frowned upon to revere nature, it's not a requirement of Wicca or any Pagan system.

Certainly as an Earth-Based system, most likely practitioners are indeed conscious of the plight of nature. And that's ok. But don't mistake your religion as the excuse to be environmentally friendly. While Pagans are certainly more focused on nature and natural elements, it's not the corner-stone of any Pagan religion.

Earth-Based is not Nature Worship. Earth-Based is a here and now concept, being conscious of nature and our connection to it, but not believing nature is a deity figure in need of nor in desire of, worship. It's not a deity.

Day 10 - Patrons

Patrons typically indicate (at least to me), a male deity (or deities). One's Patron God would could be whomever calls to them, say Zeus, Ares, Cernunnos, Jupiter, etc. A Matron deity would be a female deity, such as Hera, Diana, Juno, etc.

Personally I don't have a Patron deity because I have no male deity of whom I honor. I am strictly (at this point in my path) an honorer of only one, singular Goddess, though I am not a monotheist. Monotheism would indicate that I believe there is only one deity within the universe, and this is not true. While I choose to honor only one deity at this time, I believe there are a vast number of deities out there.

In all honesty this is perhaps the extent I can discusson "Patron" deities, FOR the fact that I have none.

Day 9 - Deity Gender

I'm not entirely sure how to do this one. I really wish people who make up these "challenges" would provide some instructions as to how they wish each challenge be worded or what they mean by vague titles like "Deity Gender".

Anyway. Of course the deities have their own genders. It typically takes "two to tango" in just about everything in life. We need opposites. North and South poles to the Earth, male and female genders to the vast majority of animal and plant life, night and day, etc.

That's not to say that gender is strictly a separate thing. It's becoming all too clear that people can choose whichever gender they want to be, regardless of the bits they were born with (I use the word "choose" loosely, here). Deities being the ethereal-type beings that they are, can encompass everything in one. Bi-gender seems to be a growing trend...and why can't deities carry this "bi-gender" concept? For spiritualists who carry this "bi-genderism", they may be interested in honoring some sort of deity who carries this same concept they themselves carry.

Deities that people are drawn to typically carry some sort of characteristic in common with the human themselves. It's far easier to identify with a deity you share something in common with than one who is the complete opposite of you. For example...Hecate is a no-nonsense type Goddess. She is a Goddess of Witchcraft, and is often depicted in a tri-form which includes the "Mother". I don't often take crap from others, and at times, can tell it like it is, however much one might be wounded by why I say (because it's needed to say/heard); I practice Witchcraft and am a mother of three. It's easier for me to identify with this Goddess (though there are hundreds of other deities who fit this description, but Hecate was the one who drew me in).

Others are likely to be drawn to deities (or deities are drawn to them) in the same way. Homosexuals may identify with the Goddess more if they carry more feminine aspects within their psyche, than with a God (if they are a male homosexual). Female homosexuals might be more drawn to a God. Or, to be completely flipped...they may feel more drawn to homosexual deities or deities with homosexual tendencies or aspects.

It's really all dependent upon the individual and who they are drawn to or who draws to them.

Day 8 - Holidays

Oh, Finally. A FUN topic.

As a Pagan I'm not entirely into the whole idea of "Sabbat Celebrations". I mean, I try to at least do something for the Sabbats that roll around. I try to input some sort of Sabbat changes to my altar by putting representations on my altar (i.e. for Imbolc, I took a page from "Witchy Words" and put out a salt dish into which I placed bay leaves, a rune and tarot card representing Imbolc...for the Summer, I have just my tarot card and rune representing summer...I'm seriously lacking lately).

But there ARE some holidays I love. Samhain for instance. I've always loved Halloween. I love dressing up, I love the atmosphere, I love what it represents, etc. I believe the very first ritual I ever performed as a Pagan was a Samhain ritual. I really wish I took a picture of my altar at the time. It was beautiful; all lit with candles, my tools in the right spots...it's was awesome.

But being a wife and mother of three children (and a willfully oblivious husband) can make holiday celebrating a bit difficult. I have little privacy to perform a full ceremony, and if I were to do so during the day...my kids (well, my youngest, I should say...he's only 18 months) would have no problems playing with my tools, regardless of if I'm in the middle of something.

And having an oblivious husband doesn't make things easier. I don't exactly have the time during a ceremony to play "20 Questions". Ask me later dear.

But aside from lack of privacy...holidays can be fun. I'm really not entirely interested in the whole "Wheel of the Year" but other holidays I do like. Christmas is another example. While it's the time of year for people to complain that those "Narsty Christianses Stole the Precious Yule" and the same old arguments come out...I love Christmas. The look of trees all brightly decorated, the snow, lights, the atmosphere. It truly is a joyful time (though lately snow has been at a premium for Christmas...I don't remember the last time it snowed on Christmas Eve).

I suppose it's probably because there's little pageantry for the other holidays that make me go "meh" when it comes to the other Sabbats. But I also suppose it's just a matter of time before I can get the time and privacy I need to fully embrace my Paganism. Parenthood can get in the way sometimes, and if you're not a part of a family who is entirely Pagan...incorporating the family into your holidays is next to impossible.

But then...I suppose rituals don't have to be so overly elaborate. I don't necessarily have to call in the Goddess to celebrate the Summer Solstice or Autumn Equinox, nor do I have to cast circles and whatnot. Simply re-organizing and decorating my altar should suffice. After all, it's just me and I know what these tasks represent.

Day 7 - Patronage and Deeper Relationships

I've never been one to use the term "Patron" (or "Matron") when discussing the main focus of my deity worship. For some reason it just didn't sound right. Most people will call the deity they focus more on the Patron or Matron deity, depending on the gender.

While I acknowledge the concept of other deities existing in the universe, I don't particularly prescribe to the idea of having a patron or matron deity. Regardless, my relationship with who I honor is deep enough in its context.

When someone discusses Patronage in a deity context, they're discussing the focus of who they worship. While they may honor a specific pantheon of deities, such as Greek or Egyptian, their patron would be who they place more focus on. So, say someone worships the Greek pantheon, but places more focus on say, Zeus...he would be their Patron God. If someone worships the Greek pantheon and focuses on say, Artemis...she would be their Matron Goddess. These Pa/Matron deities are the ones they pray to far more than any other deity, but will still pray or honor the rest of the pantheon at other times.

Personally I don't have a particular pantheon I honor at any specific time...just the one Goddess (though I have interest in the Greek pantheon). I don't subscribe to any sort of Patronage.

That's not to say that having patron or matron deities is a bad thing. Lots of people have patron deities and that's perfectly fine.

As for my own deep relationship with my deity, it's formed over years. As I've said in a previous post, she's certainly not so shy as to kick me in the arse when I've done something stupid. She tells me things like they are and is in no way the type to sugar coat anything. I don't think one can get any deeper than that. I don't even think I'm that close with my own family. Some things my Goddess can say to me and I take it as it is unlike if I were to say the same to my husband or him to me. I tend to take what my Goddess has to say more in an accepting way than if I were to hear the same thing from my husband. If she were to tell me "hey fatty, get off your arse and run the treadmill", chances are I'd get off my arse and hit the treadmill, whereas if hubby were to say the same, I'd slug him lol.

But I don't think that's the nature of why this topic is discussing a deeper relationship. I have a rather loose relationship with my Goddess. I see so many people who are so uppity with their deities, ensuring their rituals are just right, the wording of their prayers are perfect, etc. I don't worry about things like that. Of COURSE I'm respectful to my Goddess (remember? She's the one who has no problem literally kicking me in my arse??) I approach her in a respectful manner, especially in ritual, but when I just need an ear and no one else is around...I simply say what's on my mind...politically correct or not. Sometimes I receive that reply I'm waiting for, sometimes I know she's just rolled her eyes and moved on.

Being comfortable with your deity is important. You must maintain respect, be truthful to yourself and to them (hence my loose nature with her), but don't be so stiff as to not have fun when you can.

Day 6 - The Power of Prayer/Reciprocity

Prayer is really mostly reserved for the religious and highly deity-spiritual. Not all Pagans believe in the concept of a deity. Depending on which definition you use, systems like Buddhism, who focus on personal enlightenment, not the search for a deity are atheistic in nature, yet are still considered "Pagan". 

But this topic wants to talk about the power of prayer and reciprocity. I have had my fair share of prayers in my life, both to the Christian God and his intercessors, as well as to other deities I have honored, including Hecate. Have I received a response from all of them? No. In fact, the only one I can remember ever receiving a response from IS Hecate. Of course, that was during a time when I was highly stressed, very upset and essentially needing a kick in the rear. 

I prayed and prayed as to why this was happening and she basically said because I'm an idiot. I have the power to change my situation and I don't. Have I ever told you Hecate can be a harsh teacher?? lol.

When you pray, one shouldn't pray for petty, stupid things like a car or to win the lottery. One should pray to give thanks and ask for things like emotional abundance, protection of friends and family, and support for loved ones enduring harsh times. I go to my Goddess when I am at my emotional weakest and she builds me back up by making me face all those things I'd rather keep buried and ignore. Not every prayer session ends with a response from her, of course. Sometimes I'm essentially just talking to myself. 

But I'm also not the type to go to Hecate when I'm at my emotional lowest. I go to her sometimes just to say hi. Just to discuss my day, my hopes for the future, my fears I may have, any worries and stresses I have lingering. Sometimes it's just nice to have someone to talk to, even it if it's just Hecate. It's almost becoming a nightly routine (or at least I'm trying to make it one). Before I go to sleep...during that time when my mind is at its most active is when I try to talk to Hecate. Not only does this give me quality time with my deity, it also focuses my mind so I can go to sleep. 

My husband has kind of a similar routine before HE goes to sleep. He's Catholic, and was brought up to say prayers before bed. He has set prayers he says, usually Hail Mary, Our Father, Glory Be, and all that. Me, I just say what's on my mind. I've never really been comfortable with pre-written prayers. They almost seem hollow to me. Just saying words that sound right, without any real meaning behind them. Besides I know Hecate doesn't like repetition, so for me to repeat the same things over and over again might make her a little upset lol. 

What do I get out of prayer, well, nothing major. Spiritual satisfaction I suppose. That teeny boost of adrenaline that I've done something right. I've given thanks for whomever is responsible for our world and the universe it sits in and the fact that I was chosen to live here. But I really don't pray for reciprocity. To me that sounds like I only pray to get something out of it. Sure now and then I pray for answers, but the purpose of MY praying is not to get something in return. 

Day 5 - Magic, Spellcraft, Mysticism, etc

Magic is but the art of causing changes at will. If you look at it without the flowery wording, it's basically doing what you want when you want to. People make magic every day. The only reason people don't recognize it is because it's so mundane and underwhelming. When people look at the word "magic", they expect the "Charmed" style magic with the **poofs** of smoke and sparkly lights if not instant materialization (i.e. cast a spell and all of a sudden what you want is in front of you).

What people think of when they hear "magic"
GIF borrowed from: Here

Sorry, we don't live in a Charmed episode. Like I said, magic is so underwhelming, it's NOT what people think. Naturally when **I** first started this I expected the EXACT same thing the majority of people NOT educated in the art of magic, did. I went into this expecting I'd learn how to make my desires manifest before me in a flash of light and a poof of smoke. When it didn't, I DID become disappointed. But I didn't give up. I learned how to do it right and when I DID manifest what I wanted...it blew my mind. No, it didn't manifest in a poof of smoke and sparkly lights, and no it didn't materialize instantly. It took a few days to a couple of weeks before I got what I wanted. When I did...I had an "OMG THAT'S SO AWESOME!!!" moment. 

What people don't get is that we DON'T LIVE IN A TV SHOW!! I don't understand how hard that is to comprehend. NOTHING Witches or spell casters do is like what we see in a TV show, and I'm SO tired of trying to emphasize that!




Popular definitions of spells (which use magic) equate them with prayers. Personally, I believe the two are actually separate entities. Prayers are passive, whereas spells are active. When you send a prayer, you are petitioning an entity (be it a deity, a guide, a spirit, etc) to do the work for you, then you leave it at that, whereas with a spell, YOU are taking action to achieve your goal. You are pushing the energy out to get the ball moving to get your goal to move in your direction. You are taking a first hand in doing the needed work.

But there's far more to spell work than simply rhyming words and following a recipe. Because it takes work to cast a spell of COURSES its more than rhyming words and ingredients. To cast a spell requires visualization skills.

Everyone can visualize. Ok, maybe not literally as though something were directly in front of them, but everyone can dream of what they want. If you can see it, and you can believe you can get it, you're taking the first steps to achieving that goal. Mental preparation, mental discipline, right timing, ensuring you are wording your intent right, etc are all equally important in ensuring you are successful. The problem is so many people are impatient. We live in Generation Now. If it's not instant, no one wants it. But to be successful in what you undertake you have to have patience and expect that what you want isn't going to come for at least a few months to a year. If it comes earlier, bonus, but don't expect every spell you cast (even the same one over and over) is going to happen in the same amount of time. Patience is a must, and if you aren't prepared to be patient, then you're not going to be successful. Ever.




I have little experience in mysticism (at least that I know of). When I think of mysticism, I think of Jewish systems like Kabbala, or ceremonial practices. Usually practices that are overly elaborate and involve a LOT of entities and ritualistic routines that can take a full day to even a week to complete. I'm a patient person, but not that patient lol. 

Day 4 - Birth, Death and Rebirth

I was raised to believe that before birth, the soul sits with the Creator until the right moment when it descends to the baby just before birth. When a baby looks around as though it were looking at a fly or a bird, they are looking at the guides that are watching over him/her and their family.

I remember my oldest son (maybe around the age of 8 or 9) telling me he remembers what he saw as a baby. Everything was a blurry red and blue. I thought that was an interesting note because no one I knew could remember anything about their infancy. My own earliest memories are me as an infant, pulling my way along the floor under our kitchen table, in a yellow one-piece, looking up at my mother who is cooking at our kitchen stove. It's interesting what our earliest memories are.

Anyways, our births are mere transitions to a new reality. We live our lives in this reality until we learn what we are here to learn. Most times we learn the lessons we were intended to learn, other times we're stubborn and refuse to learn these lessons. Other times we miss the lesson altogether. When death descends upon us we go to a place of rest and reflection. Did we learn these lessons; were we stubborn and refused to learn them OR did we miss the lesson altogether? Once we have taken an evaluation of what we learned and what we didn't, we have the option or remaining where we are for a period of time or returning to Earth (or another plane) to either re-learn these lessons or learn new ones.

Death is just another transition. The reason we fear death is because no one knows what will happen. Any descriptions of what happens after death is mere speculation...even mine above. For all reality anyone knows...we just blink out of existence. Its this fear of the unknown that makes death seem so sinister. If we knew for certain what happened after we die...I think people wouldn't take life for granted. We would live our lives to the fullest knowing what was to come after this life.

Day 3 - Deities

I'm fairly polytheistic. I believe there are multiple deities out there, however, I choose to focus only on ONE deity: My Goddess.

I find it confusing, personally to focus on a whole chorus line of deities (I'm not mocking those who do or putting them down...in fact I think it's awesome they can focus on so many at once). I've grown up with the concept of monotheism and for me to jump right into polytheism is a little difficult. While I acknowledge the possibility that our universe is filled with deities living in other realms and other planes of existence, it's easier for me to just focus on one at a time. I tried to honor two deities at one point: Diana and Osiris (yes, I know they're from two different pantheons)...but my draw moved from them to one singular Goddess whom I now place sole focus.

It was nice to be able, though, to honor a God AND Goddess at the same time, my focus shifted one night when I heard the call from Hecate. I apologized to Diana and Osiris and told them my focus can no longer be on them and the time has come for me to shift into a new direction. Naturally I felt no hard feelings, so I believe everything is copacetic.

At this point in time, however I have yet to find a deity who works in concert with Hecate. She has no formal "lover" or consort within Greek mythology (and I did look). This would make things difficult if I were to re-embrace Wicca into my spirituality, considering Wicca is a fertility religion, and to worship a Goddess who has no consort makes the Wheel of the Year a bit tricky.

Though I suppose I could focus on the agricultural aspects of the Wheel, though Wicca is mainly a fertility religion and the idea is to celebrate the relationship that is between the God and Goddess, not agriculture.

I suppose, though, I could find someone who merely compliments Hecate to work beside her, but no one has drawn me in (except perhaps, maybe Zeus, but that'd almost be too obvious, if not cliche, and I don't want to be obvious and cliche...that's not my style, besides I believe Hera might not like that lol).

Day 2 - Cosmology

I started this "challenge", having NO idea how I was going to tackle "Cosmology". Aside from the scientific definition of "Cosmology", I had NO idea where whoever created this was going. 

Cosmology. 

I have no real stance on the beginnings of life or the universe. At least from a spiritual perspective. I acknowledge scientific based theories about how life started. I believe the "Big Bang" theory makes much more sense than "poof" the planets appeared; I believe evolution makes more sense than "poof" we just appeared fully formed, naked in a paradise surrounded by a desert. 

I mean, I like the myths and stories that have existed for centuries on how we came to be, but them being mere stories hold no factual value. It makes no factual, logical sense that the earth simply came to be or was the first planet created in the universe simply because "God" said "Let it be". The universe didn't start with the Milky Way. 

The Big Bang tells us that for some reason energetic pressure in a single point in the universe exploded, creating concentrated points of energy which became stars. Matter formed; because of gravity, these bits of matter surrounded each other forming planets and other celestial bodies. After these planets formed and cooled, life formed through protein and evolved from crawling creatures to the upright form we take today. This theory makes FAR more sense than all of a sudden God said "Let there be people" and all of a sudden some man is made out of dirt - fully formed and able to walk and talk. 

But aside from how we formed as a species and our universe forming, what other forms of "Cosmology" do I believe. Well, using inspiration from other blogs (because I REALLY have NO idea what this is meant to imply) let's see. The afterlife...aside from having no real idea what happens to us when we die, I believe we go to a place of peace and reflection. We live a chaotic life here on earth. If our spirits/souls/whatever ascend to another plane of existence after we die...it makes a little sense that we would want to go someplace peaceful and quiet and relax a bit after such a chaotic life. I know that when I have a chaotic, stressful day, I want to come home and just collapse on the couch and relax, wrapped up in my cozy blanket and veg in front of the tv. But rather than watching tv in our afterlife, we reflect on the lives we just lived and determine if we learned the lessons we were put on the Earth to learn. And if not, there's a chance we would come back and re-learn those lessons, via reincarnation. 

Deity aspects of spirituality for me, include the believe in a Goddess. Well, I believe many Gods exist in the universe, but I only choose to honor one...at least at the moment. I've recently understood the tri-fold concept to Hecate and her "maiden, mother, crone" aspect, that had in the past eluded me. It's not necessarily her physical form that takes on this "maiden, mother crone" aspect, but her experience and advice. I may not be an old woman, but I do have wisdom a young person wouldn't have. I'm not a child, but I have carefree whims like a child. And I have the nurturing capability of a mother (as I am one now). So while Hecate may have been depicted as a Maiden in her days, and seen as an old Crone today, she doesn't necessarily have to reflect that in her appearance when one calls upon her. One only need call upon her knowledge in those aspects while maintaining the image one is more used to (in my case, it's a faceless woman in a white cloak and hood amid a dark background). 

I really wish this post could have come together more fluidly. It seems to be all over the place, but then so are my thoughts on a regular basis lol.

Day 1 - Why Paganism?

Why Paganism?

Well, why not Paganism? There are so many belief systems in the world...so far Paganism is the only one that makes sense to me. It allows me the freedom to express myself spiritually, and allows me the freedom to make my own choices in regards to belief. Paganism isn't restricted to what a book says; it's not restricted to allowing only those of certain degrees or ordinancy to experience the divine while the rest of us sit in the audience and watch.

Paganism allows one the freedom to express and experience their spirituality the way they want. It's not bound by "you can't do this because it's against the rules". Any rules you find within the Pagan structure are flexible. You are more than welcome to incorporate elements of different systems and create your own, personal Pagan system. The only problem with this kind of ability is ensuring you are not incorporating systems that clash or contradict each other (i.e. Wicca and Christianity). That is perhaps the only flaw within Paganism.

While one can't really tell another what they can and cannot believe, it IS up to that person to be able to coherently describe their system if they want to be understood. One can't say they believe they are a Christian Wiccan because thats what they want to be. It doesn't work that way. One has to be able to fully, and clearly describe their system and be able to practice it without destroying the concepts behind each system they borrow from. You can't say you are a Christian Wiccan if you omit the Goddess and replace her with Mary. That effectively destroys both Wicca AND Christianity in one blow.

Other than the few minute flaws found within Paganism, the system itself is freeing. It doesn't discriminate against another for their gender or sexual preferences; it doesn't determine that only Men can call on the God or females can call on the Goddess; it doesn't dictate that in order to be Pagan you MUST believe in a deity. There are plenty of Pagan systems out there that are atheistic, while remaining spiritual. For instance (and for the sake of the modern definition of "Pagan") Buddhism is an atheistic system, yet a beautiful expression of spirituality. Many people believe it is impossible to be atheist and be spiritual at the same time. I say hogwash. One can seek the enlightenment of Buddhism, follow its philosophies, and participate in its rituals, and still believe deities are non-existent.

Paganism is more than believing in deities. It's about personal experience and personal exploration of ones personal spirituality. It's an individual path, with many accompaniments. While we all may walk similar paths, no one walks the exact same path as you.