Why EVERYONE Absolutely SHOULD Celebrate Halloween

Today we address yet another of my FB friend's contributions. She's a pretty "devout" Christian and any time anything Christian related comes up on her feed she has to share or comment on it so it shows up on MY feed. This one I had to address (and did).

"Why Christians Absolutely Should Not Celebrate Halloween"

This article is almost cliche in it's propaganda-believing nonsense. I can't believe my friend even took it at face value. The site is called "End Time Headlines" and to me that in itself sends up red flags in regards to its legitimacy. But I'm not here to discuss the site, I'm here to address the many issues with the article ON the site.

First off...the author claims she is a 2 year Saved Christian. She makes the EXACT SAME mistakes ALL novices to religion and spirituality make (even me!); reading the propaganda against a religion and actually believing it. I want to see this woman at 15 years "saved". I'm positive she's going to shake her head at her naivety. Negativity towards another is not the way to "love your neighbor". Neither is judging them. Both are noted in many places in the bible, yet here many Christians indeed keep disobeying the laws of their own religion.

The major problem with people (espeically novices to a religion like Christianity), is it's far to easy to read into things. The bible is so convoluted, mistranslated and misinterpreted that its difficult to know what's right and what's wrong, especially when the wrong thing is condoned as doing the RIGHT thing.

This article discusses the negative impact Halloween has on society, and in children in general. First off, Halloween didn't become about fear and scare-factor until the last hundred years. Before that it was nothing more than dressing in mom's dresses and asking neighbors (of whom we knew closely back then) for treats.

The article starts off discussing how everyone nowadays is embracing Halloween...even churches. Has this woman ever stopped to ask WHY the church embraces the holiday? It's probably best to ask questions, rather than make assumptions based on little more than your vivid imagination. She condemns churches and other Christians for allowing themselves and their children to become so involved with this holiday. Stating it focuses on "death".

Her first (of many) points states "...but halloween focuses on death. Should I celebrate a holiday where people decorate their front yards with tombstones?"
--Decoration is just that. Decoration. Garlands and tress really have nothing to do with the birth of Christ, so why do people use them at Christmas? My biggest problem with this first points is, she dismisses death as something demonic. Everyone dies. It's a part of life. Even Jesus Christ himself died. Celebrating his death isn't seen as something negative and demonic; it's celebrated (mainly because he rose three days later, but that's beside the point). Why the double standard...condemn Halloween as a holiday of death, yet celebrate Easter as a holiday of death?

Her points go on to tell us what scripture says (excuse me if I don't take scripture at ITS face value, considered, as stated above, the bible has been mistranslated and re-translated so many times, it no longer actually means what it originally meant). "Put away deeds of darkness (Rom. 13:12)" "Light has nothing in common with darkness (2Cor 6:14)". We forget that without darkness there IS no light. And darkness is not necessarily something to be so afraid of. Darkness is just that which we cannot see. For eons God lived in darkness before deciding to create light. Does that make him negative and/or evil? No. it just means he couldn't see what was in front of him. Too bad so many can't either.

"I had been delivered from fear and panic attacks and knew that fear comes from the enemy". I congratulate her on conquering these mental problems, but it wasn't God that stopped them, it was her through hard work. Using "the enemy" as an excuse only hides the problem. That's like saying you quit drinking because you started smoking. The problem is still there, you're just using something else to replace it. God isn't a replacement.

"Should I participate in a holiday that has fear at its very foundation?" Like I said above, halloween didn't become the focus of fear-for-fun until well within the last 100 years. It's always been a night of frolic.

This one really rather hits below the belt: "Witchcraft is clearly detestable to the Lord (Deut 18:10-13). Shouldn't something that glorifies Witchcraft...be detestable to me as well?" Well, if you choose to allow a book to determine your thoughts for you, rather than making up your own mind. For one thing Halloween doesn't glorify Witchcraft. The only reason Witches are associated with Halloween (not Samhain, I'll get to that in a minute), is because of "The Wizard of Oz". Thanks to Margaret Hamilton's fantastic portrayal of "The Wicked Witch of the West", Witches wouldn't have been seen during this time of year.


Here is where things get misconstrued. "Halloween is a sacred, high holiday for Wiccans". Ohhh. I could write PAGES about how this one tiny sentence is so totally and utterly wrong. Sure Samhain falls on the same date as Halloween, but that doesn't mean Halloween is the High Holiday for Wiccans. Halloween is a Christian holiday. Based on the concept of "All Hallow's Eve", it was shortened to Halloween (why, who knows and who cares??). It's also called "All Souls" and "All Saints". Four holidays in 1-2 days. Three of them Christian based. It would seem that Halloween is more a Christian high holiday, than it is to Wiccans.

"It's cute when we dress our kids like the devil? Isn't it, well, demonic?" No more than dressing up as a princess. People have to get it out of their heads that dressing up and playing make believe doesn't necessarily result in negative things. And when something negative DOES happen that you think is a result of this make-believe play...it's ONLY your subconscious playing tricks on you, not demons. For one thing, demons are not what we think they are, hence why I say "I don't believe in demons", merely because people believe demons are the evil minions of Satan. Demons (or Daemons to be more accurate) are lesser Gods (so think demi- or sub-God like being). They're more inclined to be on the same level as angels, than minions of Satan. But because people misconstrue and intentionally misinterpret terms, we now think of "demons" as these evil little critters whose sole purpose is to carry out the bidding of their master.


"...even dressed as a fireman, aren't I sending him a mixed message by allowing him to participate in a celebration of evil?" No. For the simple fact that halloween is NOT a holiday of evil. Well, not intentionally and not originally.



I have half a mind to assume this woman is less a "Saved" woman and more someone duped into LDS or even JW. These types of people take their book FAR too literally. And because of people like this, thousands up on thousands of people have been tortured, tried and even murdered because people take a book like the bible as something that is infallible; written by God (not men) and therefore must be followed to the letter.

Christians are always worried about siding with Satan. Have they actually read the book with an open, unbiased mind and stopped to think..."wow, I don't know what to believe any more. How can a God that praises justice and love, do so many unjust things filled with hate?"

It's time for Christians to stop using their bible as a means of judging and justifying inhumane acts. They want a world filled with peace...they need to stop determining what others need to do and let them determine it for themselves.

Go out and let your kids be kids. Have fun. Go out and meet your neighbors. Make friends, turn this night into a night of celebration of death, transitioning from this life to the next (or into eternal life if thats what you believe happens). Death is not something negative. It's something positive.



*article:
http://endtimeheadlines.org/2015/10/why-christians-absolutely-should-not-celebrate-halloween/

Is it Necessary??

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/524669425309576288/

I seen this on Pinterest, but I've also seen this on other places like forums and even FB. Is it really necessary to point this out?

Let's use Christmas as an example. Christmas is Christian because Christians celebrate it. Pagans don't celebrate it as a religious holiday...if anything it's pretty secular (to those who may celebrate Christmas). Christmas is Christian in the fact that its meant to memorialize the birth of their Christ. Regardless of when he was actually born, a day was chosen to emphasize that memorialization.

True, early Christians placed their holidays on or close to Pagan holidays to make conversion easier...but think about it. Hanukkah is eight days before Christmas...does this mean Christmas is Jewish? Or does this make Hanukkah, Christian?? Yule is on either the 21st or 22nd of December, whereas Christmas is on the 25th. There are LOTS of holidays in December...that doesn't mean all of them are Pagan...nor does it mean they're all Christian, Jewish, African, or whatever. 

I think meme's like these are nothing more than a poke at the bear...a picture form of a troll. A means of inciting anger for the sole purpose of doing so, just because you can. 

IMO, it's totally unnecessary. Who cares if Monday-Friday is named after Norse Gods? I don't! No one else does either. The only ones it really seems to have meaning for, is those who only want to use it as a means of inciting negative reactions. This doesn't make Christians look bad...it makes us PAGANS look bad. Rise above childish behavior and Paganism will grow and prosper without a double-take. 

'Tis the Season...

Well, Christmas is almost upon us (Yule just passing), and I feel the same as I did last Samhain/Halloween. I miss the excitement I used to have about Christmas when I was a child. Waiting impatiently for Santa to arrive with presents for me and my sisters, finding our stockings filled with candies, nuts and fruit, and going sliding with my mom and sisters on freshly fallen snow.

This year, I seem lackadaisical to the holiday. It could be that my kids are not making it easy for Santa to bring presents this year (they'd be lucky if they don't end up with coal in their stockings). It could also be that hubby and I buy presents for each other, while in each other's presence so there's no surprise on Christmas morning. It could also be that hubby has to work Christmas Eve/Day (gotta love the military), and it could also be that no family want to grace us with their presence (though some I can do without). It could ALSO be that...THERE'S NO SNOW!!! It could be one of those things each, or it could be all of those things together that make me want this holiday to just be over and done with.

I hate wrapping presents. We always get the kids oddly shaped things so it makes it almost impossible to wrap them (though I found an awesome tutorial on how to make gift bags out of wrapping paper...saved me a TON of hassle, even though it STILL took me a couple hours to complete the task).

My childhood awe of the season seems to have been replaced with Scrooge's Humbuggery. I can't even find the spirit in the community. People thinking only of themselves and no one else, blocking people's way in the stores, speeding or driving incredibly slow down the highways and roads, people fighting over race and idealism, if not over the true origins of Christmas (Christianity vs. Pagan). It's hard to "get into the spirit of things" when there's so much disdain, dislike and general hatred in the world. So much for peace on earth.

Despite my lack in Christmas Spirit, I'll still take the time to wish those who DO have much Holiday spirit, a very Merry Christmas, and hope Santa is kind to you this year.

Samhain/Halloween is Approaching and I am Not Even Excited.

It's odd...typically I can't WAIT for Halloween because it's my favorite holiday, but this year, I really feel nothing. No excitement, no preparedness, no anticipation. It's 3 days before Samhain/Halloween and I really could care less.

Perhaps it's a pregnancy thing. I'm "patiently" waiting for my little one to make his/her grand entrance (which isn't until February), and that leaves little room for me to be excited about anything else. Its going to be cold, I'm already finding it difficult to be comfortable walking great distances (kinda painful)...I haven't even bothered to update my children's costumes (though they already decided what they are going to be, and we already have the costumes, so I don't have to buy new ones).

I just feel...blah. I have no motivation to do anything. Maybe I'm just getting older and the mystery of the holiday is starting to lose it's magic for me. I'm also feeling nothing towards the upcoming Christmas season. I just want it to be over and done with (because I KNOW once Halloween arrives it's going to be nothing but Christmas commercials and shows on tv nonstop until Christmas. I'm glad I don't watch much tv anymore).

I really hope this isn't the end for me for holiday excitement. I want to be excited and happy for my kids, but the feeling just isn't there. At least I made the attempt last night and we finally carved their pumpkins

They had a lot of fun doing it. My son initially didn't want to empty the guts of the pumpkin, but he came around once he got going. The one on the left is his, the one on the right is my daughters.

I just really hope this blah feeling ends soon. I really don't like it. :(

Summer Solstice Celebration and Stonehenge

I saw an article on Yahoo about the numerous "Pagans" flocking to Stonehenge to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Looking at the pictures they provided, I can only shake my head in disbelief at what looks to me as disrespect of an ancient sacred space.

I honestly don't think nearly 3/4 of the people there understand WHERE they are, or the spiritual significance of the space, but only go to show off, or parade around claiming they're Pagan just so they can drink, beat a small drum and think they're participating in something spiritual.

While I find Stonehenge to be a remarkable place, and would love to see it for myself one day, I would NEVER go on any solstice or other "Pagan" holiday, for the very reason it's over crowded by people thinking it's like Woodstock for Pagans.

The idea of flocking to Stonehenge on the Summer Solstice is to revere and experience full spirituality. From the images I saw, I was disgusted. The true druids are spinning in their graves over what's become of their megalithic structures.

Images from Yahoo! Canada
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/photos/summer-solstice-at-stonehenge-1371818659-slideshow/summer-solstice-stonehenge-photo-080653940.html

"Santa Clause" has come early this year...

Normally I try to get myself one thing for Christmas/Yule, and this year I found something I've been looking for, for YEARS.

I finally got myself a pentacle ring. While I like the pentacle pendant I have, I cannot wear it all the time...I've wanted a ring for the longest time so that I never have to take it off...on a whim, while browsing at the Mall today, I found a vendor selling sterling silver jewellery. Lo and behold, there were silver pentacle rings. I was beside myself, almost feeling giddy. I asked the seller what sizes they came in, luckily he had one in my size. I put it on, it fit like a glove, and told him "sold".

I'm loving my new ring. I never want to take it off. It's small and delicate looking, not large and gaudy. It's rather inconspicuous unless you look very closely. I'm just so happy I was able to find my ring and not have to buy it online. I prefer to try on rings before I buy them to make sure they actually fit. I had been himming and hawing over the ones I wanted to buy online...I even had a few picked out (unfortunately the ones I wanted are no longer being sold...boo).

I knew when the time was right, Goddess would provide me with what I was looking for. It's the same thing with the myrrh and frankincense resin I found recently. I live in a small town, not many metaphysical shops around here, much less ones with uncommon herbs. I found both myrrh and frankincense resin at a store in my local mall, and scooped them up right away. I'm on a roll this month.

I got my Christmas/Yule present, and I'm good to go!!

Ma’iingan

Pumpkins, Pumpkins...Everywhere are PUMPKINS!!

Why do establishments think everyone LOVES pumpkins? I don't like pumpkins. I don't like pumpkin pie, I don't like pumpkin seeds, I don't like any kind of gourd (personal tastes). So why is it that restaurants, at this time of year (fall), think that they need to add pumpkin to EVERYTHING??

I just seen an add for "Starbucks", making claim they've added pumpkin to their products: Pumpkin spice latte; pumpkin pastries, etc. There's more food to this time of year, than just pumpkins. There's also apples.

I love Tim Hortons this time of year because they have my most FAVORITE beverage...Apple Cider (alongside pumpkin cookies and donuts). I love hot apple cider, especially from Tim Hortons (I've tried buying other brands of apple cider, but they don't compare, and Tim Hortons does not offer packages of apple cider mix, as they to with like teas, coffee or hot chocolate). Why do pumpkins get all this special treatment this time of year?

When I think of fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving, my first thought is NOT to pumpkins...but to apples and corn. I think of delicious apple pie, and corn on the cobb, with a nice Ham dinner. But no...I'm bombarded with pumpkin cakes, pumpkin pies, pumpkin spiced coffees, pumpkin pastries, pumpkin this, pumpkin that...I'm beginning to think I'll turn into Cinderella's chariot soon, with all these pumpkins.

The only think I like about pumpkins is making jack-o-lanterns. I love scooping out all the goo and seeds from the inside of the pumpkin, and then thinking intently on the kind of image I want to carve from the front. Perhaps the only thing I like about pumpkins. Last year my mother came for a visit and instead of carving pumpkins, she brought home small pumpkins and we painted them (my mother can be rather creative).

I just think that to focus on one vegetable this time of year is to miss out on lots of other things that are out there. I think that establishments should also think of those who do NOT like pumpkins and offer other fall harvest foods. That would be a nice thing to do.





Ma’iingan

The Easter Season

Well, Easter has once again come upon us, and there are many a Pagan asking should we or shouldn't we celebrate Easter?

Personally I have no problem celebrating Easter with my family (in the same way we celebrate Christmas). My husband being Catholic wants our children to understand the religious significance of Easter, so church attendance this year is going to take place. I really have no problem with it, considering I myself attended Catholic school all my life, so church and the like are kind of a norm for me (and I still became Pagan).

Experiencing church on a solemn holiday such as this, really I see as no different than say, me celebrating the Ostara holiday with them. I will allow my children to experience different faiths, and try to explain them to them on levels they can understand (though at the age they are...4 and 7...I'm not really sure how much they will understand)

For those Pagans who don't want to celebrate Easter, but have their children bombarded with Easter this and Easter that at school and out in public...I don't understand the animosity. Yeah, ok, so Easter is really more of a Christian thing, but it also has a secular side to it...just like Christmas. Not everyone goes to mass on Christmas, and believes that it was the day of Christ's birth, but people still decorate their homes and exchange gifts. Why can't Pagans simply do the same on Easter? Celebrate the secular holiday of Easter by hiding easter eggs (either say they hid them or the "Easter Bunny" did), sharing in sweet goodies and candies, having a big meal, etc. It's just another reason to have family gather, and eat a LOT of food you wouldn't normally eat on a regular basis.

Why do people have to make such a big deal about Easter, and it's Christian undertones? It's almost as if people have an underlying "Persecution Complex"...heaven forbid they participate in Easter, lest they start burning at the mere mention of the holiday. If you're not Christian...Easter is just another day to eat chocolate and have a big feast, how often do you get to say that? Just go with it!!!





Ma’iingan

Merry Christmas/Blessed, Happy Yule!

It's that time of year again. Christmas/Yule. I do hope my readers (both those that follow me and those who stumble upon me through a search) have had a wonderful holiday.

I will say that I got a lot of wonderful presents this year, but I feel that the best present I could get is the gathering of my family...on both sides (mine and my husband's). It was one of those instances where a very unfortunate event turned into a blessing.

My husband (may the Goddess continue to assist him in his recovery) had a very unfortunate mishap at work in which he had to spend some time in the hospital (I, by his side at all times). As a result, his family came to support him and assist him and my family in our time of need.

MY family...already planning on coming to visit for the Christmas holiday, did just that. And while my home is full to the brim, I couldn't be happier. Despite the stress of children overly excited, meals being prepared with a kitchen filled with people, and an ill husband, I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas. I remember lots of wonderful Christmases but this one was the best so far.

I do hope you all have had a wonderful year, and a blessed holiday filled with just as much happiness as I have had, and hope 2012 brings just the same

Blessed Be to you all
Merry Christmas/Happy Yule
Ma'iingan

Halloween at the Movies

Samhain is quickly approaching, and with it, a plethora of spook-tacular movies both on tv and in theatres. Let's discuss Halloween-y movies...YAY!

I love scary movies...well, certain types. I'm not really into extreme gore movies (with a couple of exceptions)...I'm more of a monster-movie type girl. Here are a few of my favorites:

1) The Mist - Not really a horror movie, but still fairly creepy, definitely scary, especially the fundamentalist Christian lady. It's interesting to see even a somewhat normal, devout religious person turn into a crazy person when "all hell breaks loose". (SPOILER!!!) But her being killed at the end isn't why I like that movie (a scene my Catholic husband even cheered for lol). I love the "monsters" that come out from the mist (though I think the "crab monster" wasn't necessary...kinda lessened the "scare" in this movie). A good jump now and then makes for good entertainment

2) The Rocky Horror Picture Show - Again, not really a horror movie, not all that scary, but a halloween MUST see in my books. It's not halloween if Rocky Horror hasn't been on. I literally grew up on this movie. It was one movie my mother used to watch religiously when I was a child. It got to the point where my dream is to attend a recital/revival (whatever it is) of the RHPS dressed up as my favorite character...no not Dr. Franknfurter, but Magenta. If I can score a maid outfit and high heeled ankle boots, my dream will be half achieved!!

3) Silent Hill - This one is one of the exceptions when it comes to gore. I first saw this on a night I couldn't sleep (go figure lol). I don't know what it is about this movie I love. Yes, it does have strong religious tones within it (misrepresentation of Christianity), and a lot of disturbing imagery and metaphors, but I like it. I like that it's scary...I LOVE the "Pyramid Head" guy. He's got a big, bad ass knife, though I'm not sure about his significance. I read somewhere that he's being punished with that pyramid on his head, but I don't know the whole story...guess it'd help if I had played the video game (of which this movie is based). I still try to find it on YouTube when I can...only cause I don't have any money to buy movies right now, that and I can't find it anyways lol.

4) Maximum Overdrive - This one I first saw when I was younger, and wasn't quite feeling well. I had attended my uncle's wedding and was staying at another uncle's house. I was laying on the couch trying to ease my stomach and my cousins decided to put this movie on. It turned my stomach, and made me fear big-rigs for a while lol. I hated it at first. Then it grew on me. Now it's one of my favorite movies. The face on the main truck's front is enough to make anyone afraid of transports. I'm glad I haven't seen ANY transports with a face like that lol.

Not so much gorey, but somewhat bloody.

5) The Time Machine (1960) - Forget about the remake. THIS one is the best. Because of it's time period, compared to today's standards, this isn't very scary (heck, I've even let my kids watch it, and they aren't phased (though...my kids don't flintch at "Supernatural" or "The Walking Dead" either)). However, at the time (1960) I'm sure there were a number of drive in clenches and covered eyes and jumps now and then. There's just something about a classic movie that still has some scare in it. I think it's the type of film it's made in...the scratches you see on the screen, the music, etc...they sure don't make movies like they used to. While it's not really a scary movie, I'd still recommend it as a halloween movie.

Other creepy movies I like:
-Nosferatu (1922) - Max Schreck is super scary looking in this film...I've even had nightmares lmao
-The Birds (1963)
-War of the Worlds (both the 1953 and the 2005 versions)
-Godzilla
-Jurassic Park
-Night of the Living Dead
-Poltergeist 1, and 2 (3 I thought was a little lame)
-Pet Sematary
-The Shining
-Carrie
-Signs
-The Invasion
-Jaws

(if you want a couple not so scary movies to watch...perhaps with the kiddies...anything by the Peanuts crew, Scooby Doo, Ghostbusters movies, Hocus Pocus, etc)

Anyone have any movies they'd like to recommend as halloween must-see's??? Feel free to leave a comment!

Witch Costumes...Offensive??

Halloween is quickly approaching and I couldn't be happier. I've already been rummaging around stores looking at the costumes, trying to decide what I would like to be this year (last year, I went to a Halloween party as a black angel...needless to say, I've learned my lesson about wings and won't wear them again lmao, even though I did look totally awesome!!! (wink wink)).

I recently saw a discussion in a forum asking if Witch costumes should be offensive. I'm thinking "why??" why should it be offensive for people to dress up as Witches? Personally, I find it flattering. For the most part, the Witch costumes out there come sans green skinned masks, so the Witches look like everyone else, which is refreshing.

I myself have gathered numerous "Witchy" apparel during Halloween (I mean, come on, it's the best time to get you're Witchy look on). I find it the best time to buy all kinds of costumes and clothing for ritualistic use. If you look online for ritual clothing, how much are you spending? A Black Cape from AzureGreen.net is $79.95. Mine (pictured above), $29.99 at Walmart, my gloves pictured above...got them at "Ardene's", 2 pairs for $5, my Witchy, conical hat I also got at Walmart a few years ago for about $20. So you're spending less if you buy your stuff during Halloween, as opposed to buying your apparel at any other time of year from metaphysical shops or online.

But I think I'm digressing here. Should it be offensive for there to be Witchy costumes out there. No. Halloween and Witches go hand in hand. Anyone thinks of "Halloween", they automatically think "Witch". They think of "Witch", they automatically think "Halloween". Witch IS Halloween, and without Witches and the Witch costume, then Halloween isn't Halloween.

I could almost think of it as how Christians view Christmas. Take "Christ" out of Christmas and you don't have Christmas (ya, not really the most appropriate analogy, but the only one I could think of at the moment). I really don't think it should be offensive for Witch costumes to be in abundance during Halloween. I actually love that there are Witchy costumes out there at Halloween, and who knows...maybe I'll go to the next party as a Witch this year (wink wink) :)

Happy Halloween and Blessed Samhain!!!