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. 

On the Topics of "Meme"'s

While this isn't really a "Meme" per se, I discovered this questionnaire from a person on Yahoo Answers asking questions of those who do NOT participate in Christian religions. I thought they were excellent questions, and wish to post them here, as I found my answers to be interesting. I urge others to try to answer them as well in their own words, it helps you understand your path, faith and why you are a part of it.

1.What are the essential teachings of your faith?
--That we all come from a divine source and will someday return to that divine source when we have learned all that is to be learned; that responsibility is mandatory and one should accept the consequences of their actions; that the belief in a deity is a choice, not a requirement

2.What is your Sacred Scripture?
--I have none

3.Who is considered your founder?
--None...well, perhaps me considering this is my faith not based around organized systems

4.What takes place in worship (see above)?
--Depends on the reason. Mostly lighting of candles, recitation of prayers, personal petitions and offerings of thanks and sacrifice (herbs or money, depending, NEVER living things).

5.Are visitors welcome?
--Never had any

6.How should visitors behave?
--As visitors to ANY faith should behave: With respect.

7.What are the significant rites of passage and other rituals/practices in your faith?
--None. I see no need for any "Rites of Passage"...at least at this time.

8.What are the roles of men, women, and children in your religion?
--Men and women are considered equal. Children tend to be too young to understand what is entailed in this type of practice.

9.What attitude does your religion have towards other religions?
--Attempt at tolerance, unless intolerance is aimed towards me and/or my faith, then I repay them in kind...but that's usually towards individual followers. I have no problems with other religions **themselves**

10.How many believers are there in the world, the United States, North Carolina?
--My faith is my own. There may be others with similar beliefs and/or practices, but my path and faith are mine. I do not subscribe to organized religion (meaning I am not a part of any sort of organized faith such as Abrahamic beliefs, nor organized Pagan systems such as Wicca)

11.What is the most important thing you want outsiders to understand about your faith?
--That it isn't about supernatural boogey men, devils or demons. That it's about taking full responsibility on where one's life goes based on their beliefs and the morals that stem from them. That the beliefs and practices therein have nothing to do with outside beliefs and/or the myths they believe in.

12.Other relevant questions you come up with on your own.
--None

Original Question can be found here, and subsequent answers from others:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArNwCwyrzv04l22.PE_baqDwDH1G;_ylv=3?qid=20111207084707AACF7mv

Witchy Meme

I did something similar back in February, but I love to answer questions, so let's see where this goes. (FYI I got this from here: http://www.traditionalwitch.net/forums/topic/7297-witchy-meme/ . Not my most favorite site, but can still somewhat be informative)

GENERAL

Do you have a magical/Pagan name? No, not especially. I do have an affinity for the name "Ma'iingan"

What does it mean? It is Ojibwa for "Wolf" (betcha none of you knew that one (wink wink))

How/When did you find Witchcraft? I found Witchcraft when I found Wicca. I first discovered Wicca after reading a silly teen-y magazine featuring a Wiccan family. After that (after graduating from high school and playing on the computer at work (tsk tsk)) I re-discovered it while looking up "Magic" on the internet. I enrolled in WitchSchool.com and it was all down hill from there, until I started to question the significance of many of Wicca's tenents...once I felt they no longer held a place for me, I removed much of it's practices from my life, and integrated more Witchcraft, hence my now being a "Non-Wiccan Witch".

How long have you been practicing? Including my years as a Wiccan, just over 10 years

Solitary or group practitioner? I am a solitary practitioner, it used to be by necessity, now more of a choice...I do love closer to more Pagans, but I've been solitary so long, I'd prefer just to stay this way. At least this way I can do what I want.

What is your path? Hmm...I'm a Non-Religio-Specific, Pagan, Eclectic Solitary Witch. What the heck does that mean??? It means I have no specific religion that I participate in, yet I do follow a Goddess (Hecate). I honor her in my own personalized way. I'm Pagan because of the more modern interpretation of the word...I do not follow any of the abrahamic beliefs nor participate in any of their rituals or customs. I practice Pagan practices. I'm "Eclectic" because I do borrow elements from other systems (mostly Wicca and Native systems as I am of Native ancestry) and incorporate them into my workings. I'm solitary because I work alone, and I'm a Witch because I participate in Witchcraft. Simple enough, no?? lol

Are you out of the broom closet? I'd say I'm more standing in the door way. I'm not about to go blabbering about my path to everyone and anyone I meet on the street, however if someone were to ask me directly if I were a Pagan, I might not deny it.

N A T U R E //

Do you regularly commune with nature? No, but I was hoping I could (that is, if they hadn't cut down a bunch of trees in the park I had planned on going to after the winter snow had gone). My yard is just not accommodating enough.

Ever walked barefoot in the woods? No. I don't like the possibility of being stabbed in the foot by a sharp stick

Taken a camping trip just to talk to nature? Not for that purpose, but I do go talk with nature when camping trips present themselves

Describe the moment you felt closest to Mother Earth? When I was smaller..had to have been in grade 5 or 6. I lived in a house out literally in the middle of nowhere that was surrounded by trees and forest. I used to spend all my free time outside in the woods. There was a small path leading into the woods to the end of our property. I used to walk it every day, looking at trees, curious about the plants that grew around...poking the bubbles in the balsam trees (lol, what can I say, I was a kid lol). I've never felt closer to nature since. I sincerely hope in the future, I can find that kind of peace and closeness again.

Do you have a familiar? No.

Have you ever called upon the powers of an animal in ritual? No. Never felt the need to.

Or a plant? No

Do you hug trees? I have a couple of times...after making sure there weren't any carpenter ants on it lol.

Give them gifts? Only if I take a branch. 

What is your favourite flower to work with? Lavender

What is your favourite tree to work with? Willow

D I V I N A T I O N //

Do you use Tarot? Sometimes, though I feel I need a LOT of practice with it

Do you use runes? Not yet, though I am curious about them

Do you use a pendulum? I used to but not anymore. I can never tell if a spirit is answering me or I'm just moving my hand

Do you use dowsing rods? No

Do you use astrology? I read horoscopes now and then for fun, but I don't necessarily believe them to be true 100% of the time

Any other form of divination? No

S P E L L S //

What was the first spell you did? Unofficial? A freezing spell on my math teacher. She was a bitch. Official? A candle spell...I can't remember what it was for though.

What was the latest? A protective spell bottle (I've advanced from that freezing spell in high school lol)

Ever done a love spell? Nope. I see no need for them.

A job spell? No

A healing spell? Yes

What was the most powerful spell you’ve ever performed? A banishing ritual to get rid of toxic person in the life of someone close to me.

C R Y P T O Z O O L O G Y //

Do you believe in Vampires? No

Werewolves? No

Shapeshifters? No

Elves? No

Faeries? No

Dragons? Not in a literal sense

Nymphs? No

Sprites? No

Mermaids? No

Satyrs? No

Ever “seen” any of the above? No

Ever talked to any of the above? I've talked to Dragons

Ever used any of the above in magic? I use Dragons in quarter calls

Do you have one of them as a personal guardian? No

W H E E L . O F . T H E . Y E A R //

What is your favourite holiday? Samhain

What is your least favourite holiday? I don't have one 

Have you ever held a ritual on a holiday? Yes, I hold Samhain rituals either on or as close to Samhain as I can.

Ever taken a day off work to celebrate a Pagan holiday? I don't work, I'm a stay at home mom (for now)

Have you ever felt the veil thin? Once

R A N D O M //

Do you see a rabbit, a man or a woman in the moon? Uh....no.

Own a cat? My husband's allergic to cats, and I just don't like them (but oddly enough, cats LOVE me)

When you meditate, what does your happy place look like? A beautiful, bright clearing amid the woods

Do you work with Chakras? No

Do you believe in past lives? I don't know. I tend to think that I was a Witch in a past life, and I'm rediscovering my practice

If so, describe a few briefly: I can't think of any past lives other than thinking I was a Witch at one point or another

Do you believe in soul mates? I used to.

Do you have a spirit guide? No