Out Of The Mouths Of Babes...

I had the most unnerving thing happen the other day, my youngest child Meaghan came running home in tears, nearly on the verge of hysteria about something that I feel would be an excellent topic in my blog. After about a half an hour of sobbing and carrying on, I was finally able to piece together the picture of just why she was so upset.

It seems that she and a little friend had been playing quite amicably in the yard when a minor dispute arose and from there took a very ugly turn... it escalated into to this child yelling "You can't ever talk to me again unless you're a christian" My daughter wasn't quite sure what to make of this at first but settled on the conclusion that our beliefs were under attack and somehow just because we didn't attend a "main stream" church that somehow it meant we were less than or bad according to this playmate.

I have to admit I was a bit shocked at first, because I really didn't think that the neighborhood children really paid all that much attention to what goes on in our house but obviously I was mistaken. I calmed her down and patiently tried to explain that unfortunately throughout our lives this might be a misunderstanding we will run into on occasion. It didn't necessarily mean this little girl should be banned from the ranks of "friend" but maybe she did not know very much about our beliefs and therefore Meaghan could maybe use this opportunity to educate her friend on exactly what wicca, and pagan were really all about.

I did, however, go to speak to this child's mother because I wanted to make sure it didn't get blown out of proportion any further. As it turns out, the mother had no idea of what her daughter had said and Meaghan and I (as well as this little girl and her mum) sat down and all had a pow wow about how those things can be very damaging and hurtful.

I'm glad to report that since this occurred, Meaghan's friend has been busy asking many questions of her and they have come to the conclusion that everyone is different and it takes all colors to make up the rainbow of our world and that's okay. I'd like to say that these issues could all be solved in this manner but as we all know that we live in an imperfect world. One of the greatest things we can pass on to our children is that of tolerance and understanding.

It Is My Pleasure To Introduce To You....

Today I thought I'd introduce a few blogs that are very good and also full of information and whimsy. Some have beautiful photography and others are more eclectic such as mine. Drum roll please.....

Full Moons &; Black Cats
A wonderful blog by Celestite that researches various aspects witchcraft and magick and a great arena for questions that you always wanted to ask. I love the fact that you do not need to be pagan or wiccan to enjoy this blog.

A Pagan Tapestry
This Blog, also by Celestite, follows the Wheel of the Year, the changing of the seasons, the cycles of the moon. Great informational blog indeed! I like the fact that she is up front when saying this blog is of her opinions and does not try to represent pagans as a whole. We are all degrees of color in a larger rainbow, and we all contribute something special.

28parkave
I just love this blog by Morag Lloyds, her photographs are simply breathtaking!It is diary of her journey's around the Islands of the west coast of Scotland. She is a painter and designer and her subjects come from both her experiences from the sea and her love of different.

Live From The Red Leather Couch
A wonderful blog by Darkly Fey, that deals with everything pagan. Darkly Fey also has a podcast "The Dark Side Of Fey" which I highly recommend that you listen to. I like the down to earth way she discusses topics we deal with from day to day.

Hibiscus Moon
Hibiscus Moon has a great eclectic blog that includes poems, informative content, educational topics and a little bit of everything that appeals to all. She is new to wicca but has a very unique and highly enjoyable viewpoint! She also includes crafts and examples of her artistic expressions.

Barefoot In The Sand
Gypsy has a wonderful blog that has whimsy and and a wonderfully fresh perspective on the world around her as she shares it with us all. Her insight into life is amazing and well worth the read.

I have many more great blogs to list and I think that I will do just that in one of my other posts. I do encourage you all to check out these blogs, they're a great contribution to everyone, involved with magic or not!

Elemental, Dear Watson

Wicca is a nature based religion and follows the tides of the moon and the path of the sun in my celebrations. I like to honor the world around me and one of the most important ways I integrate the natural world into my daily life and my expression of this is by honoring the elements. Generally, there are four elements that are recognized by all wiccans, these are Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Depending on the path (or tradition) a person is working like myself, I recognize a fifth element, Spirit. Each element has a different energy and fits into my daily life in its own special way. There are correspondences which focus on the energy of the element that I might be working with. I work a solitary eclectic path ( I do not belong to a traditional coven) and since I am in the northern part of the world, there may be differences in other paths and things in the southern hemisphere are generally opposite of the way I work with them.

AIR...the element of the east in most traditions and is where the sun rises . It is the place of new beginnings and morning is it's time. Air is associated with thought processes and mental working, intelligence and learning... birds, feathers, insects, clouds and the dawn are all associated with air.... its colors are generally yellows and pastels.

FIRE...as the sun moves South, it becomes noon time... the heat of the day. Fire is associated with movement and action, the fires of passion and anger and of our will. Lizards, salamanders, scorpions, deserts, spices, heat and the noonday sun are all associated with fire.... it's colors are reds and oranges.

WATER... is in the direction of the west and is the time of the setting sun, the coolness of twilight.... it is the rain, rivers and oceans and streams. It is the element of emotion and intuition... it's colors are blues and greens, turquoise and aqua.

EARTH... is in the North and is the dark, the time of rest. It is planting and nurturing seeds of all kinds, growth and abundance, but it also signifies the passing (or death) and returning to the earth. Most mammals and earth dwelling creatures are associated with the earth as are plants and trees, stones and seeds. Its colors are greens and browns and black.

SPIRIT... is an element that is difficult to explain and even harder to show. It is the hub of the wheel of the year and wheel of the elements... the top of the five pointed star. It's associations are different for everyone, and some will say purple, gold or white is it's color. I associate it with the manifestation of the goddess and god figure (the spirit evident in all natural creations).

I hope this explains a little of what I incorporate into my life in the form of rituals and spells or even charms. The more people know what goes into my spirituality, the less that there is to be fearful of. I firmly believe that tolerance is a commodity that sometimes falls by the wayside but hopefully, with a little education and understanding we will make great progress in this world.

Good Witch or Bad Witch.....

Often when people find out about my spirituality, at the top of all questions first asked is "Are you a good witch or a bad witch?" It never fails to give me a start no matter how many times I hear it, I don't know exactly why but as I'm hearing these words being spoken, my mind is instantly transported back to the age when I first saw "The Wizard of Oz" and Glenda asks Dorothy that very same question. To most folks I'm sure it's a very legitimate question in their minds and inwardly all the bad press down through the ages about witches and the craft makes me cringe. The craft does NOT fall into the categories of good or bad nor even black or white, the craft is an empowering; exhilarating and positive experience to those that choose this path and any other beliefs that classify themselves as anything else other than this definition in my opinion, are examples of attack magic and should be avoided. My main objective in starting this blog was to be an educational example of my everyday life as well as speak of the craft and how it weaves itself throughout my daily life so that maybe it can become clear that I'm really not so different after all, it may lay a few of these fears to rest. I like to explain it not as someone who lights candles; chants rituals makes charm bags (and occasionally participates in broom riding that results in reports of UFO encounters and general widespread hysteria because after all, we all know physics doesn't exactly work like that.) To me it's easier to just answer that it is simply a lifestyle or outlook on the world and how we interact within it and spells and rituals are how I approach the common practice of prayer that the "mainstream" religions follow. Lately, there has appeared an abundance of those who seek to remove the fear from terms like witchcraft; the craft; wicca and even paganism. The one I like the best is that of Ariel ( pronounced AH-ree-el) who moderates Ariel's Corner Discussion Forum. He has an excellent podcast titled "the Witches Primer" and can be found at this link: http://www.magic-craft.com/ and this one as well: http://www.thedcw.org/ They are chock full of wonderful info on just what the craft IS and so are the links on the right side of my page that will give you a glimpse of who we are and what we believe. I encourage those who read my blog to check out these links.

P.S.- I indeed DO own a rather handsome handmade broom (from an elderly gentleman in Oregon that made the brooms for movies like Harry Potter) but it flies above my door as a symbol of welcome and positive vibrations for those who enter my doorway.