November 29, 2006 at 9:22 am (Moon, Novices)
Recognising three phases of the moon is popular these days. Perhaps it's connected to the 'triple goddess' concept.
I recognise four main phases:
New/Waxing Moon
Full Moon
Waning Moon
Dark Moon
Why do so many modern paths ignore the Dark Moon? It is the most important for the witch.
October 12, 2006 at 7:21 am (Scatterings)
It is not just humans that are to praise Godde, but ALL of creation.
ALL of creation is worthy to praise Godde; ALL of creation has soul.
Psalm 148
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!
Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created.
And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. [1]
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word!
Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!
Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the Lord!
September 19, 2006 at 9:40 am (Scatterings)
I breathed in Autumn today. I recalled a beautiful song/hymn about the connectedness of all life, by the Christian monk St Francis of Assisi, inspired by an apocryphal writing.
Canticle of the Sun
Most high, all-powerful, all good, Lord!
All praise is yours, all glory, all honor
And all blessing.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong.
No mortal lips are worthy
To pronounce your name.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through all that you have made,
And first my lord Brother Sun,
Who brings the day; and light you give to us through him.
How beautiful is he, how radiant in all his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon and Stars;
In the heavens you have made them, bright
And precious and fair.
All praise be yours, My Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all the weather's moods,
By which you cherish all that you have made.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Water,
So useful, lowly, precious and pure.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
Through whom you brighten up the night.
How beautiful is he, how gay! Full of power and strength.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Earth, our mother,
Who feeds us in her sovereignty and produces
Various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through those who grant pardon
For love of you; through those who endure
Sickness and trial.
Happy those who endure in peace,
By you, Most High, they will be crowned.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Death,
From whose embrace no mortal can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Happy those She finds doing your will!
The second death can do no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give him thanks,
And serve him with great humility.
St Francis of Assisi, 1225
June 11, 2006 at 10:31 am (Christopagan, Theological)
While a minoriity of Christians believe that there was an actual person called Adam and another called Eve, and that the world was created in 7 days, the majority of Christians don't. The majority accept the spiritually symbolic importance of the stories.
However, while we freely use the terms 'symbolism' and 'parables', we shy away from the term 'mythology'.
Many religions and several of the big ones fully embrace mythology as a valid vessel for spiritual and philosophical knowledge.
However, when you accept mythology as part of your religion, you are admitting that many things aren't real. The problem is mistaking not real for not true. If Christians accepted the term, we would have to admit to a created religion, and this may seep into other areas, such as the truth of the Messiah. we can't have that, can we?
I believe that as mature Christians we should accept the term. I can manage in my mind mythology and historcal reality. For me, much of the OT is mythology and much is social history.
What we don't seem to realise is that accepting a mythological Christianity means that we open the doors to many non-Christians. Greek and Roman mythology include wrathful and jealous entities, but within the context of mythology, it is accepted by Pagans. Try to tell them that our God of love is also a god of jealousy and murder, and this is where it all breaks down.
Mythologically, we can accept this is the light and darkness of universal life.
May 12, 2006 at 6:08 am (Novices, Wisewoman)
Don't confuse witchblood with bloodline.
Witchblood is the blood in your veins and the metaphorical blood in your spirit that makes you a witch. You were born with it and have no choice to be witch. This doesn't mean you will practice or live as one, you may deny the calling or never recognise it.
Bloodline is metaphorical or mystical line of witchdom. Every witch is connected from the source.
May 12, 2006 at 6:03 am (Mystic)
When Jesus proclaimed, "I and the Father are One" [John 10:30] the majority of Christians accepted that to mean that Jesus was Divine, God Himself and yet also man.
The Mystic understands it to mean that jesus was offering us the awareness that man and God can be one, are one.
This mystical connection is what the witch fully understands, whether it is to Nature or a god.
The Christian witch cannot remove the connection and be witch.
April 12, 2006 at 5:52 pm (Novices)
There is a common misunderstanding that occurs when seekers spend too much time on the Net, we become obssessed wit 'paths' and labels. Novices read about these two things so much they feel inadequate if they haven't chosen which path is theirs.
The fact is, you're on a path right now if you are seeking. A spiritual path is simply seeking your spiritual side. Everything else follows – labels, titles, practices, etc…
A path is a verb and noun – seeking is active. It is the active participation and seeking connection to the sacred that automatically places you on a path.
A truly spiritual walk can have you experimenting or just 'being' for decades and even a lifetime without you ever having a label to what you practice/believe in. It doesn't matter, it really doesn't.
In fact, not having a label may even be a benefit as labels can be a hindrance. For instance, you might be entwined with the label 'Wicca', rather than what you feel from inside.
Believe and worship every god ever known, explore a hundred different practices – what matters is your connection to the Spirit (whatever you feel that is).
January 13, 2006 at 11:34 am (Paths)
Belief in Deity
Diverse beliefs, from belief in a personal God as an incorporeal spirit to questioning belief in a personal God.
• Incarnations
Beliefs vary from the literal to the symbolic belief in Jesus Christ as God's incarnation. Most believe we are all sons and daughters of God, with the main focus on experiencing and listening to God, the Light within, accessible to all.
• Origin of Universe and Life
Emphasis is placed on spiritual truths as revealed to each individual. Many believe that God created/controls all events/processes that modern scientists are uncovering about origins. Many believe in scientific accounts alone or don't profess to know.
• After Death
Few liberal Quakers believe in direct reward and punishment, heaven and hell, or second coming of Christ. The primary focus is nondogmatic: God is love, love is eternal, and our actions in life should reflect love for all of humanity.
• Why Evil?
Beliefs vary, as the focus is not on why, but how to eliminate wrongs, especially violence. Many believe that violence against another human is violence against God. Many Quakers believe that lack of awareness of God's divine Light within all may result in wrongdoing. Many believe that evil is simply an unfortunate part of human nature that we all must work to eliminate.
• Salvation
Beliefs are diverse, as dogma is de-emphasized. Most believe that all will be saved because God is good and forgiving, and the divine Light of God is available to all. Good works, especially social work and peace efforts, are viewed as integral to the salvation of humanity, regardless of belief or nonbelief in an afterlife.
• Undeserving Suffering
Liberal Quakers do not believe that Satan causes suffering. Some believe suffering is part of God's plan, will, or design, even if we don't immediately understand it. Some don't believe in any spiritual reasons for suffering. Quakers focus on reducing human suffering, especially that which is caused by social injustice or violence.
• Contemporary Issues
Views vary, some maintaining that abortion violates Quaker commitment to nonviolence, but some view the right to choose abortion as an aspect of equal rights for women and/or as a personal matter between the woman and God. The American Friends Service Committee (an independent Quaker organization with participants of many faiths, which provides international programs for economic and social justice, peace, humanitarian aid) supports the woman’s right to choose abortion according to her own conscience.
Taken from: belief.net – quaker beliefs
If you want to read more about the Quakers, here is a quick article.
You can also try: www.quaker.org
July 27, 2005 at 5:01 pm (Green, Wisewoman)
In the neo-pagan community, whenever food is mentioned it is usually as something to offer to the gods, as something around rituals or yearly festivals, in magical recipes, or for grounding.
All these are valid and important. But the real place of food is nourishment. And nourishment offers healing when needed.
This is certainly not the most amazing statement ever made, but surprisingly few seekers ever discuss food. It's rarely something that is considered on someone's path.
We spend so much time considering tools, altars, rituals, etc, that we forget that the ways of witchery and paganism are about Nature. Not just revering her, but working with her and taking from her responsibly.
Godde, through nature, has given us all the medicine we need.
Wisewomen and witches have always been healers; we don't just cast spells. We nourish and heal with herbs, weeds, and roots, and nourish with all natural foods.
There are neo-witches that tell me they grow no herbs, not even a couple of pots on a window sill. They don't take a walk through their city streets to pick out weeds to heal. There are those that claim the witch path that still take aspirin or other useless medicines.
The witch and the wise woman are the green doctors.
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