The Course of My Studies Part Two
(I broke this up so I didn’t lose steam and get bored, then never finish. Here’s a link to the first part)
So I left off the last post in my early twenties. I had just had a major falling out with Wicca and was on a hunt for something else. I was delving into the wonderful world of Celtic spirituality.
So I dove into all things Celtic and even hung out with some Reconstructionists. I considered Druidry but it also was not for me. I did learn a great deal from my Druid and Recon friends however, about scholarship and also about filling in the gaps.
My boyfriend at the time was disinterested in spirituality but for some reason had the book “The Way of the Shaman” by Harner and I borrowed it. Actually, I stole it because I never got around to returning it, bad me. The study of Shamanism fell beautify in place next to my love of anthropology, archaeology and mythology. I read as much as I could, especially on the subjects of Celtic Shamanism and Seiðr magick. More of the Matthews and also some Mircea Eliade, Tom Cowan, Peter Berresford Ellis,… Continue reading
The New Casting Cloth
I decided I needed a new casting cloth for my divination set. Since the set is currently “on vacation” enjoying a lunar cycle of relaxing and soaking up the sun light, moon light and the elements. And since the set is also being introduced to a new piece, maybe two, I figured now was a good time. The one being retired is the second one, so now I’m introducing the third cloth.
Why a new cloth? Well a number of reasons.
First and foremost I believe that Witchcraft is a practice. And one thing about practice is that it’s a constant search to try out new things and to improve on what you’ve learned and the skills you’ve gained along the way. I don’t like all this get it right the first time stuff. As if we shouldn’t call ourselves Witches if we’ve ever made a little mistake (or epic blunder) and as if we’ve always done it this way, we have never tried out other things to see how they work.
This last casting cloth was an improvement from the one before and the new one is (hopefully!) another improvement. So after working with the… Continue reading
The Course of My Studies Part One
“At the very dawn of religion, God was a woman. Do you remember?” – From: When God Was a Woman by Merlin Stone, 1931 – 2011
Like many Pagans, Merlin Stone’s book was amongst the first I found. Interestingly, I find that many Pagans my age or younger have, in fact, not read this book; as well as others like it such as “The Wise Wound” for an example. I was not like many of my generation’s young Pagans in that my very first book on Paganism did not come from the hand of Silver Ravenwolf.
This is a blog post I have been considering writing for a little while now. I was also considering reading it for the podcast, but I worry it might be boring to listen to. So, in honour of the memory of such persons as Merlin Stone, here goes …
My first literary foray into Magick, Witchcraft and Paganism came from fairy tales of course; Jack and the Bean Stalk, Disney, Mom reading ‘The Hobbit” to us. Like many children I played witches brew with mud and crud in the back yard, tapped stones with my sparkly cheerleading baton to wake the fairies, pretended I… Continue reading
My Soap Box
The (larger) Pagan Community and the smaller Pagan communities (within a region or city) are like any community or movement. There are great things and not so great things and maybe even a few things that are less than desirable. Whether it is the mountain biking scene, a local Catholic parish, a quilters’ guild, your place of work or your local Pagan community there is always going to be problems and annoyances. Such as gossip, personal conflicts, poor planning of events, even the occasional abusive jerk. The only way to totally avoid such things would be to avoid the human race as a whole.
Just as the Pagan Community attracts people who are free thinking, artistic, interesting, open minded, creative and spiritual; it can also attract the odd drama queen, womanizer or person who believes that they are a reincarnated elf from the planet Zooboo. Every religion and spiritual movement has its crazies and fanatics. Our fringe element might throw paint on a lady for wearing fur, dress like a vampire, create gossip and drama at a ritual, or go to class carrying a Druid staff. Far better than shooting abortion doctors, blowing up buildings and protesting soldier’s funerals, I… Continue reading
Valentine’s Day Link Love
While Bren and I go to a book sale and drink some wine for Valentine’s Day (and pretend we don’t have a podcast episode waiting to be finished) here is a list of awesome articles and blog posts worthy of being read:
The Curious Case of American Land Spirits
The question is, can those of us of European descent summon, honor, call, and treat with American land spirits?
Thinking Shall Replace Killing: A Short Look at a Pagan Model of Ethics
At the most basic level, it matters that you are the kind of person who resolves problems with force of thought and feeling instead of with the force of arms.
Hellhound on My Trail
Celtic and European legends are filled with the sounds of the Wild Hunt, the hounds traveling across the night sky: Arawn, Celtic god of the underworld, has a pack of white hounds with blood-red ears; Lugh has a magical hound, as does the family of Harelquin, the Oskerei, Gandreidh, and Herne and his brutal band of wild men. Sometimes it’s called the “Furious Host.”
The Trouble With Bright Girls
For women, ability doesn’t always lead to confidence. Here’s why.
Roman Statues Trace Back to Troubled… Continue reading
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- The Squirrel and the Story Eli Effinger-Weintraub
To Fly By Night
Hoofprints in the Wildwood
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