Just an interesting tidbit I came across. Hope the HTML code for italicized text works through Email.

How did you find your spiritual path?

I have never felt myself to be on a path of any kind, as my life has more the quality of being carried downstream on a raging river full of rocks, so that all I have to do is try to steer a course through the endless rapids and enjoy the thrill of the experience. It may be helpful to add, however, that the parent who brought me up, my mother, was a Pagan, and I have never been attracted by any other sort of tradition although I have studied many in the course of my work as a historian. Paganism is therefore my background, but I am not strongly religious by temperament.

Full interview at:

http://druidnetwork.org/profiles/people/ronald_hutton.html

Tags: beliefs, history, pagan, religion, wicca

I've never really explored the actual site, so tonight I took a grand YouTube journey with the keyword "Wicca."

Oh, dear Gods. I've never seen so much 101 rehash in my entire life. It made my brain all hurty. With all those "High Priest/esses" out there, aren't there a few who can give something beyond a Scott Cunningham-style presentation?

Just a brief observation before bedtime. Comments welcome.

crossposted to wiccanwitches

Tags: beliefs, pagan, religion, wicca, youtube

I was asked this question on a Christian forum. The original question and my response are below.
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Q: What made you become a non-Christian out of curiousity? Not trying to attack you but based upon my experience I don't think I could ever leave the presence of the Lord. I may get angry at God but to leave makes me wonder if you really gave your heart to the Lord. The wiccan group is such a different spirit than that of the Holy Spirit that I am afraid you have been deceived by something when you "first gave your heart to Christ". Again just curious ...

A: Nerohdam, thanks for asking. It was the hypocrisy of the institution that led me away from Christianity. When I first proclaimed myself to Jesus Christ, I had an inner emotional shift that has never been equaled to this day. It put me on very solid footing, even in my darkest hours, that there was a Divine presence in the world. The love was so pure, so powerful, so intense, I cannot begin to describe it in text. However, the church itself left me cold. So I asked, “where do I go where my questions will be answered, where this experience makes sense when shared with others?” And here I am today. Through study and experience, I have found a serenity in Wicca that was not found in the earthly church. I never got angry with God, I never left the presence of the Divine. I simply realized that, seeing and understanding the profound complexity of the creation around me and within me, that God having many paths to the center made perfect sense. The Holy Spirit is the divine spark that illuminates us with the wisdom and knowledge of the Divine. How each person walks with that knowledge is personal. That’s a very basic answer to a complicated journey, but it’s a summary.
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Crossposted to wiccanwitches

Tags: beliefs, christian, faith, journey, pagan, spirituality, wicca

I've just created the first Wicca group on Vox. Here's the link.

Tags: community, vox, wicca
Mood Swing: geeky

My response to davensjournal's entry about people who flaunt their Degrees, etc.
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I've been public for quite a number of years now, and I think maybe I've been asked 2-3 times directly "what Degree are you?" in relation to curiosity about my Tradition. Otherwise, it hasn't really come up. Frankly, outside the Trad, it doesn't denote any high status over anyone else; it just means I've reached a certain level in the Trad teachings.

I find those who present such things up front akin to the person whose perfume/cologne arrives in a room before they do. It's being worn in anticipation of being found attractive, but it's so blatant that it just ends up running people off instead.

Addendum: This is not a criticism of those who give their credentials in the course of conversation where it's relevant. It's for those who hold it up in front of them like a medal with a spotlight on it.

Tags: pagan, wicca

What Causes a WICCAN?


crossposted to wiccanwitches

Tags: humor, satire, wicca

From a Meetup forum; comments and my responses.
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perhaps this is how the original individual sees their spritual path...as a form of cleansing. I doubt either of us would agree with their interpretation...but to say it's wrong...is to deny them their right to choose their own words for their spiritual pathway.

From what I remember, it started out as a Christian verse that has since been paganized. Not that a lot of pagans would admit to plagiarism of Christian stuff. So I can’t take it as a pagan expressing their spiritual path. The reason it got my goat to begin with was that it’s being passed around during the Hallowe’en season as a "see, witches aren’t bad, we’re harmless and peaceful and would really like you to run with that so I can stay under your radar."

It’s not the words themselves that gall me, but the context in which I have seen it passed around. Which, for me, trivializes the rich and complex nature of not only Wicca, but non-Wiccan witches (by lumping them in with a generic rose-colored image).

I really don't find it worth the hours of flame on it that some folks spent.

I find anything that misrepresents things to the point of being detrimental to how others perceive my faith is worth whatever time it takes to point out.

Tags: beliefs, meetup, pagan, pc, rant, wicca, witchcraft

"It’s important the people should know what you stand for. It’s equally important that they know what you won’t stand for."

-Mary H. Waldrip

Tags: pagan, wicca

Picked up my little one from school yesterday, and as I was bringing her to the car, a passing mother noticed the bumper sticker (http://www.lycianwicca.org in large black letters across our white back bumper). “What is that?” We got into a brief discussion of what Wicca was. “Do you believe in witches?” Yes, and most of us practice witchcraft. “Oh…. Umm…. Well, thank you. God bless you!”

I simply said, “same to you!” and got in the car. I watched her the entire time, her facial expressions registering her confusion at what I was telling her vs the likely image she had of people interested in witchcraft. I don’t believe she quite reconciled that with my very ordinary self, talking about this like it was an everyday thing. Poor lady. ;)

Alexandria has advised us yet again that her altar is just a small table, while Mommy & Daddy each have a wall with stuff on it. I guess this means we better get on the ball finding wall space. The Queen has spoken.

She’s sleeping like a log in her new bed, which was my mother’s as a child and handed down the generations. It’s relatively plain, but solid wood (maple). And thus ends the era of Japanese-style futons for her.

Tags: children, wicca, witchcraft

My response to a comment on wiccan where a 17-yr-old was confronted in a bookstore while examining a tarot deck.
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"The tarot isn't specifically Wiccan, so she really wasn't attacking your religion. However, it was disgustingly rude of her to butt in. If it ever happens again, the best way to throw them is to stare at them with a "is there a reason you're butting into a private conversation?" and then say to them directly, "and this is your business how?" Then just stare at them until they go away.

You don't need to explain or apologize to anyone who sticks their nose in where it doesn't belong. Your turf, your table, you're the one with manners. Even experienced persons can get flustered in this sort of situation, so don't feel bad about your reaction. But the best way to keep control of the situation is to be blunt and short on words. It keeps you from stumbling over anything, and puts rude people in their place by changing the focus from what they've attacked to their own bad behavior."

Tags: conflict, wicca

From wiccanwitches: I hear the idea repeated often that "Wicca should not be for everybody..." Personally, I don't feel this way at all. I think that anybody that wants to be Wiccan should have the opportunity. I don't understand why others within the Wiccan community feel otherwise. My opinion is that the Gods choose their own, so it shouldn't be for anybody else to deny that. (If that makes sense?)

My Response: "You will find this more prevalent from BTW, who are firmly based in lineage-only Wicca. I can see their points; commercialized Wicca has watered down in many ways a Mystery-based, initiatory path into an eclectic hodge-podge. BTW has specific Deities to whom one is dedicated, so "the Gods choose their own" is fine, but it's not Wicca. This is basically where they're coming from.

My POV is, Wicca has evolved from the British-Isles-only aspect and become popular in a society whose very nature is that of a melting pot. Now, this does mean we're going to have our percentage of "Wicca is what *I* want it to be" (which IMHO is lazy and not getting the point of the faith), but there is certainly room for dedicated, non-BTW Wicca, whether it is within a specific Tradition or not. The main thing is, all Wiccans need to follow some basics, not just a mix of New Age, mix-n-blend Deities and CALL it Wicca. THerein lies the difference."

Tags: wicca

I do not think witchcraft is a religion, and I do not think it is in any way appropriate for the U.S. military to promote it.

-- George W. Bush, October 15, 2000
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I'll say it again on this score. He had an opinion; an unpopular one, but an opinion nontheless. NO LEGISLATION WAS EVER INTRODUCED to take the Wiccan services away or to restrict Wiccan/pagan organizations from continuing in any way. Now, I abhor Bush as a president, but it irritates me no end to hear this quote regurgitated again and again, as it is not linked to ANY legal actions against Wiccans/pagans. It's a pet peeve of mine.

Tags: bush, pet peeve, wicca, witchcraft