"Between Life and Spirit
There is ... Journey"

 

 

Herbal Tea for the Pagan Spirit
Inspirational Stories of the Pagan Path



Wiccan Seminars presented at Borders Bookstores, Montclair, CA
(w/booklets)
Throughout 1999 and 2000

Classes Taught (all include booklets):

Wicca 101
Candle Magick
Energy and Psychic Shielding
Meditation

 


Web Design and Community Service:

The Pagan Culture Center
Celtic Wellspring
Inland Empire Pagan Pride (2001, 2002, 2003)
Hemet Interfaith Council
COG, TLC Inland Empire
 

Crystal Avalon (no longer in business)
Heartbeat of the Goddess

Claremont Forum - Village Mandala


Music and Services

 

 

 

 


Drum Circles

Church of Religious Science
Crystal Avalon
Spiritual Elements
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Music

Zeora Sage and the Soulshakers
Obsidian Horizon
Sligo Rags
Paddy Doyle's Boots
Fire on High

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Services

(See Services)

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Articles Published





PagaNet News
Article published, Imbolc 1999 issue "Witch Wars" - Under my then pen name, Myrddann (Dragonsoul)
An Essay in Pagan Differences <READ>

Witches' Voice
Article published, Aug. 22, 1999 "Who's The Boss? - Under my then pen name, Myrddann
Is Wicca a Females Only Club?  <READ>

More Articles

(Published on the internet and other mediums)

Is There Spirituality in Modern Paganism?  Or is it just Fluff?
Part two
- Morality 

Dogma.  That word is associated with many of the mainstream religions, to follow a set of rules governed by an ‘Almighty’ or one must face eternal damnation.  This tenant and its followers has been used to oppress many women, men and cultures alike.

Karma.  The knowledge that whatever goes around comes around.  Or better yet,  known in the Wiccan community as the three-fold law.  Whatever energy is sent out will return to the sender three-fold. 

 The Wiccan Rede - “An it harm none, do as thou wilt”  What does that mean?  ‘Do whatever you want so long as you aren’t hurting anyone?’  In some cases and to some individuals…yes.  This tenant is taken to a literal sense by those who wish to celebrate the lack of dogma in the Pagan faith.  Additionally, there are those that refuse to even validate the ethics of the three-fold law or karma.

 In the Pagan faiths, there are no actual ‘rules’ or guidelines on how to be or act morally.  Webster’s Dictionary defines moral as;  relating to, dealing with, or capable of making the distinction between right and wrong conduct; ethics, sometimes in sexual behavior.

 Because there are no actual written ‘commandments’ or rule books on moral behavior, many find an attraction in the free spiritedness of Paganism. However, there is a general understanding of how an individual or group of individuals should conduct themselves.  Specifically, most of us agree that murder, rape or other violent acts are wrong.  Where does this fall into the Pagan community?  As Wiccans, we respect life in all its aspects - from the blade of grass to human existence.  There are some that regard human life as merely a consequence, and the very thought of betrayal means death.  Some ‘traditional’ Pagans believe that secrets within a coven or family are to be kept and not shared.  To do so means the expiration of the individual who has divulged those very secrets.

 Many Pagan faiths hold sex as sacred.  Additionally, sex in any form is viewed as acceptable, and as part of the idea behind the nature-based religions, it is an integral part of the union between God and Goddess and the continual cycle of fertility, birth, life and death. Sex in itself is not ‘dirty’ or wrong.  Sex between two consenting adults or couples can be fulfilling, satisfying and pleasurable.  But sex for mere entertainment is not sacred, just passing the time.  Intimacy between individuals is spiritual in as much as sexual.  But some use the openness of sexuality as something that is a simple lifestyle,  like eating three meals a day, instead of a sacred, special act between loving adults.

 I give here an example.  A High Priestess of a circle (not a coven) after ritual, explained to the others that the next full moon would be mandatory skyclad.  Additionally, she went on to say that the Ostara celebration would consist of ‘drunkenness and debauchery’ - or more literally ‘anything goes’.  After the stunned looks of those around her began to fade, disgust and antipathy took over.  Most of the people there knew this woman’s want for sexual activity, and merely saw this as her way of fulfilling her needs.

 Is this morally wrong?  Let me put it another way.  Would this make you feel uncomfortable?  Some of you might actually look forward to this type of activity.  Most wouldn’t.  Out of the twenty or so people that were there that evening, not one person had any interest in participating in any of those activities.  Was this because of a moral issue? Or was it merely a personal preference? 

 Ok, one more example.  A major Pagan organization gathered for it’s annual meeting and public ritual.  Of one of the three day long events, a ‘dance night’ was one.  Before this event, the president gave specific instructions to use one’s own judgment on behavior since the events were conducted exclusively in a major hotel ballroom.

The dance took place with only one problem - one of the attendees waltzed through the hotel in lingerie to get to the ballroom.  Needless to say there was a complaint and another request for common sense was passed on to the others.  During the dance, it seemed many were pretty much ‘doing as they will’.  There were men dressed in nothing more than stockings and G-strings, and women who barely wore little much else.  Now, the issue if nudity during ritual has always been understood and an accepted as a normal practice.  Yet this was merely a dance party, not a ritual, and again, a way to let loose and act in any manner the individuals saw fit.

Let me just pause a moment and clarify something.  As for what people wish to do privately or in groups is really none of anyone’s business - so long as others that are involved are comfortable with it.  For me personally, I could care less. The friends in all these situations that accompanied me to these events were not comfortable.  Additionally, the thought was ‘what does this have to do with spirituality?’.  Does spirituality involve moral standards or not?  What, if any, does spirituality mean to individuals who practice a literal sense of ‘do what thou will’ with little to no regard of what others may think or how they might be effected.

When one’s personal taste,  rights or lifestyle intrudes on another and makes others uncomfortable or is offensive, not only is that person or group violating the rede, they are violating that person’s rights as a human being and a  child of the gods. Simply put, should one practice an open and free from care lifestyle under the guise of their religion?  Or should that person leave their lifestyle private and the religious interaction separate?

Pagans have become a bigger topic all over the newspapers and television.  The general population is watching us…what kind of picture do we want to paint for them about Pagans?

 

Is There Spirituality in Modern Paganism?  Or is it all Fluff? Part IV
We All Come from the Goddess….

Or do we?

There are many faiths that retain creationism as part of their beliefs.  Pagans are no different.  The one thing that separates us from mainstream religions is the polarity of the divine.

Most Pagans see the divine universe as male and female - God and Goddess.  Some see the universe as many separate gods and goddesses.  But are there actual beings that serve as deity?  Or are we making this up as we go along?

Some believe that if a deity exists, then we have created it from our own energies and the energies of the universe.  In this case, especially after two-thousand years of enforcement, then the devil himself may actually be a real being. One of our presidents said it best, “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.”  This lends itself to the argument, doesn’t it ?  If you have anxiety over falling off a cliff, then you could very well make yourself careless and falling can become a reality.  Also…ever heard the phrase…”be careful what you wish for…”?

It can be the same with gods and goddesses.  If you fear reprimand from a higher source, then it will come to pass because your emotions and thoughts are so focused on the problem at hand, that it becomes easier for a spiritual influence to influence the outcome, in addition to your own will.

Does this mean that we have the will and power to “create” the gods?  I don’t believe so.  In fact, I believe that even though we can control certain aspects of our daily lives and environment, the gods have the ultimate control in fate, justice, life, death and rebirth.  Granted we can take life ourselves, but that is not the same context as what the gods’ part in death means.  It is for the purpose of rebirth of the soul, whereas humans that take the life of another have no regard for the victim’s well-being.

 Are the gods creators of the known universe?  Did the gods have anything to do with evolution? Hmmmm….. (time to get out the aspirin!)

 What I believe, and a few others I have met, is that here is a “Great Spirit”, or “One” that encompasses everything we see, hear and touch which includes ourselves.  The divine spark is in each and every one of us and everything.  And it follows logically that there too is a divine influence in creation.  The Universe continues to expand because it too is learning and growing from us.  The seed of life was born of the divine, in whichever form you wish to think.  From this sprang the evolutionary  forces that became what you are used to seeing today.

 From this beginning, the Great Spirit became aware of Itself and the male and female aspects were born.  From them, the Lord and Lady, life too became polarized and flourished.  There is in most situations, life and death, rebirth and life, dark and light, “good” and “evil”, day and night….male and female. 

 Look around you.  Where does this fit in?  It takes two polarized forms to create a new life, or single entity.  What of the plants, you say?  It takes the seed from the plant to bury itself deep in the womb of Mother Earth to become a new life.  It takes the ever-working honey bee to pollinate the flowers and help “fertilize” the seed. Even the stones that decorate the face of Mother Earth were once a part of Her.  They could even be referred to as Her children!

 When we search for our spirituality, we are touching a part of ourselves that is as old as the Universe.  When we ask of the divine for assistance, we are asking ourselves to reach out and touch our will - the spark, to receive our answers.  In spellwork or prayer, we open the channels to the energies that already exist within us.  This is a part of who we are, who the Great Spirit is.  Memories of past lives, or deja-vu haunts us because we carry the cells and knowledge of our ancestors and their ancestors which harken to the very beginning.

 Yes, we can create gods….only because it is a part of the greater All.  But the aspects of the All have always been there. The gods of the ancients who were already ancient were born of necessity, not thoughts.  The renewal of the ancient ways has merely awakened what already was.  In this way, I guess we have “re-created” them through our own will…and love.

 

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