Lugh - My Patron God

   After a lot of thought and self-exploration, I have decided upon Lugh as my patron God.  As Danu is my patron Goddess, I feel the two work well together as both are key members of the Tuatha De Danann.

According to Celtic mythology, Lugh (whom we celebrate at Lughnasadh) was a god of many talents.  It is said that when he attempted to enter Tara the guard stops him and tells him that only one individual with each skill will be allowed to enter (bard, harp player, blacksmith, etc.).  Lugh went through the list of all of his accomplishments and talents but after each skill he was denied entry because Tara already had someone that possessed the same skill.  When Lugh asked the Gatekeeper if anyone inside had all of the skills combined he was gained entry.

His story resonates with me and I feel inspired when looking at the picture to the left.  I feel a sense of completeness now that I have identified my patron deities and can put names to "God" and "Goddess."

Celtic Mythology, like most mythologies of world cultures, is very interesting.  I encourage you to look into some myths of every culture.  You might be surprised at the similarities you will find.

My WEBS Experience

I hung out with my local WEBS group from the local Unitarian Universalist church this past Saturday.  It was a fantastic experience.  The group name stands for Whole Earth-Based Spirituality and is an inclusive group for anyone wanting to explore.

The members of the group are fantastic.  Everyone comes from a variety of different backgrounds and everyone represents different niches in society, as well as different age ranges.  As far as I know, I was the only one representing the LGBT community, but I'm not offended by that.

The meeting was focused on tarot and learning how to create a tarot spread that was more individualistic and able to meet our own needs.  We looked at a few spreads and what they offered and were given an opportunity to create one.  I didn't like mine.  Maybe it was the fact that I am new to tarot and still learning the meaning of my cards, but it didn't seem to click with me.  I think it definitely needs some tweaking, but it could be something I utilize in the future.

After the tarot we met in a circle at the center of the room and did a chant with the word "tarot," raising energy until we all felt powerful and connected.  At that point we released the energy into the universe and then grounded and centered.  It was a fantastic first experience with other Pagans!  I will cherish it for the rest of my life.

I do see what I have been missing being a solitary practitioner all this time.  While I do like my personal spirituality and connection with deity, I am also intrigued by the possibility of expanding it further.  If you're a solitary and are looking for a group, check with your local Unitarian Universalist church.  May of them have a similar program (CUUPS is the most common meaning Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans).  Witchvox is also a great place to check out for local connections.

Be Blessed!

Are Americans hypocrites?

The Wild Hunt is reporting that many news reporters, article writers and bloggers are commenting on the prayer held at the memorial service held in Tucson, Arizona for those killed and injured in the recent shooting.  The opening invocation was given by Dr. Carlos Gonzales, a Pascua Yaqui Indian and a local professor.  Some of the critics are claiming that the prayer was too "pantheistic" for the main-stream audience and others go so far as to claim that it directly violates the separation of church and state.

Really?

It seems more to me that these people are angry that their God (who says to have no other gods before him) wasn't central to the prayer and instead drew from Native American tradition.  To be fair, a couple of the critics were upset more that Dr. Gonzales spoke of Mexico and gave a history of who he is, which as he clearly explained was the tradition of giving the type of blessing that he did.

I have watched a clip of the prayer and I will happily tell you what I feel.  Maybe none of the victims were of Mexican and Native American affiliation.  Maybe none of them were anything other than Christian.  So why is this reaction only evident when it is a service that does not recognize a Christian god?  Why do Christians not rise up and cite a lack of separation of church and state when schools are told to preach only Christian ethics and promote Christian ideals?  Something is wrong with that picture.  It seems to me you can't cower behind a regulation or ideal unless you're willing to let it be true for every citizen, no matter how it impacts you.

Not all Americans are hypocrites, but most hypocrites seem to be American.

That is how I feel.  Don't even get me started on my thoughts on the First Amendment.

Shapeshifter Tarot

After years of wanting this tarot deck, I finally gave in and splurged.  Despite my horrible experience with Barnes and Noble (Amazon is my new best friend) I received the box in my cold little hands this evening.

I am a complete newbie to tarot cards.  I understand the concept of them for divination and became excited by seeing photos of them online.  Also, I have a love for Celtic things and the thought of shapeshifting has always been something that interest me.

There are 81 cards in the deck which Sirona Knight, one of the creators, says relates to the 81 knights of the Nine Rings of the Cordemanons of the Gwydonnic Druid Tradition.  The major arcana have each been renamed.  For example, The Hierophant is instead the Knowledge card.  From the photo above you can see the Initiation card, which in traditional tarot decks is known as The Fool.  The minor arcana do not follow the standard cups, wands, pentacles and swords but instead focus on the elements: Earth, Air, Water and Fire.

The images of the cards are stunning.  I found myself spending a long time just looking at the images on the card.  To my surprise I found that some of the items within the image relate to specific aspects that the card represents which enhances the opportunity for memorization and further study.  I have found the first few readings to be accurate in relation to my current situation.

The last point I felt I should make is the association with Celtic deities.  Taliesin, Arianrhod, Lugh, Brigid, Cerridwen, Danu and even Cernunnos have a voice in this deck.  Those that follow a Celtic tradition or pantheon will be able to form a deeper connection to the mysteries of these deities and may find the Gods and Goddesses speaking to them through readings.  Because of this I believe the learning process will bring even more fruits than I originally thought.

As a bonus, the group that I met with for the Solstice celebration will be hosting a discussion on tarot this weekend.  Attendees are encouraged to bring their cards with them to explore the meaning, and I am excited to delve in and make friends while in the process enhancing my spirituality.  I will be sure to let you all know what happens!

Scott Cunningham on YouTube!

I have no idea what I did before YouTube.  Actually, I watched MTV or CMT for hours just to hear my favorite songs.  Oh, the good 'ole days!

Anyway, back to the point.  The late Scott Cunningham has finally made his way to YouTube in the form of his Llewellyn video, "Herb Magic."  The quality isn't the best (it came from VHS...remember those) but it provides a connection to one of my favorite authors. 

Enjoy!

The Charge of the Goddess: A Wiccan Ethic?

I pointed my browser over to Witches & Pagans magazine to see what was happening since they made the transition from New Witch magazine.  I found a very interesting article that I thought deserved attention.
It is titled "The Charge of the Goddess: A Wiccan Ethic" and is written by Diane Morrison.

For most people Wicca seems to be a religion that has a limited number of rules and ethical laws to follow.  The author focuses on The Charge of the Goddess to highlight certain components within the text that seem to convey additional ethical considerations.  Every neophyte can recite "an it harm none, do as ye will" as easily as they take a breath and a big part of the reason is that almost every book on Wicca and/or witchcraft contain the rede as a starting point. 

The author continues her approach by comparing the "old school" Wicca with the Doreen Valiente version of the text against the Starhawk version which was adapted from Valiente's text.  Through this analysis we can see the shift of awareness on certain subjects, including the idea of magical training.  The article is comprised to make the reader think about the progression of modern Paganism (since the Charge of the Goddess is used by those that identify and do not identify as Wiccan) and the ethical component that is inherent in Spirituality and religious practice.

Read the article and post your thoughts below.

Your children want to do what?

Today I have a question for all of our adult Pagans.  What would you do/say if your child (let's assume around age 12) wanted to attend a Christian church with a friend?