Pagan Women Veiling - An Odd Occurrence or a New Tradition?

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I recently stumbled upon a March, 2012 article at the Patheos blog written by the amazing Star Foster. As some of you may know, Star stepped down in her role as editor at the end of 2012, but her incredible articles are still there for us to browse and be in amazement of. This particular article brought to my attention something unexpected. I'm not entirely sure why I wasn't aware of this growing fad sooner. I can only claim ignorance and a web browser with a mind of it's own (Sterek fanfics at AO3, anyone?).

I encourage you to click on the photo to the left to read Star's article in full. I was captivated by the topic all the way from the headline to the last punctuation mark, length be damned. The general message of the article was that there had been a rise in Pagan women veiling as a way to pay honor to their chosen Goddess. If you stop to think about it for a moment, the covering of ones head is hardly a new idea. Most prominent in Islam and Judaism, the act is common among both women and men and is seen as a way to honor the deity of their religious tradition. I've seen Muslim women wearing the hijab and have seen Jewish men wearing the kippah. It was never something that interested me, and yet, while reading this article, I found myself in awe of the many men and women that chose to honor their chosen deities in this manner. Granted, the article itself was mainly about Pagan women and not men, but I was able to appreciate the gesture from both sexes and throughout all faiths.

I may be in the minority here, especially as a man, but I find the principle behind the hijab, along with the woman's choice to wear it, an incredibly powerful statement. I believe the emphasis lies in the fact that the woman be allowed the choice to wear these garments and that they must never be forced upon someone. I have struggled at times in how I can best honor Danu and Lugh and while I do not feel either of them asking me to cover my head, I began to wonder if deity did call me to do so, would I? The answer to that is that I simply do not know.

Modern society seems to associate a stigma with the wearing of these garments. The unfortunate consensus seems to be that if men choose to wear a kippah they are being respectful and honoring God, while at the same time if a woman chooses to cover her head then she is somehow being subjugated. I cannot argue that it is a fact of life for some of the women of the world, but it is also just as likely that the women wearing these garments are doing so out of choice. To prove my point, one simply has to look to the Queen Rania of Jordan, who chooses not to wear the veil.

"I have nothing against the veil. And I think that, wrongly, many in the West look at the veil as a symbol of oppression. Now, as long as a woman chooses to wear the veil, because that's her belief and because of her own - that's a personal relationship with God, so she should be free to dress in whichever way she wants."  

I could not agree with her more. I think those of us in the western world need to shift in our minds the perception that any person who wears a veil does so only because someone else is forcing them to. By removing that misconception we can more clearly see the act of faith behind the wearing of these garments. The desire to please deity permeates almost every known religion and there is nothing wrong with a person's desire to become closer to said deity through modesty. It is an act that I am both respectful of and in awe of. 

It is not something I choose to do for myself. And that's perfectly alright. When it comes down to it, Paganism expects us to make our own connections and relationships with deity, in whichever forms we choose to do so. What may be acceptable for one person may not be the same for another. That difference is what makes our community stronger.

Now that you know my position, what are your thoughts? Leave me a comment and let me know.

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Both of these products make wonderful resources for anyone looking to utilize their crystals in new ways. A total beginner can use these products and be able to utilize the techniques with ease.

It's Official (quizfarm.com said so...)

After a moment of curiosity struck me, I decided to explore the World Wide Web for answers. I have previously used Beliefnet's Belief O Matic but this time I wanted a quiz just for fun. Here's my result:

You Scored as Celtic Pantheonic Pagan Your answers leaned very close to that of the Celtic Pantheon.  Very popular now among pagans, the Celtic Gods seem to  draw those who are sensitive and insightful, but also very  passionate about their beliefs. Many Pagan Holidays are  named for this pantheon and here is where you'll find  many stories on Horned God, Green Man, and Druids.  You likely either have been or want to visit Stonehenge  one day. Many Arthurian legnds include references to the  Celtic faith, as well. Celtic Pantheonic Pagan 95% Shamanic Pagan 55% Eastern Pagan 35% Zoroastrian Pagan 35% Roman Pantheonic Pagan 20% Ecclectic Pagan 15%

Were you surprised by the answer? If you're curious about your own result go here. Make sure to post your results in the comments!

Black Tourmaline Idea

If you read my previous post, I shared with you what I like to do to get my space cleaned up energetically. Once of the crystals I like to use for this is black tourmaline. This crystal packs a huge energetic punch and, as I've found, pairing it with selenite and clear quartz will boost its effectiveness and help it transmute the globby, feeling down causing energies into something more positive. I know it's a cliche, but it really does feel like a difference between night and day.

I feel that I should quickly point out that while you could make this into a traditional crystal grid! for this purpose it isn't necessary to go through the motions. The energies of these three crystals are powerful enough on their own and linking them together in that way, though beneficial, isn't always necessary. Sometimes I feel like the crystal grid phenomenon has exploded so much that people don't think it's possible to use their energies together with the same benefit without grinding them. I'm here to confirm that isn't true!

Before I share my way, I want to briefly talk about the sizes do crystals. Even the smaller ones are going to be useful, but for this I try to find larger pieces, at least the size of Palm stones. It is easy enough to find selenite, black tourmaline, and clear quartz in those sizes, but yes, they can get expensive. If you can't get the larger pieces at first, know that it will still do what you need it to. If you're using small tumbled pieces then you may prefer to do a grid ceremony and that is fine if that is what you want to do.

Once you've done some physical cleaning, find the center of your room or home, or even property. Set up the crystals and take a moment to put your hands on each of them and tell it what your purpose is. Since you're not asking them to do something against their nature, such as change color whenever someone with bad energy is entering the room, they'll be receptive and willing to work with you. Just the proximity of these three crystals being near each other will amplify their power and what their purpose is. After they're set up I like to take a moment to meditate, picturing the energy of the crystals pouring out into each nook and cranny of the room, then the house, and then my property. It's okay of you just want to keep this contained to your own bedroom, or your side of the duplex.

I picture the energies tangling together and making each other stronger. I end it by saying something along the lines of "the energies of these crystals cleans and purify my space, working together and alone, to create my purified sanctuary." Then you're done! You may not notice any changes immediately, but over time you'll be able to perceive the difference.

You can also experiment with other crystals, such as smoky quartz in place of black tourmaline, and rose quartz in place of the selenite. For me, the clear quartz is the amplifier, but if you have a nice piece of citrine you'd rather use, feel free!

Space Cleansing with Crystal Energy

Hello everyone.

I've been feeling a little blue as of late, so I decided it was time to get my spaces in order, both physically and energetically. After tossing all of my bedding into the washer with a little bit of lavender scented fabric softener, I decided to tackle the hard stuff. Vacuuming, dusting, washing the walls; you name it, I've done it. The place smelled so great but something was still missing.

That's when I knew that the energetic level was off too. The physical cleaning isn't exactly fun for me, but the energy cleaning is like I'm giving myself permission to have fun and go crazy!

I started by burning some sage (I've also used a purifying incense in place of sage in the past, but sometimes a place just needs some white sage to clear out all the energetic gunk). I've been making my own version of Hibiscus Moon's Negativity Neutralizer spray, using a couple of substitutions in place of what she uses in her own recipe, which I got from her Sparkly Space Clearing ekit. I especially like to use this on fabric (like the curtains) because it leaves a fresh scent and takes care of anything trying to latch onto the fibers. Who needs Fabreeze when ya have this stuff?!

Once the place is saged up, I open a window for a few hours to get some fresh air moving around my space. Then I break out the crystals, especially the black tourmaline, selenite, and clear quartz. You can also use amethyst, rose quartz, citrine, carnelian, etc. There are endless crystal combinations you can try. Once the crystals are out I mediate in the room! breathing in the fresh air, and say something to the effect of "my crystal's energies are amplified to give this space positive vibes and to create a sanctuary for me." It's as simple as that!

For more ideas, purchase Hibiscus Moon's ekit. It includes a video tutorial on how to make her Negativity Neutralizer spray which you'll find invaluable. I've even been thinking of turning this into a lotion I could put on my hands before ritual work. Until next time, peeps!

YouTube Recommendation - Sprit Science Crystal Series

If you have an interest in crystals, I suggest checking out the Spirit Science channel on YouTube. They have posted a series of four videos on crystals covering everything from what they are to how to use them. I wanted to share it with all of you because they have great animation and information for even the newest beginner when it comes to working with crystals.. Below is the first video.
Enjoy it!

6) Carnelian

I've read a lot of sources suggesting that the best way to cleanse this stone is by placing it in the sun. While short trips into direct sunlight now and again probably won't do much damage, excessive exposure to sunlight can drain it of its reddish hue. If you're as big on crystals having associations in relation to their color as I am, you may wish to use a different cleansing method. Even holding it under cool tap water will do the job!

Carnelian is great for working with the Sacral Chakra. It boosts personal power and physical energy. Using it in conjunction with clear quartz will amplify that energy, especially when used in crystal grids with "like-minded" crystals. It is also a stone of creative energy and I have used it to work my way through writer's block with great benefit. Some sources say that it can also help protect homes from fire, theft, or destruction from storms.

This one is a great addition to a neophyte's collection because of it's multiple uses, strong energy field, and its ability to pair well with other crystals. It is also inexpensive and can be found in a variety of shapes and sizes.