Greetings everyone.
Sorry for my delay in delving into our up and coming Rune series. I am looking at ways to bring a fresh perspective to these symbols. Do not fret, for I a close!
In the mean time I have been busy preparing for Imbolc and purchasing storage solutions for my growing herbal supply. Photos and possibly a YouTube video to come!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Great Broom Closet Resource
Many of you have probably heard of ABroomandTheMoon on YouTube. She has recording some amazingly informative videos and doesn't shy away from discussing her personal life, which I admire. I pointed my browser to her website and found that she recently posted about the Broom Closet (click to visit).
I advise all of you to check out her website and YouTube channel to get to know who she is. She also gives tarot readings to those that are interested. She will inspire your practice for sure.
I advise all of you to check out her website and YouTube channel to get to know who she is. She also gives tarot readings to those that are interested. She will inspire your practice for sure.
Witchvox Turns 15
Happy Birthday to Witchvox, the leading online resource for Wiccans, Pagans, Heathens, and however else you may choose to describe yourself. The website has turned fifteen years old today.
Witchvox was one of the first online resources that offered engaging articles and helped to establish connections when not too many people could be public with their faith. It was also one of the first social networking websites giving people the opportunity to connect with other practitioners in their area, or find stores that offered valuable tools to their faith. Our Community would not be where it is today without Fritz and Wren. Please consider donating $15 or anything you are able in celebration of their anniversary.
Witchvox was one of the first online resources that offered engaging articles and helped to establish connections when not too many people could be public with their faith. It was also one of the first social networking websites giving people the opportunity to connect with other practitioners in their area, or find stores that offered valuable tools to their faith. Our Community would not be where it is today without Fritz and Wren. Please consider donating $15 or anything you are able in celebration of their anniversary.
I am in no way affiliated with Witchvox or the website's creators.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Preparing to be Outed, EEK!
Somehow your friends and family have discovered you are now on the Pagan path. Maybe your mom searched through your dresser for marijuana and instead found marjoram, lavender, dragon's blood resin and a book on herbalism with a pentacle smack dab on the cover. Take a moment to scream.
Take a deep breath. Now you are faced with two different paths. Honesty or damage control. Not being honest may harm your relationship, but if you aren't ready to discuss something with another person they should not have the right to force you into it. Simply stating that you aren't ready to talk about it but that you will be soon may suffice, but don't be surprised if your conservative Christian parents have the priest over for dinner every week or your roommates stop talking when you walk into the room. Part of dealing with outing is how you handle yourself and believe it, it speaks volumes.
I was outed as Gay and I had two choices. Deny it even though everyone already knew and was accepting, or tell the truth and work on improving myself. I know practicing Wicca and being Gay aren't the same thing, but there are some correlations. The important thing to note is that you are who you are whether people know it or not. Start making a plan today on how you would deal with this should it happen to you.
1. Resources. You may not want to keep a lot of books around that people can find, but a list of online resources that you have emailed to yourself and saved in an email folder can become a great way to educate others when they shake their crosses at you and expect you to fly.
2. A lot of advancement in Paganism becoming more mainstream has led to a lot more people already knowing some things about it. Usually it may not be true or is muddled with misconceptions. Be willing to sit for a while and talk about truth rather than myth.
3. If you know of a local public Pagan group or Pagan Pride Day invite your curious friends to attend meetings or discussion groups with you. You don't want to try to force this way of life on them, but letting them have the option to learn about this path from people that actually practice it is invaluable.
4. Be patient. Sometimes the people that are willing to confront you about things are the ones that would have the most difficulty with it. Sometimes they will surprise you with their understanding.
5. Be yourself and if you can't be yourself, be who you want to be. I'm not saying to pretend that you are Cinderella because you want to be a princess! I mean to be the understanding and caring person you want to be even if you aren't normally. This is a time when people are going to judge you and how you react to being confronted. If you are defensive and combative it leads to the idea that you are hiding dangerous practices and could be in a cult.
6. Let you friends and family care for you, but do not be afraid to keep them from walking all over you. Ask them how they would feel if you told them that they had to be Catholic, Jewish, or Muslim. Do not let others dictate your life, ever.
7. Have faith. All things eventually work out, even after long periods of discomfort and sadness. Happiness is just around the corner if you are willing to let it in.
This concludes the series on the Broom Closet. Please comment to let me know what you thought of the series and if you have any of your own tips for those in the verge of revealing their spirituality to others.
Take a deep breath. Now you are faced with two different paths. Honesty or damage control. Not being honest may harm your relationship, but if you aren't ready to discuss something with another person they should not have the right to force you into it. Simply stating that you aren't ready to talk about it but that you will be soon may suffice, but don't be surprised if your conservative Christian parents have the priest over for dinner every week or your roommates stop talking when you walk into the room. Part of dealing with outing is how you handle yourself and believe it, it speaks volumes.
I was outed as Gay and I had two choices. Deny it even though everyone already knew and was accepting, or tell the truth and work on improving myself. I know practicing Wicca and being Gay aren't the same thing, but there are some correlations. The important thing to note is that you are who you are whether people know it or not. Start making a plan today on how you would deal with this should it happen to you.
1. Resources. You may not want to keep a lot of books around that people can find, but a list of online resources that you have emailed to yourself and saved in an email folder can become a great way to educate others when they shake their crosses at you and expect you to fly.
2. A lot of advancement in Paganism becoming more mainstream has led to a lot more people already knowing some things about it. Usually it may not be true or is muddled with misconceptions. Be willing to sit for a while and talk about truth rather than myth.
3. If you know of a local public Pagan group or Pagan Pride Day invite your curious friends to attend meetings or discussion groups with you. You don't want to try to force this way of life on them, but letting them have the option to learn about this path from people that actually practice it is invaluable.
4. Be patient. Sometimes the people that are willing to confront you about things are the ones that would have the most difficulty with it. Sometimes they will surprise you with their understanding.
5. Be yourself and if you can't be yourself, be who you want to be. I'm not saying to pretend that you are Cinderella because you want to be a princess! I mean to be the understanding and caring person you want to be even if you aren't normally. This is a time when people are going to judge you and how you react to being confronted. If you are defensive and combative it leads to the idea that you are hiding dangerous practices and could be in a cult.
6. Let you friends and family care for you, but do not be afraid to keep them from walking all over you. Ask them how they would feel if you told them that they had to be Catholic, Jewish, or Muslim. Do not let others dictate your life, ever.
7. Have faith. All things eventually work out, even after long periods of discomfort and sadness. Happiness is just around the corner if you are willing to let it in.
This concludes the series on the Broom Closet. Please comment to let me know what you thought of the series and if you have any of your own tips for those in the verge of revealing their spirituality to others.
Moving Into the Light
With all this talk about secrecy and surviving the Broom Closet we haven't really touched on how to know if you are ready to leave. Some people think about leaving it for some time before actually beginning to tell family and friends while others suddenly come to a realization and announce it to the world without looking back. Both can be valid ways of getting both feet out of the door, but preparation can certainly make this process a little bit easier. It can also help you formulate elegant answers for those moments when you are confronted with questions.
It can be helpful to first think about why you are wanting to come out to your friends and family. Do you want to live a more honest life? Do you feel that you can't be fully connected with deity until you can give them a name and speak about them in public? Start by thinking about your reasons because this thought process will help you recognize your fears and build a support plan for yourself should important people you care about stop speaking to you and, even worse, spread the news to people that you don't want to tell. It can also be helpful to make a list of those you want to tell and the reasons why you may or may not tell them.
In general terms people tend to tell their closest friends first, moving outward to others like a spiral where you start with the people you tell everything to. You do not need to apologize for not telling them sooner and if they are angry with you try to explain that you have been learning about this path and wanted to keep it private until you felt it was right for you. This stage is where you should already have an idea of basic Wicca and Paganism so that you can explain it to others when you get their questions. The important thing is to tell the truth and be as open as you are comfortable being.
This is the hardest stage of coming out of the broom closet, there is no way around it. The people that thought they knew everything about you may be surprised and feel confused. Others may think it makes complete sense knowing your beliefs about other things, such as social justice, and not think much of it. A lot of your experience is going to depend on how content you are with your choice of a faith, your willingness to explain your beliefs, and your courage to to not accept anything less than acceptance from your friends and family.
The sad reality is that you may lose touch with people because this change for you is too out there for them to accept. People come into our lives and I truly believe that everyone offers us something to learn. When we have learned what we can from them there is no shame in moving on, especially if they refuse to let you be the person you want to be. This can be more difficult of course if you are a minor or living with your parents and friends past the age of eighteen. Do you have a safe place to stay for a few weeks if you are asked to leave your residence? It is a horrible idea, but you may find that you are more able to be yourself.
Here are a list of questions that you can start formulating answers to if think you are ready to share your path with others:
Wicca isn't a valid religion though, right?
Why would you believe in a Goddess instead of the true God?
What about the afterlife and Hell?
Are you seeking attention?
What exactly do you believe?
Do you celebrate Christmas?
Why would you celebrate holidays from another religion?
What does your religion say about gay rights?
It can be helpful to first think about why you are wanting to come out to your friends and family. Do you want to live a more honest life? Do you feel that you can't be fully connected with deity until you can give them a name and speak about them in public? Start by thinking about your reasons because this thought process will help you recognize your fears and build a support plan for yourself should important people you care about stop speaking to you and, even worse, spread the news to people that you don't want to tell. It can also be helpful to make a list of those you want to tell and the reasons why you may or may not tell them.
In general terms people tend to tell their closest friends first, moving outward to others like a spiral where you start with the people you tell everything to. You do not need to apologize for not telling them sooner and if they are angry with you try to explain that you have been learning about this path and wanted to keep it private until you felt it was right for you. This stage is where you should already have an idea of basic Wicca and Paganism so that you can explain it to others when you get their questions. The important thing is to tell the truth and be as open as you are comfortable being.
This is the hardest stage of coming out of the broom closet, there is no way around it. The people that thought they knew everything about you may be surprised and feel confused. Others may think it makes complete sense knowing your beliefs about other things, such as social justice, and not think much of it. A lot of your experience is going to depend on how content you are with your choice of a faith, your willingness to explain your beliefs, and your courage to to not accept anything less than acceptance from your friends and family.
The sad reality is that you may lose touch with people because this change for you is too out there for them to accept. People come into our lives and I truly believe that everyone offers us something to learn. When we have learned what we can from them there is no shame in moving on, especially if they refuse to let you be the person you want to be. This can be more difficult of course if you are a minor or living with your parents and friends past the age of eighteen. Do you have a safe place to stay for a few weeks if you are asked to leave your residence? It is a horrible idea, but you may find that you are more able to be yourself.
Here are a list of questions that you can start formulating answers to if think you are ready to share your path with others:
Wicca isn't a valid religion though, right?
Why would you believe in a Goddess instead of the true God?
What about the afterlife and Hell?
Are you seeking attention?
What exactly do you believe?
Do you celebrate Christmas?
Why would you celebrate holidays from another religion?
What does your religion say about gay rights?
Results from Shopping at a Heath Food Store
Who needs a break anyway?
I was so excited about my shopping trip to a couple of my local health food stores that I had to post photos of my purchased items.
I have been wanting to get into herbology and make my own incenses, etc. seriously for a few months now. I had been using herbs purchased online through eBay and a wooden bowl with a large rock to help crush and blend my mixtures. Little did I know that all I needed to do was pay a visit to my health food stores for herbs. I thought I was going to have to buy from larger companies like Mountain Rose Herbs, but no way Jose!
My first items came in nice little packages and were incredibly affordable. I could have filled up a shopping basket and taken home half of the aisle for the same cost as getting them through mail order with added shipping and handling costs. I dodged a bullet for sure!
We begin with Juniper Berries.
I bought a little German Chamomile.
I found some beautiful and aromatic Red Rose Buds.
I also grabbed some Marjoram, which has become one of my favorites.
That was it for my local Natural Grocers. I then made the trip to a local company that has been around for for eons. There I found some beautiful Lavender. I didn't go to Clovers just for the Lavender but considered it a bonus since I wasn't able to find a mortar and pestle.
Yay! I was so happy I was probably obvious to the other cars on the road, but I made it safely to the only other Clovers location in town. There my eyes found the coveted M&P and I knew my trip had been a success.
Even though I had to do a little bit of driving, I was surprised at the affordability of my local offerings which didn't even seem like a possibility before I went exploring. Now I need to check out the Asian markets to see what kind of surprises they have in store. At least they carry one of the most coveted divination tools of all time: the fortune cookie.
PS: Sorry for the large photos. My digital camera is down and I've been relying on my iPod for pictures. I will be saving up to get better photo equipment in the near future!
I was so excited about my shopping trip to a couple of my local health food stores that I had to post photos of my purchased items.
I have been wanting to get into herbology and make my own incenses, etc. seriously for a few months now. I had been using herbs purchased online through eBay and a wooden bowl with a large rock to help crush and blend my mixtures. Little did I know that all I needed to do was pay a visit to my health food stores for herbs. I thought I was going to have to buy from larger companies like Mountain Rose Herbs, but no way Jose!
My first items came in nice little packages and were incredibly affordable. I could have filled up a shopping basket and taken home half of the aisle for the same cost as getting them through mail order with added shipping and handling costs. I dodged a bullet for sure!
That was it for my local Natural Grocers. I then made the trip to a local company that has been around for for eons. There I found some beautiful Lavender. I didn't go to Clovers just for the Lavender but considered it a bonus since I wasn't able to find a mortar and pestle.
Yay! I was so happy I was probably obvious to the other cars on the road, but I made it safely to the only other Clovers location in town. There my eyes found the coveted M&P and I knew my trip had been a success.
Even though I had to do a little bit of driving, I was surprised at the affordability of my local offerings which didn't even seem like a possibility before I went exploring. Now I need to check out the Asian markets to see what kind of surprises they have in store. At least they carry one of the most coveted divination tools of all time: the fortune cookie.
PS: Sorry for the large photos. My digital camera is down and I've been relying on my iPod for pictures. I will be saving up to get better photo equipment in the near future!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Taking the Night Off
Yo peeps. No, I mean you, not marshmallow chicks!
I am taking the night off. Check back tomorrow for the next installment of the Broom Closet series. We all need a break and I am going to spend it with my family and free Papa John's pizza. Shameless plug, I know. They aren't paying me for it and I do quite enjoy their pizza.
I am taking the night off. Check back tomorrow for the next installment of the Broom Closet series. We all need a break and I am going to spend it with my family and free Papa John's pizza. Shameless plug, I know. They aren't paying me for it and I do quite enjoy their pizza.
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