http://www.witchvox.com RSS Feed - WitchVox - Past 14 days http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=ustn&c=words&id=12581 May 10th. 2008 The NeoPagan religions are often identified as being focused on practice more than theory, on ritual more than belief, on an inclusive eclecticism more than an authoritarian dogma. This does not mean that we are or should be without a reasoned theology that addresses our belief, or lack of belief, in deity. In fact, there are certain shared beliefs and characteristics common to NeoPagan religions in general, even if NeoPagans are reluctant to require adherence to all of them.Deity Is ... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usnj&c=words&id=12573 May 6th. 2008 I am a fairly ordinary woman. I’m in my early thirties; I have a Master’s Degree in Counseling Services; I work with families in crisis. I’ve got two kids, a husband, and family nearby; I love the arts, shopping, beadwork, travel, and photography. I’m addicted to the Grey’s Anatomy and Heroes. I drive a black Honda that has seen better days. I wish gas prices would go down. I’m in desperate need of a haircut.Oh, and did I mention, I’m a witch? No, really.I was born into a ... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usga&c=words&id=12550 April 28th. 2008 "There are many paths to the mountain, none of which are wrong, simply different" What do these words mean to you? Is this something you can understand? Lets us all take a few moments and really think about what this means. These are the words I live by and for those who have been with me since the inception of Pagans United, a statement that has been heard from me on many occasions. This morning I had the distinct pleasure, and yes I say pleasure, of hearing Rev. Jeremiah Wright ... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usny&c=words&id=12563 May 3rd. 2008 (Note: This is an actual email to my family, 2 young men and their father.) Dear Family of XY’s…Mother's Day Manifesto, 2008Well first off, the EARTH is our Mother and when you litter and disrespect her, you hurt me. So don't even consider wishing me a Happy Mother’s day if you dishonor her. Litter = anything that belongs in the trash, and this includes cigarette butts. Okay? Also, polluting my air with smoke and/or failing to recycle a ... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=uswa&c=words&id=12392 February 13th. 2008 Blending the ideas of theater and ritual may at first sound sacrilegious. However, there is plenty of historical basis for such a blending. The Greeks used theater performances to promote their new patriarchal religion. The medieval church in Europe enacted plays on cathedral steps to teach Christian myths. The Mayas choreographed elaborate performances in front of their temples to portray celestial mysteries. Even today, most Catholics readily acknowledge the power of smells, bells and stained ... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usva&c=words&id=12376 February 9th. 2008 Handfastings are pagan wedding ceremonies, in which typically the couple's hands are tied together to symbolize the joining of two people, or specifically, "tying the knot". A handfasting can be a trial, lifetime, or eternal (spiritual) marriage. Depending on the intent of the couple and the national, state, or province laws, a handfasting can be a legal marriage as well. Regardless of the legal or time extent of the union, marriages typically have one requirement. Both parties must will ... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usmi&c=words&id=12577 May 7th. 2008 That’s me, Draconis Wierinsan Kinthasil in a nutshell. I love nature, animals, and believe that without preserving the Earth we as humankind will doom ourselves to extinction. I also study hard, slack off on occasion, fight with my mom about the length of my hair, play computer games, and read books on every subject known to man. I care about my family and a girl who may never acknowledge me as anything more then a friend. I hate math, loathe sports, and love to cook, bake, read books, w ... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=uspa&c=trads&id=12385 February 11th. 2008 The German Braucherei of PennsylvaniaAs a boy still in short pants, I had the privilege of experiencing some of the “finer things” in life with my Oma and Opa (grandparents). Like outhouses. Running through twelve inches of snow and putting your cheeks on that cold board was a real “eye opener”. Another thing was those porcelain beauties known as “chamber pots” in the upstairs bedrooms. The “pots” saved you the inconvenience of running to the outhouse in the dead of night. You em ... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=cask&c=festivals&id=12382 February 11th. 2008 I have often been asked over the years, how the festival came to be what it is now.It started as a daydream spoken aloud, one crisp October afternoon in 2002. I was holding in my hand a fiery red leaf that had just landed on my shoulder. Gazing up at the splendor of autumn colors in the trees I spoke the words that started it all “Saskatchewan needs a larger scale Pagan friendly festival. I have done smaller, one evening pot-luck events, I could do it.” I can recall my husband gi ... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usnj&c=festivals&id=12580 May 10th. 2008 Finally! Somebody put together another state wide Beltane in New Jersey. After two years of waiting and planning, collecting flashlight batteries, spaghetti’os and camping gear, Beltane was here at last.Once again I found myself tooling through the Wharton State Forest on my way to the event but this time a special surprise: the Beltane Festival was being held in my own childhood forest. Yep, the one I learned in practiced in and (Can we say this on national TV? … ) still do. A real drea ... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usor&c=passages&id=12559 May 1st. 2008 Cora Ann Anderson, 93, crossed over early in the morning of Thursday, May 1, 2008.Cora and her late husband, Victor (who crossed over in 2001), were well-known as the Grand Masters and seminal teachers of the Faery (Feri) Tradition of Witchcraft. Cora helped train some of the most influential voices in neo-Paganism, including the late Gwydion Pendderwen. Her straightforward approach to the Craft earned h ... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=uswi&c=words&id=12557 May 1st. 2008 Pagan Politics: A Primer for Successfully Contacting and Engaging Your Elected Officials People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote - a very different thing. ~Walter H. Judd, MD and Congressman It is every American’s right to make their opinion known to their elected officials. Unfortunately, it is the manner in which this conta ... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=caon&c=words&id=12555 April 30th. 2008 I decided to write to the Pagan populous because we are living on the edge of dark times. All Pagans have felt the effect of this growing decline in our standard of living, a result of the higher prices in food such as whole grains or fresh produce. It all stems from the dependence oil that has now passed its peak in production. Our societies have been oil hungry for as many decades as most of us have been alive, if not longer. If you read the news or even just look online these days the ... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=uswa&c=words&id=12391 February 13th. 2008 We use many tools to work our magic. We have our sacred tools, of course, like athames and wands, chalices and charms, spells and symbols, and the like. We also have herbs and stones and special oils. We cast circles and call in the elements and the directions. These and other tools we use to move our consciousness to that place between the worlds where we can exert our wills to bring about our intention. There is another powerful tool that we rarely talk about, but which we can use to great eff ... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usin&c=words&id=12358 January 31st. 2008 I would imagine that many and probably most Pagans have personal altars at home and we lavish attention upon them, even posting photos of them proudly on the Internet. But I would argue that the use to which we put our personal altars far outweighs in importance the way in which we decorate them. Why aren’t there more books out there about sacrifice and offerings and fewer about how to properly decorate our altars for the season? That is not to denigrate the importance of properly decora ... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=uspa&c=words&id=12339 January 23rd. 2008 I've been doing a little research lately on the subject of why Covens often fall apart so fast. The answers I've been collecting come from talking with other Pagans, scanning a few Pagan-themed message boards, revisiting the pages of some of my books, reading articles written by respectable authors, and recalling some first-hand accounts from my own past.In this age of technical wonders, even an impoverished American three year old toddler has access to more computing power than the firs ... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usor&c=words&id=12380 February 10th. 2008 Though every group, regardless of character or purpose, will necessarily have a power dynamic eminent in the relationships between its members, the nature of the relationships inherent and nearly unique to the coven provides an unfortunately fertile environment in which the Power-over dynamic may readily come to expression. This is especially true of teaching covens because the majority of the membership will consist of Witches who have come to the group as seekers, looking to the more experienc ... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=uspa&c=words&id=11967 August 7th. 2007 When first dipped a tentative toe into the waters of Paganism, I secretly felt I’d never sustain the interest. The pragmatic and logical person that I am knew that a “real” faith didn’t combine spirituality and magic. Never did I imagine that the exploring and experience would generate a call to develop a new Pagan tradition. Like many of you, I’ve undergone the sometimes exhilarating, occasionally painful, yet remarkably fulfilling task of leaving my childhood faith behind to explore an ... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usmo&c=words&id=12560 May 1st. 2008 Yesterday, I had to tell my son to limit his after school snack. Today, I had to tell my husband we wouldn’t be having lunch anymore at work. Tomorrow, I will partake in my community's Beltane weekend, where I can assure you there will be less food at the communal potluck. There will be more carpooling, or just a lack of attendance, due to the price of gas. This weekend I will see Pagans, who a year or two ago, would not have had to save money just to go to a free Beltane celebration. Well, as f ... http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usak&c=teen&id=12335 January 22nd. 2008 People who are proud of their religion want to put it out there in to the world. They want to make the world know that their religion is incredible. But when you’re Wiccan, no matter how much you want to put it out in to the world, you have to consider the consequences of doing so. I learned this the hard way.When I first discovered Wicca, I was ecstatic about it. I was so happy about it that I could barely contain myself. I knew this was my path. I felt it from the moment I tried the ru ...