The latest in NeoPagan News http://www.witchvox.com http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usks&c=words&id=13513 http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usks&c=words&id=13513 One of the best things about being in a coven is the sense of family among the members. In fact, it’s not uncommon to feel even closer to your coven family than you do your family of origin. Unfortunately, as with some families, there can be dissent and discord; some covens may be downright dysfunctional, others may “divorce”, e.g. break up with all the rancor and bitterness of a long-feuding married couple that has finally decided to untie the knot.Spirituality and the expression of rel http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=ustx&c=words&id=13420 http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=ustx&c=words&id=13420 MONDAY:Morning: Homeschool my children.Afternoon: Maintaining website, responding to e-mail inquiries and voicemails. Most of my inquiries are the normal stuff. “I need a teacher, ” and “Please help!” Luckily I have a few form replies I use. “Thank you so much for contacting me. I'd love to chat with you some more and answer any questions that you have. First off, what all books have you read about Wicca? How long have you been practicing or interested in Wicca? How old are you? What http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usil&c=words&id=13630 http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usil&c=words&id=13630 ‘The cloaked figure sits down at an aged table alight with dancing candle flames. Using a small knife, the figure cuts a cord into equal lengths, and then braids it up while muttering arcane words. The figure then opens the top of a black cauldron, with perfumed smoke smelling of jasmine and juniper, and tosses the braided cord into it. The cord catches fire, burns quickly, and the ashes float away on the smoke. The figure closes the lid on the cauldron. It is done.’I think most of us ha http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=ustn&c=words&id=13506 http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=ustn&c=words&id=13506 When I was training to be a Priestess around the age of 20, I got involved in online role-playing games. There were several of us in our training group in college together, and all of us found escape and enjoyment in the early MUSH games online (MUSH stands for Multi-User Shared Hallucination) .These MUSH games were primarily storytelling-based, in which each person/player creates a character and describes them for the other players. You and quot;see and quot; these other characters by typing in a comman http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=uswa&c=holidays&id=13647 http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=uswa&c=holidays&id=13647 What is the best thing about Death? That’s a very unusual question and not one I had ever heard before. It came as quite a shock. We were sitting around in the living room planning our Samhain ritual – by “we” I mean the women who make up our Dianic Wiccan circle. We gather two weeks before each Sabbat to plan our rituals. All of our women are welcome and encouraged to participate in ritual planning – newcomers as well as veterans – to underscore the fact that we create magic entirely from ourse http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=ustn&c=words&id=13646 http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=ustn&c=words&id=13646 I had looked around a few days ago, not long after Samhain and noticed the overall beauty of the changing colors of the trees, the shifting patterns of colors that at times are a riot of conflicting colors. Reds in so many differing hues and tones, golds that would easily rival a king’s coffers; yellows that can captivate and expand your imagination beyond what we would believe that could be possible, then the whole wisdom of the death of the God and the Goddess in mourning was imprinted upon me http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usmo&c=words&id=13070 http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usmo&c=words&id=13070 I’ve always had a strange understanding of death, as if I was drawn to the truth of it. It leads us to a path of uncommon real emotions, dancing in the darkness of our own heart and soul. But beneath that darkness, under the pain of not fully understanding is a beauty. A beauty beyond human believes, our emotions block the beauty of that moment; the moment the spirit leaves the weight of the human body. I’ve always believed that magick and science tend to walk hand in hand and we are all http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usca&c=holidays&id=13625 http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usca&c=holidays&id=13625 There are many cultures and religions that observe rights for the dead at this time. The Meaning of a holiday like Samhain or Dia De Los Muertos is, most simply put, a time to honor those who have come before us. At this time it is thought that the veil between the unseen world and the tangible world is at it's thinnest. Thus, it is the best time to commune with the dead. Many take this opportunity to give respect and honor to relatives and friends who have passed. Many also use this tim http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usne&c=words&id=13466 http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usne&c=words&id=13466 About this time in 1983, I experienced one of the most profound spiritual moments in my life. In hindsight, it is easy for me to see that my Goddess was holding me firmly in her arms through all the tumult; through I did not know it at the time. I thought of this because it was raining outside a short time ago, and I felt called to stand in the twilight rainstorm, just for a moment in remembrance.I was at a horseback riding summer camp for girls. It was near Lime, New Hampshire, but the http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=iexx&c=words&id=13026 http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=iexx&c=words&id=13026 With Yule and the holiday season fast approaching, while thinking of my loved ones and friends I got to thinking about one friend who I haven't had contact with in a few years. Thinking about this girl, (Who I won't name, for various reasons.) stirred up a lot of memories, both good and bad. I'm writing this essay to share with my fellow pagans, as my experience of religious intolerance is painful, and to see if any other people had a similar experience to this. This is my story...I was http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usaz&c=words&id=13633 http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usaz&c=words&id=13633 With all of our advanced technology and the fast pace of modern life, it's not easy for us to relate to the spiritual qualities of the Neolithic world in which our ancestors once lived. While in many ways it was a harsh and primitive existence, there were certain aspects of it that we would do well to remember and to preserve... the egalitarian nature of their society, their closeness to nature, and their ability to perceive things on an instinctive and intuitive level. I'm sure most peo http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=uswv&c=passages&id=13640 http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=uswv&c=passages&id=13640 Rev. Laura Catherine Sampson-Derry, 26, of Petersburg, WV, died on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at the Grant Memorial Hospital in Petersburg, WV. Mrs. Derry was born on February 23, 1983 in Winchester, VA. Adopted by Betty Combs Sager of Arkansaw, WV and the late Darlington L. and quot;Dot and quot; Sager. She was a Non-proffit Interfaith Minister, and a member of the Knights Templar.Laura married L. David Derry on April 5, 2008 in Arkansaw, WV who is currently serving in the West Virgina National http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usca&c=passages&id=13643 http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usca&c=passages&id=13643 As this season closes and a new season begins, it was a long and winding road but we are now here and the time has finally arrived..........As of Octo velum twin noxem notu denti (10/29/2009) yar eit twin colum notu denti....Lady Diavanii Patros Aryia (servant and High Priestess of the Root) and quot;Lady on High and quot;Has been formally Adopted in the the Cirlce of the Tri and Gate of Witchery under the Field.....to do in naming and service the art of......long may she serve.....