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Weekly Update: 1/10/2000
Author: Witchvox Central
Posted: January 10th. 2000
Times Viewed: 5,197
 So... Where Do We Go From Here?
Greetings Sisters and Brothers,
Allow us to start off this weeks update with some big time Witch Hugs to those of you that worked your magic for my daughter Skye (see details below). She is recovering "miraculously" and to quote her doctor (one of the primo "Brain Surgeons" in the World) "Skye is recovering at an amazing rate... 60% better than we expected"... Although it was a worrisome and nerve-wracking week, your projections, prayers and magick helped to save the day. Thank YOU from my Heart! - Wren.
With the tremendous growth of interest in the various pagan religions today, we have come to a crossroads of sorts. On one hand, we face a crowd of people who are in need of training and support as they begin their journey into earth-based religious territory and on the other hand, we have a serious shortage of 'peak' teachers available to guide them.
As a result, many people have turned to books and seminars and workshops from which to learn the basics of the Craft. As good as some of these resources may be (and as bad as some of them are), there is only so much that they can impart of the real essence of what it is to be pagan. Spells and rituals and 'tools' are not what make up a pagan religion. It is the peak experience of being with and of the gods that most people seek. If they do not find it within books or rituals or workshops, they will not only be disappointed, they will feel cheated.
Indeed, there is growing number of people who have read the books and done the workshops and are now venturing forth teaching what they have learned from them. The skills may be there, the rituals may be perfected and the spells may be flowery, but if the experience behind it is merely academic and not based upon their own peak experience, then they are dangerously close to preaching just another 'organized religion."
The authors that write for pagans and the teachers of the old ways do everyone a great disservice if they do not make their platform clear from the outset. If they are teaching witchcraft as a 'craft' without religious tenets, then they should say so and omit all references to Gods and Goddesses and the rituals dedicated to Them.
If they are instructing budding earth-religionists in religious rites, rituals and ceremonies or promoting Witchcraft as a religion, then they should also make clear that these same 'tools' are secondary to the spiritual 'peak experience' that the individual should seek for him/herself. Handing someone a book of spells and incantations and letting them infer that this is all that makes the religion is much the same as handing someone a hymnal and saying that this is all there is to being a Lutheran.
For the rest of this new feature in our Teachers of the Craft Section... Click HERE
Honored to be in your service,
Wren Walker & Fritz Jung
The Witches' Voice
Year 2000 - Day Ten |
 Goddess Billboards? Really? How Cool!
In the past few days dozens of you emailed both Wren and I with a link to a page featuring real Goddess 2k Billboards (apparently sponsored by the Northern Dawn Local Council of CoG as their contribution to the Goddess 2000 Project).
Actual locations of the billboards is as follows: "The Goddess is Alive and Magic is Afoot": On University Ave near Raymond, St. Paul, MN.- next door to Evenstar Books. North side of University facing West. ... "The Goddess is Within" On (West 50th at Xerxes Ave, Edina, MN. Northeast corner of 50th and Xerxes facing East) ... "Embrace The Goddess" On (Snelling Ave, 100' South of Marshall, St. Paul.,MN. East Side of Snelling facing North)
To see much larger scans of these billboards visit the Hawkdancing Website website.
For contact information about these billboards email COG Northern Dawn Council or the Project Coordinator or visit the National Covenant of the Goddess WebSite
Wicca on Wheels (and from the heart...)
Because many Pagans believe in karma and reincarnation, we often see challenges and opportunities in life situations that other religions might view as punishment or tribulation.
In Wicca on Wheels Howlin' Banshee shows us how living with a "disability" can be a path that leads towards greater insight into the meaning behind the spells and rituals many of us have learned from books. She has used her physical restrictions to fuel her spiritual growth, develop her creativity and delve deeply into the true meaning of the Craft by approaching it with love, humor and determination. Here's some real inspiration for all of us, not just those with "disabilities".
 Emerald Rose Charts at #18:
This just in from Clyde Gilbert of Emerald Rose
"We had a hit at the end of November! Call Me Home reached #18 on the Celtic Playlist. Our website is updated and much improved with several new mp3s and Real Audio. The site features new live songs from PSG 1999, including Freya, Shakti and Castle of Arianrhod. We are beginning work on our next CD, and hope to have a Beltaine 2000 release". "We have recently posted a number of our songs on mp3.com including Summerland and Never Underestimate...(a Woman with the Goddess in her eyes)".
"Emerald Rose is a North Georgia band featuring a repertoire of traditional Celtic music (Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and Cornish) and original songs inspired by Celtic folklore and mythology. They are based in North Georgia, near the Dahlonega area.
For more on this group... Surf to Emerald Rose
January Y2k Young Pagan Essays... Now Up!
- Karma Do you believe in Karma? Why or why not? If you do believe in it, how do you think it works? Are there "Lords of Karma"? Or is it solely your responsibility to 'balance the books'? Check out Karma Essay #1 and Karma Essay #2
- Times of Crisis How does your religion help you cope during times of crisis in the family? Is it difficult for you to relate to your family during these times because they don't understand your religion? Are there place or people outside your family that you rely upon to offer advice to you during these times? Check out Times of Crisis in the WitchVox Young Pagans section.
 Givers, Takers and the Pagan Web
The Witches' Voice has always maintained a strong ethical stance and consciously takes a hard line "attitude" in this area. This week we launch a new section loosely titled "Notes from a WebCrafter" It is our desire to use this section to provoke both thought and awareness in the area of "Correct and for the Good of All".
We start this new section out with several popular <RANTS> from the past (some updated for this release). Over the next few weeks/months we will finish up some rants that have been stewing for some time. We also plan to feature other Pagan WebCrafters and community members and their thoughts on on ethics.
Check out Notes from a WebCrafter. | |
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