Witchvox Article

Author:
Posted: September 21st. 2001
Times Viewed: 2,645

With the explosion of birth rates over the last fifty years, it's not surprising that many serene places in the world have quickly become sprawling metropolises. Forests are being cut down at an alarming rate, being paved over and made into strip malls where consumers can find every tantalizing bauble imaginable. Just behind this loss of green space is a wave of Christianity, stretching out into the farthest reaches of the world, strangling her with its tangled web of beliefs.

I am not sure, statistically, how much of the world's population is Christian, or one of the other 'major' religions, but I can honestly say that being Pagan makes one the minority. When I use the term Pagan, I am not referring to a Christian's view of 'any religion but my own is pagan', but rather a more focused perspective that includes Wicca and other neo-Pagan paths.

So many of us are hit with diverse responsibilities and it can often feel overwhelming. Some of us are in college, some have full time jobs, families that need to be taken care of; our time is usually not our own. The way that you handle the stress in your life can greatly affect how long of a life you have. Therefore it is very important to find ways to unwind and not let life get the best of you. But what can you do when you are bombarded with images of The Jones' and have things being thrown at you from every angle?

I find that one of the best stress relievers is meditation. There are so many degrees of meditation, and I would need a whole other article to get into that, but generally any way that you can take a few minutes to get your mind off of whatever is stressing you would be beneficial. My typical workday involves too many projects for one person to complete and a boss that wants everything yesterday. I find that simply shutting the door and forwarding my phone into voicemail for a few minutes is exactly what I need to help center myself and get focused on what I need to get done. I do not work in a Pagan-friendly environment, so it's not like I can cross my legs and chant on my lunch hour, but the simple act of confining myself to my thoughts for a few minutes helps me sort things out, become more productive and get in touch with my spirituality.

Another stressor in my life is my commute. I live in New York City and commute to work via the subway. Anyone who has every watched NYPD Blue can semi-relate to what I go through twice a day, five times a week, forty-five minutes per trip. If I am lucky enough to get a seat on the train, I usually put my CD player on and listen to some relaxing music (usually rhythmic drumming as I find lyrics too distracting for meditation), close my eyes and focus on a simple meditation exercise I learned in a class I took here in the city. When I close my eyes I take a few deep breaths and try to block out any other distractions. When I am centered (this may vary for each person, but I usually feel in tune with the very essence of my spirit and can actually feel myself being pulled away from the outside world), I visualize a chain extending from my body, down into the center of the earth and connecting itself to the very core of Gaia. I allow the images of what is bothering me, or what I feel I need to release, to come up and follow the chain and then be given to Gaia to handle. Sometimes I will change the visualization and use a slide, or a rope, whatever I want to use at that particular time. If I am having a good day and don't need to release anything, I will focus on receiving positive energy from Gaia. When I am done, I thank Her, disconnect the chain, and come back to my physical mind. I find this meditation extremely effective. I am a Fire sign, but I relate well to the Earth image. You can change the visualization to suit your purposes. If you feel more connected with Water or Air, choose that to focus your attention on.

I try to incorporate Paganism into my life in small, but significant ways. I have an altar at home on which I leave a treat every morning for the God and Goddess. I ask for a blessing and try to give three reasons why I am grateful for all of the blessings I have been bestowed. This only takes me about ten minutes a day and I feel so much more in tune with things; I can notice a definite decrease in my perception when I am away or skip a day by being in a total rush.

I also make it a point to wear a piece of jewelry that is spiritually meaningful. I do have pentacles, but unfortunately I cannot wear them to work every day. I tend to alternate between my small pentacle, celtic knotwork and pieces of jade (which I feel particularly drawn to). Something as simple as a pair of earrings or a ring can help me remember my spirituality.

Another way that I keep myself inline with my religion is to keep some plants around the house. I don't necessarily have a green thumb, but with my interest in kitchen witchery, I try to keep some herbs and other small plants growing. I don't have a lot of space since I am in an apartment, but I do have access to the back yard. I have some small, potted plants in the house and a few larger ones outside. When I need to reconnect with the Earth, I have a semi-private place to do so. Sometimes if I am having a particularly rough day, I'll take the train one stop on my lunch hour and head out to Central Park for a short walk. I won't do any rituals or anything, but I will sometimes sit under a tree in the shade and try to reconnect with the God and Goddess.

There are many small minds in this world, but luckily there are also many inconspicuous ways to incorporate your beliefs into your life in meaningful ways. I hope that I've given you something to think about the next time you feel oppressed by the real world, or feel like you've lost touch with your personal path. Light a candle, take a deep breath and reconnect with your spirit.

Ariisa Raine

ABOUT...

Location: , USA

Bio: Ariisa Raine follows an eclectic path that pulls from Celtic, Fae and Druidic paths, but is primarily interested in the healing arts; she has been a solitary practitioner for approximately five years. She wrote an article for Witchvox's teen section several years ago, and has been working on getting some of her other prose and poetry published. She is interested in medieval history and is an active member of the S.C.A. She will be attending KCC in Brooklyn this fall and looks forward to receiving her degree in Elementary Education. She lives in New York City with her husband, Doug, and her cat, Vitus.

Other Articles: has posted 1 additional articles- View them?

Other Listings: To view ALL of my listings: Click HERE

Email ... (No, I have NOT opted to receive Pagan Invites! Please do NOT send me anonymous invites to groups, sales and events.)

Home - TWV Logos - Email US - Privacy

News and Information

Chapters: Pagan/Heathen Basics - Pagan BOOKS - Traditions, Paths & Religions - Popular Pagan Holidays - TV & Movies - Cats of the Craft - Festival Reviews - Festival Tips - White Pages (Resources) - Issues/Concerns - West Memphis 3 - Witch Hunts - Pagan Protection Tips - Healing Planet Earth

Your Voices: Adult Essays - Young Pagan Essays - Pagan Perspectives (On Hold) - WitchWars: Fire in the Craft - Gay Pagan - Pagan Parenting - Military - Pagan Passages

Pagan Music: Pagan Musicians - Bardic Circle at WitchVox - Free Music from TWV

Vox Central: About TWV - Wren: Words, Wrants and Wramblings - Guest Rants - Past Surveys - A Quest for Unity

Weekly Updates: Click HERE for an index of our weekly updates for the past 6 years

W.O.T.W. - World-Wide Networking

Your Town: A Link to YOUR Area Page (The largest listing of Witches, Pagans, Heathens and Wiccans on the Planet)

VoxLinks: The Pagan Web: 8,000 Listings

Your Witchvox Account: Log in Now - Create New Account - Request New Password - Log in Problems

Personal Listings: Pagan Clergy in Your Town - Adult Pagans - Young Pagans - Military Pagans

Events: Circles, Gatherings, Workshops & Festivals

Covens/Groups/Orgs: Local Groups Main Page

Other LOCAL Resources: Local Shops - Regional Sites - Local Notices - Global/National Notices - Local Skills & Services - Local Egroups - Political Freedom Fighters

Pagan Shopping: Online Shops Index - Original Crafters Sites - Auction Sites - Pagan Wholesalers - Pagan Local Shops

Web Site Content (including: text - graphics - html - look & feel)
Copyright 1997-2009 The Witches' Voice Inc. All rights reserved
Note: Authors & Artists retain the copyright for their work(s) on this website.
Unauthorized reproduction without prior permission is a violation of copyright laws.

Website structure, evolution and php coding by Fritz Jung on a Macintosh G5.

Any and all personal political opinions expressed in the public listing sections (including, but not restricted to, personals, events, groups, shops, Wrenâ€™s Nest, etc.) are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinion of The Witchesâ€™ Voice, Inc. TWV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization.

Sponsorship: Visit the Witches' Voice Sponsor Page for info on how you
can help support this Community Resource. Donations ARE Tax Deductible.
The Witches' Voice carries a 501(c)(3) certificate and a Federal Tax ID.

Mail Us: The Witches' Voice Inc., P.O. Box 341018, Tampa, Florida 33694-1018 U.S.A.

Witches, Pagans
of The World

Current Topic
Editorial Guide

NOTE: The essay on this page contains the writings and opinions of the listed author(s) and is not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Witches' Voice inc.

The Witches' Voice does not verify or attest to the historical accuracy contained in the content of this essay.

All WitchVox essays contain a valid email address, feel free to send your comments, thoughts or concerns directly to the listed author(s).