Merry Meet

Sherlock Holmes contains a representation of magic as part of the plot. I will be brief with this post as I don’t want to give too much of the movie away. However, the film’s researchers did a through job of researching and presenting cult-based dark magic without offering any sort of possibility for confusion with genuine earth-centered spiritual beliefs. This is also consistent with the fears and explorations of actual people in the time and place of the movie’s setting. Sherlock Holmes included the following indicators:

• Uneven five-point upside-down star (asymmetry presenting a lack of respect for balance often sought by Goddess-worshipers)
• Salt in center of circle to draw power instead of around it for protection
• Identification of symbols as cult-based dark magic (more…)
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With Christmas approaching tomorrow, I’m curious to know what most pagan or non-Christian Merry Meet readers do on Christmas. Throughout my life, I’ve had many friends who were not Christians.Some of my Jewish friends would make a day out of going to the movies and dining at a Chinese restaurant on Christmas. It’s obviously one of the best days ever to go to a place that is normally crowded, so long as it’s open!I have athiest, agnostic, and pagan friends. Most of them don’t necessarily celebrate Christmas in a “Christ is born” kind of way, but still value the holidays because it allows them to spend time with their families. I consider myself to be this type of person.After being involved in three separate car accidents this year (one extremely serious), I have to say that these past few weeks leading up to Christmas have just made me thankful for the ability to make the right career choices. I was in a bad position and because of the support of my friends and family was able to take the step that made the most sense for my health. Even though my husband and I were too injured to put up a tree this year, I feel like this Christmas is more meaningful. (more…)

Have you ever felt a spirit pass through you? Supposedly this is one reason the hair on the back of your neck or arms can randomly stand on end. It’s said to feel like an extreme cold spot. While I consider myself sensitive to the paranormal and change in temperature, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced this one.

Merry Meet, readers. I am lucky to be here today.

I am very grateful to have kept this blog on spirituality. I have not had a very good week–or so it seemed at first. On Wednesday night, I was in a car accident. I was going straight down a road and a car made a last-minute left directly in front of me. We collided and I went to the hospital.

Fortunately, my injuries aren’t too bad. The chiropractor has yet to evaluate me, but I have no neck strain and the soreness is in my back, wrists, arms, and I’m generally a bit swollen. I went to the doctor and my husband took off of work to send me there. (more…)

It’s hard enough being sensitive. I’m not talking paranormal sensitive–I’m talking compassionate to the plight of others. On top of that, I’m sensitive to changes in season, temperature, and even the moods of others. I am apparently affected by fluctuations in EMF and temperature. It’s probably not surprising to find that I am sensitive to paranormal occurrences. Dreams, in particular. This isn’t anything I haven’t touched on before…but I want to throw it out there that when I say I’m ’sensitive’ I mean all of the above.

I’m terribly observant emotionally, though not entirely observant in other ways.

I’ve noticed in the paranormal community and on television, ghost hunters find it strange that some people consider themselves sensitive, or perhaps more attuned to the spirit world because of their spiritual alignment. It’s like the moment someone says ‘I’m Wiccan,’ they are rejected by the community (at times). I think that some Pagans find their spiritual path in part due to sensitivity (paranormal and otherwise) — so instead of taking advantage of this talent to possibly sense or connect with the paranormal, why do some spurn it? (more…)

During the holiday season, discussions of Paganism seem to increase. Talk of the Pagan origins of Christian holidays often spark debate.

This year, the New York Times published a full feature article on the increasing presence of Paganism in mainstream culture, academia, and the military.

Additionally, the Birmingham Paganism Examiner Freeman Presson reports that counseling is available for Pagans connected to the Fort Hood tragedy.  (more…)

Nothing in this report is surprising, really. I am sure it happens all the time to people of all backgrounds and religions and spiritualities. That doesn’t make it right, though–so more power to this guy for standing up to it. I am doing everything in my own power to be my own boss, mostly because of potentially craptastic situations like this one.

The author of The Squarest Peg put forth the notion that religion is LARP (live action role play).

I agree that most religions (including religions which are not structured or organized) involve some sort of live action role play. In fact, I think this is one reason why certain sects and religions get a bad rep. Ever witnessed a Catholic mass as a non-Catholic? If you don’t know what’s going on, it’s just plain bizarre. If you do not understand (on an academic, psychological, or spiritual level) the components of mass, it would look pretty archaic.

In Wicca in particular, a woman can embody the Goddess. This can be done through everyday spirituality and/or in a specific ritual. I have no doubt that a non-Wiccan coming across such a ritual without understanding the consent and symbolism involved might also find it to be archaic and maybe even profane.

Read more about Goddess feminist ritual practices here.

The speaker here also happens to discuss a shift of energy, similar to what I mentioned in my last blog entry here. So, while the rituals themselves may involve live action role play for a sacred and/or theatrical purpose, the effect of a spiritual shift is very real to the participant.

What is the source of this energy and shift? Whether it is divine or produced by other worshippers makes no difference to me. It is there and it is not physical, but metaphysical–intriguing and worth exploring without getting totally lots on the journey.

So yes–there is LARP in religion, but religion can be about more than just live action role play.

What do you think?

Back in January, I wrote about paganism and 2012. Jen of Your Dark Passenger commented on empaths reporting a shift of energy–some feeling negative energy followed by positive energy.

This prompted me to speak about something that happened to me back in 2005.

I worked in an office complex next to a major international airport. I was sitting there with five or six coworkers when I experienced this sudden shift. It was like an earthquake was happening, but the earth wasn’t shaking. I realized it was internal and something the others didn’t feel, with exception of the woman sitting across from me. She didn’t want to talk about it more and I understand why–it was a frightening experience, and she has different spiritual beliefs than I do. (more…)

I find it to be an interesting thing, having my mindset on Halloween. Sometimes it feels like ‘opposite day,’ meaning the things I normally like to do spiritually or for fun are commonly practiced. I remember when I was little and my mother read me a book about aliens who visited Earth–but they happened to visit on Halloween. The thought it was so weird to dress up in costumes and didn’t really understand it.

I guess the message I take from it is this–things are only as weird as you want to think they are. To someone else, it might be normal…even every day kind of normal. I dress up in costumes every month to go LARP. I don’t think that’s normal, but it is fun.

Enjoy your once a year day, everyone!

A long time ago, in a decade past, I used to be all about peace and nonviolence. It was then I became interested in the pagan universalist path. This path is accepting of diverse cultures and beliefs and viewpoints. While I would no longer self-identify as nonviolent, I could hardly see myself serving in a war I consider unjust or punching someone just because I’m pissed. I guess now I just feel like sometimes it has to go to violence, even though I would rather it not.

Part of this journey has been spiritual on my own personal path as a human; this is formulated over my own years and my own experiences. The other piece to it is an outwardly spiritual reflection. Some of this reflection is on my ancestors and how they lived–something I always try to consider in my spiritual beliefs and personal practices. How would they act? What would they think of where I am now? (more…)

In Pagan news today, there seems to be an overall theme of acceptance. Could it be that some people no longer balk at someone who lives out of the broom closet?

• Dan Halloran is a Pagan Republican. Yes, even this is apparently possible! Personally, I’m surprised this dude even lived through the Bush Administration, but I’m all for him opening the eyes of his political party.
• Halloween expert Lesley Bannatyne offers some candid insight into Halloween and discusses her research. Bannatyne witnessed rituals from a Pagan group local to her and discusses her views on modern witchcraft.
• Vampires in New Jersey, USA are performing some Pagan rituals involving blood sacrifice. They also happen to sell fangs. While I believe that vampirism may be an actual medical condition and/or state of being, (more…)
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