Merry Meet

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…)

This is a pure rant. Just a warning. I don’t rant too often, but here it is…

Everyone has a right to celebrate (or not celebrate) holidays as they choose! That’s awesome. I love that it is so.

If you don’t celebrate Halloween, that is your choice and I am okay with that. However, don’t get all offended when I want to wear a costume for Halloween. For me, this has nothing to do with paganism or my feelings for Samhain and everything to do with the fact that some people push their pagan-hatred all around during this time of year simply because Halloween comes from a pagan tradition.

Guess what? So do many other things. People did lots of stuff before Christ was here. They had sex and took shits. Does that make procreation and defecation any less important to the survival of humanity? No!

So, to the minority of Christians who spread their hatred for Halloween around…try loving your neighbor and I shall harm none, do as I will. This really means we should be working in conjunction with one another. (more…)

This past weekend, I was able to participate in a festive, Halloween-season event. Sitting at the marketing booth for our group, I was able to talk to many friendly people who showed interest in our live action role playing group.

I got into a discussion with one prospective player. She had a decent looking costume, so I said hello and we started talking. I suppose I appeared open-minded, but I never bring up religion or politics when marketing our game, so for all she knew, I could have been a conservative person or not spiritual at all.

I was discussing combatant and non-combatant roles in LARP and mentioned that I currently play non-combatant roles because of a back injury earlier this year. I got the immediate sense that she would want to play a healer–not because she was female (as many females do gravitate toward the healer role in RPGs), but because it was just very present. I don’t know how else to describe it. (more…)

Mabon traditions are centered around the harvest. Much of the thought surrounding Thanksgiving celebrates and reflects the values and traditions of Mabon.

Mabon is celebrated at the Autumnal Equinox.  Mabon occurs in late September (in most countries partially populated by those who celebrate it). While the harvest traditions are themselves old, the name of the holiday comes from a Welsh tale and was formalized first by Aidan Kelly — around 1970. (more…)