Merry Meet

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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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…)

Like tarot cards, runes had a practical purpose in addition to being tools of portent. Runes are symbols of an alphabet, just as we use Roman letters.

Runes are often portrayed in a fantasy context as being used as a means of telling the future for stereotypical witches. Like many aspects of original paganism and magic, the historical details are fuzzy and sometimes up to interpretation.

A general interest in mysticism in the late 1800s/early 1900s sparked a cultural interest in the use of runes for divination. Some assign specific meanings to runes and use the original rune meanings/resemblances for the purpose of divination so that they can be used much like a tarot card.

(more…)