Wicca/Paganism

[DoctorShoe]

Bright blessings to all!

Wiccan here. Just wondering if there are any more of us around. :) I don't have a coven, and there doesn't seem to be too much opportunity for it in Ireland, even in the medium sized cities.

DP is not a Wiccan. I'm a hospital doctor. We enjoy Dr. Who and Star Trek. I was raised Catholic.

I have had a lovely Beltane. Didn't get to celebrate quite as soon as I'd have liked, due to work, but it was beautiful.

My sick orchid is budding, my Book of Shadows is growing... Thinking about a nice walk in the woods tomorrow afternoon.

Would love to hear from others. :) I have so many questions.

[Vivacia]

Hi, I hope you don't mind some questions, but I'm wondering what pagans believe in and where you learn about things such as celebrating Beltane.

[fulltothebrim]

We have a huge Beltane festival in my city- torch parades, a May Queen, it is a big event.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-32549335

Quite bizarre for a city that saw so many women burned at the stake!!

[whothehellknows]

I'm another pagan, although I follow quite a meandering, eclectic path...

[Vivacia]

Hi Who, what kind of things do you find pagans believe in, and where do they get guidance/inspiration from for these beliefs?

[DoctorShoe]

I'm on call. I'll write a better reply with a link later. A lot of observing nature and the wheel of the year, with your choice of deities and spell work and ritual as you wish, or don't.

I suppose I abbreviate to Wiccan. I have Wiccan leanings, but am not initiated.

I enjoy my spell work, and the odd bit of kitchen-witchery.

[Vivacia]

Look forward to learning more

[DoctorShoe]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/1034344-Pagan-interest-thread?pg=1&order=

Here's the thread I wanted to link to. It may not work, cause this is all on my iPhone, but it's lovely and full of info.

Recommended reading includes books by Scott Cunningham and I like Wicca for beginners, I think by Thea Sabin.

Someone named Starhawk comes recommended, but haven't personally read any of hers.

[Vivacia]

I'll check that link out. I'm curious as to how "truths" are communicated in Paganism. I'm aware that prospective Muslims would learn about Islam through the Koran and guidance at a mosque. I'm wondering what the equivalent is for prospective Pagans.

Already interested in the mention of deities (why not "gods") and spells (how are these defined) etc.

[Vivacia]

Ooh, that's a long thread.

So, anyone who cares to reply what are the main elements of being a Pagan or Wiccan and are they the same thing?

[Milllli]

Watching with interest. Im not Wican or Pagan but do agree with a lot of the ways. I believe in positive thinking, affirmations, tapping into Universal Power. Fascinating that you are a medical Doctor and a White Witch. Foot in both worlds.

[DoctorShoe]

Hello to Milllli and WTHK.

Lovely to meet you.

[DaisyStarLight]

Hi
I'm wicca. I learned from my mum and sisters so I have always been one!!!
We believe in spirits, superstitions, nature and esp/physic power/spells. So growing herds to use in food, eating organic food, being ecofriendly and caring about animals, people and the earth. Simply laws like what you put out into the world you get back times three, karma and do as you want as long as it harms none. Respecting the natural order of all things.

I joined a group when at Uni that meet once a month in a cafe to chat. If there isn't one by you, its an idea to set one up?

Then I moved away, married a Christian and had children of my own. I'm unsure when to talk to my children about wicca but I'm still growing rosemary and lavender in my garden and we go camping and on nature walks, I teach them about the stars, solar system, the weather and sayings about supersitions. Its also about having an open mind not just believing in what you can see but a bigger picture set out by the universe that we can't see yet.

I guess what I believe in is complex and its different for each person. Everyone takes from the world/goddess/the earth what they need and give back what they can. Its all connected and not ruled by one thing/God alone its all in balance with each other!!!

[Vivacia]

Thank you Daisy that's really insightful.

Would I be right in thinking that unlike the Abrahamic religions, Paganism doesn't have scriptures and is more based upon oral traditions? That's my first attempt, what would be a more accurate description?

[DaisyStarLight]

Yes there is no book to read and follow. There is a simple truth; do as thy will but harm none. Then how you follow that rule is up to you. There are 8 festivals and how you honour these is up to you. For Beltan I put milk and honey out side and thank the spirits for a good crop and fertility. For Yule I have a fancy meal with my family and we give a small gift to each other and decorate the house with holly and ivy.

Its about looking into yourself and finding your own path and what feels right to you.

[Vivacia]

This is fascinating Daisy, thank you.

[JasperDamerel]

Not even oral tradition so much as experience. People tend learn either from books, by making stuff up as they go along and seeing what does and doesn't work, or by being taught by an individual or small group (sometimes within an established tradition and sometimes a bit more free-range), but there tends to be a lot less dogma, and a much greater emphasis on direct connection with the divine.

[elfycat]

I'm pagan/spiritual with a tendency to like the wicca stuff, but for it not to quite work for me. My friends and family call me a white witch, but I know that's not quite correct.

I used to be a theatre nurse, but I felt there was more to healing than the cutting-edge medical stuff. So I took the 2 year diploma in crystal healing. Along the way I turned from curious-athiest into a believer in the stuff I was experiencing. I've since qualified in Bach Flower remedies and all vibrational essences. I let my young DDs select remedies by self dowsing and then discuss what the emotions they are feeling.

I believe in Karma, Chakras, Energy in all things (obviously all linked), non-human beings that most would like to ignore (but possibly not the unicorn someone tried to crowbar into a led-meditation ). I have the rosemary shrubs at the front and back of my house. I won't let DH cut down the huge Holly tree in the centre of my garden. I will stay up to enjoy the energy of the moon at various phases.

I'm currently watching Star Trek

[Milllli]

What is the significance with the Rosemary plants please?

[DoctorShoe]

Merry meet, new contributors!

Daisy, are you officially initiated?

I'd love to meet others, but I'd never be able to commit to a regular meet up, so if I started one its be fairly disorganised.

Also, because of work, I'm somewhat in the broom closet, as I read on here.

[DaisyStarLight]

Hi

No I'm not initiated as I'm not in a coven but my family kind of acts like one.

Its hard to explain without looking a bit crazy but I will try

I'm Welsh, the tradition was past down. I'm from an area where there were Druids and my mother is in her 70s. Its more superstition and saying and belief but its also in my blood. Its a held belief that we are witches. I can tell you who is on the phone (without caller I'd ) I can tell when something bad has happened, I can tell if something will happen or not and other things that people call ESP. With a spell I can influence an outcome. I meet a women who showed me how to channel and heal with my hands a bit like Riki. I meet another women who showed me about aromatherapy and herbs. My sister give me a book about taror , fortune telling by tea leaf, playing cards and omens. I did this for a friend and told her she was going to have a baby, she did and I totally freaked her out . Now I just don't tell people I can do this unless its to keep someone safe. Its just who I am not what I do. My sister are the same.

Rosemary protects a home from negative energy and spirits. Burning sage in the home promotes good energy and lavender provides a calming element.

[Vivacia]

(I'm actually trying not to intrude too much on this thread - but I just have so many questions ).

Daisy do you feel a responsibility to use your abilities to help people? Perhaps to stop terror attacks or child abuse or to help the police track down murderers?

[DaisyStarLight]

I kinda wish I had a coven as my family is dysfunctional and we are on a break at the momment! I have minimum contact with then and I moved away 11 years ago to a different area but we still phone each other and see each other. I have 6 & 3 year old children and I wanted them to find their own path and not for them to be dragged into wicca by my mum.

My ds told me I had a baby in my tummy so I did a test and he was right 9 months later he had a baby sister. He had a chat with a man both dh and I couldn't see and it turned out it was my dh godfather (freaked my dh out ) he had passed over. So even without me saying anything to my children they are finding their own way. I'm going to wait till they start asking me questions before I tell them anything about wicca. My mum has told them she is a witch but my D's just ignored it.

[DaisyStarLight]

No as it does not work like that. I don't control it. I only know what I'm ment to know such as a old women in a shoes shop had corns and was in pain, I could see the pain and help take it away. I could see a little girl fall off her bike so I asked where her mum was and told her to go see her dd so she was there to comfort her. Its seeing the lose of a husband in the eyes of another women and just sitting in the coffee shop listening to her talk about him. Its something in side of me that makes me talk to the people and help in a small way that means a lot. Its something so small that most people over look it.

[DaisyStarLight]

Please ask away and I will do my best to answer

[Vivacia]