Pagan interest thread

[MoonFaceMama]

Hello,

As a pagan who practices alone i sometimes find it difficult to mark the passing of the wheel of the year in a secular society which largely ignores there things (ie, i sometimes forget special days ) I get the feeling there might be others on here who feel the same, or who do remember, and that maybe we could support each other in reminders and suggestions for celebrations...

Personally i tend to mark the seasons in ways that feel appropriate and are informal, i'm not big into ritual (but willing to discuss this with those who are). Now that i have a ds i think i'm more concious of helping him to have structure to his year (when i was little i had this through the church) and am considering joining a local pagan group so that i have a community of support in this, which might, in time, be available to him should he wish to access it.

So...a place to discuss pagan celebrations, ideas etc... Any takers?

[treeagate]

Just posting to say hello from Worcestershire

What are your plans for the solstice?

[worldgonecrazy]

Still around, still posting on threads in this topic, just not this thread.

hope you had a lovely Beltane.

[Grockle]

Is anyone still around? Or any one else interested?

[Titchyboomboom]

I am in the same situation, often forgetting days etc. I have made some resolutions too

Gossip less! I seem to get dragged into it with a few friends and beat myself up afterwards. It is truly toxic
Think before I speak
Be less critical
Garden!!
Show dd how beautiful our world is if you just stop and take the time (she is 2 and I wrapped her in a blanket last night and took her outside to watch the clouds blowing across an incredibly bright moon.. She said 'wow mummy, big moon! Where is small moon?' Bless her!
Listen, truly listen.
Be kind even if people say I am a mug
Be honest
Be fun!!
Splash in puddles!
Trust in myself and my own strength

[Grockle]

Gossip, I love your resolutions. I am also tring to have less hard feelings toward pepople and to be more forgiving. I haven't really made lots of resolutions other than looking after myself better.

Did the situation with your neighbor resolve itself?

This weekend, we've had a big spring clean, repotted lots of plants and made candlelit pledges. Life's been quite hard for us over the past year and I'm determined to make this year a better one.

Imbolc belssings to anyone who is reading

[GossipWitch]

Hello all, just thought I'd bump this thread to tell you about my new years resolution, (its easier to do it now than at Samhain for my family), I am planning to lead a more pagan way of life, which for me means trying to use less electricity and gas, using eco friendly cleaners and recycling more than I originally was, also taking better care of my gardens will be a must, and on full moons as part of my rituals I will be turning off the power to my house for the entire ritual, I will also be giving blood again (didnt give any last year ) and generally changing any hard feelings towards people. If any of you have any other ideas I would be happy to hear them ?

[RedMolly]

Please don't beat yourself up. This is coincidence. There may well have been something already afoot, which may account for his behaviour towards you and your son in the first place that you don't know about. Suggestion can be a very powerful tool but it sounds like you did most of your venting to your dp rather than directly to your neighbour. Also, suggestion would work directly on him, not on his employers, housing association etc. Having negative thoughts about someone is more likely to bite you on the bum than the person you're thinking about.

If they are having a hard time and you want to help, maybe some gentle spellworking to send some positive energy their way (without telling them of course)? Or, just offer to be a friend if you still have a relationship with his wife and do what you can to help on a practical level.

[GossipWitch]

I have an issue, its a biggie and I think I may be responsible in some way.

So heres the back story. In the summer holidays, my son got involved in a fight with my next door neighbour's son, my son is 2 years older than theirs and is about a foot bigger, my son insists to this day that his son started it by trying to throw a scooter at his head, and had been goading him for days before hand saying that he was going to get his dad on to my son, well his father did get involved and threatened to hit my son, (who is 10 btw) so I went out to him, he was on another neighbour's drive with a can of beer in his hand where he had been pretty much all day, asked him why he was threatening ten year olds and told him it wasn't acceptable and that his son had been having a pop at mine for days, he got personal told me that I should go back to my mediocre life and that I should sort my son out and parent him properly, he also swore at me too. (My son was grounded for 3 weeks after this incident btw) my son also has been diagnosed with ADHD so I can imagine it was extremely hard for him to control his impulses. I was livid and so upset that I said quite a few mean things about him and sort of wished he could live my life and struggle on like I do, as he has such a perfect life and family and he is so up himself about this, (I ranted to dp about this btw, and my rant lasted days).

The thing is that night, my neighbours workplace got broken into, someone had left the door ajar and all their stock went missing, he was sacked the next day, he hasn't been able to find a job since. He had to sell his car to pay the rent because he thought he would be able to get another quickly. His wife then kicked him out after a week, he came back 4 days later, their relationship is under massive strain, they have blazing rows at least 3 times a week. She has been poorly with coughs and colds, as has their youngest son. He has had to sign on at the jobcentre, something his pride absolutely hates. They have had countless mini disasters at the house, from leaks to electricity failings (there is a van outside now fixing some wiring), and I heard yesterday that now the HA are seeking possession of the house.

It seems that since the massive set to between me and him, he has had the worst run of bad luck that you could imagine, and I feel that all my negative thoughts and rants about him may have caused it, I would never have put a hex on him or his family, I'm not that kind of person but I do know that the power of suggestion can be very strong, and it is such a coincidence that this all started within a few hours of the set too. Also I haven't so much as had eye contact with him since the incident, however I am still chatty with his wife.

Is this because of me and my ranting? and if it is, what can I do to fix it? without them knowing of course, I feel so guilty, and I will never rant about anyone ever again.

[Grockle]

This thread has died but I was thinking of you all, so I thought I'd post & let you know.

Winter is coming. I love it

[Grockle]

Just popping in to say hello. Hoping everyone is well.

[dishwashingdoll]

If you want your kids to learn about angles Diana Cooper has a childrens website full of games and puzzles ect. Sorry to here you are not well Grockle Glennie Kindred runs workshops privately and at some festivals she has a wonderful connection to the earth if you get a chance to go.

[Grockle]

I've looked her up on amazon - lots of interesting looking books.

Hope everyone is ok. I'm not well again & am not fearful about the future. I don't see me being able to work & having to give up on a career that I love. I've been told the pain cannot be reduced & that my only option is to rest, which is pretty much all I can do anyway. If anyone has any suggestions as to what I can do to help my body (& mind?) heal, I'd be very grateful. And also how to encourage my lovely hens to start laying again?

On my well days, I am appreciating the signs of autumn & the coming of winter. At this time of year, I welcome the dark, cosy nights & crisp bright autumn days, full of colour and amazing smells.

[dishwashingdoll]

If you want some ideas about how to celebrate the seasons look up Glennie Kindred. She has some really beautiful books in how to celebrate the Celtic year and how to communicate with trees.

[Grockle]

Yes, The Pooka site is really lovely.

[Nigglenaggle]

Thats lovely :)

[AngusOg]

any kid friendly suggestions?anyone out there raising a family to be open minded?any ideas would be fab

This website is lovely for Pagan children and there is a downloadable magazine for each part of the wheel of the year. The equinox / mabon 2012 one has just been published, link on this page:

Pooka

[Nigglenaggle]

Definitely up for raising to be open minded - although DH is a hardline atheist so will have that as his starting point! But happy for him to try out whatever religion he finds interesting

[MummyShirl]

hey!my spiritual views are much like spiritmum, i have a one year old and would love to bring him up to be open minded to all religions and wish to get him involved in celebrating the coming festivities. any kid friendly suggestions?anyone out there raising a family to be open minded?any ideas would be fab xxxx thanks

[Nigglenaggle]

I had forgotten it was Mabon so good to have a reminder. I feel the same as you OP, but also feel probably its more important to live ethically than mark specific dates. I try to do this but probably fail some of the time...

[Grockle]

Thank you - I'll look into wedding stuff when I'm feeling well. We know what kind of thing we'd want so hopefully we'll work something out. All info gratefully received

Mabon blessings to everyone. We'll light some candles & count our blessings if nothing else.

[TheLastRavenhope]

Just stopping by to wish everyone a happy Mabon :)

[worldgonecrazy]

angus is correct - there are people available to do legal handfastings in Scotland. Unfortunately England & Wales are yet to catch up.

We have done some handfastings in conjunction with a Registrar, but you do have to jump through quite a few hoops - there is no alcohol allowed, and the two ceremonies have to be kept entirely separate. We did do one with a Registrar where we just did the actual tying together of the hands as part of the legal wedding, but I think the Registrar was on quite thin ice legally.

[AngusOg]

Apologies - I haven't read the whole thread, but I've picked up on this:

Grockle - congrats on the proposal. There is a woman in the Orkneys who does hand fasting ceremonies I read about her on the Hedge Church FB page

IN Scotland, Pagan marriage / handfastings are legal marriages, the same as other legal religious marriages. They are conducted by Pagan celebrants who have the Approval of the General Registrar (Scotland). The marriage laws have always been different in the four countries of the UK and this recognition happened in 2004. Helen (Orkney Pagan Weddings) is one of the Approved Celebrants for the Scottish Pagan Federation, there are others and they cover the whole of Scotland.

legal handfasting

[RedMolly]

Re Jason Karl - he was on the first series of Most Haunted, and didn't seem too bothered about exploiting the dead for entertainment purposes. They did a live special about the Pendle Witches (in fairness he wasn't involved at that stage) and i was horrified at the time at the lack of respect they showed for these poor women. Hateful programme. From the little i've read about them, like WGC says there seems to be no evidence that they were actually witches, any more than the Salem witches were.

Re books - i also love Scott Cunningham (first witchy book i ever owned) and Rae Beth. Also liked Marian Green's A Witch Alone, Starhawk's The Spiral Dance and Moura's Green Witchcraft and also Grimoire for the Green Witch.

[Grockle]

Interesting about your DH theLastRavenhope. I'll look for the woman's hour thing about the Pendle Witches. Did anyone see the programme on Channel 5 on Thursday? The conference sounds interesting, World.

Thanks for the link, Wisteria - I'll have a look now. I think I just want to elope or take the DS's to town for a quick wedding then eat chips & ice cream on the beach.

I don't really have an altar either - I collect bits & put them in a vase or on the shelf. I need to set an altar up really.

Gosspis, what a sad day for you I like the idea of an online coven. I'm happy doing my own thing but it'd be lovely to have ideas from others. I don't know any pagans in RL.

I love Samhain - the feeling of starting again, new beginnings, welcoming the darkness & winter. And remembering those who have passed before us. We always have a big supper and it feels so atmospheric. I need to plan something for the equinox but I'm not sure what.