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?

It's great to know of other pagans who love xmas carols.
I was always in the choir at school and know them all well.
DD knows that the xmas story is just that, a story.
She knows that all religions celebrate the return of the sun god at winter solstice and that the romans moved Yule and the christians too, took it over.

I had a great idea for a Yule meditation in the night.
Once it's done I'll let you know.

I'm creeping in to see if I am still welcome.

I have had a really hard time since the summer due to DP's ongoing depression. I had to 'close' to my surroundings to deal with it and that included my spirituality. I have felt like a fake and a Pagan Poser and I can't be doing with that.

DP's depression sucks the life and light out everything, it happens so slowly that you don't realise until you are living in the dark. My daughter is an amazing support and DP has great friends but she wants to shut herself away and I get pulled in too.

I was on the committee of our local allotment society and there has been such blatant hatred and emnity against those of us who want to protect wildlife and the environment and won't agree to grubbing up of hedges etc. It has been so horrible and hurtful, there have been mass resignations but those who thrive on conflict cling to power.

I felt (and I DO know this is ridiculous) that I had let the Goddess down, that I should be stronger and happier and able to cope with anything life throws at me. So I have been in a cave of my own making, licking my wounds and reflecting. I just could not come on here as I felt I would release a river of tears.

Thankfully the light is creeping back, I felt Moon's power this week and I am planning to celebrate Yule by foraging for greenery and creating wreaths with my lovely women friends on Saturday, before going to Glastonbury for the Christmas holidays.

I have missed you all and hope you are feeling some Light on these dark mid-winter days.
Blessings EM x

You are most welcome of course!

You have not let the Goddess down by retreating to a place of safety whilst you deal with the issues in your life.

It's as if you are symbolising the not yet reborn sun god.
You had to retreat into a dark, enclosed space from which you are finally able to emerge.
What a fantastic image for winter solstice.

Yule in Glastonbury sounds fantastic, I hope you have a great holiday.

Hi all! Apologies in advance for any spelling/grammar errors, as I read and post via my phone.
Only just found this thread on Active while having a stressful week, have read most of the posts and been reminded of what really matters so felt strengthened and at peace. Thank you.
I've been pagan for years but do not ascribe to a particular sect as I have intentionally turned away from any organised religion in order to feel free to trust my own spiritual beliefs and feel more directly connected/have a closer relationship with God/ess. Ultimately I believe most religions are different paths up the same mountain and my wanderings fit most closely with what I see, hear, smell and feel to be real - the world around me. I have pagan friends who unfortunately I see rarely and I go to a few pagan events a year but largely celebrate the turning of the wheel in a personal, informal way with my DH who has similar beliefs.
Yule is our wedding anniversary as we chose the date in order to celebrate in as pagan a way as possible without openly offending our less understanding Christian relatives (lots of holly, mistletoe and candles plus talk of brighter days), plus to start our married life as the days lengthen and dark receeds. It has worked well for us so far. This year has been very eventful for us in a good way, including the birth of our first child and pregnancy with our second but this has meant I've been distracted and felt less aware of the passing seasons. I am really pleased to have found a group to keep me reminded :)

Welcome Tinwe.
What a wonderfull wedding date you have.

As no doubt you saw in the previous threads we're all on slightly different paths.
I see it as paths running parallel to each other, we may not follow a subscribed pattern but are all close enough to each others view to be a support network and even help those who falter along the way.

Oh earthymama, welcome back. I've been struggling with my DPs depression too. He's been signed off work with it for 5 months and it's exhausting dealing with it. You're right, it sucks the life out of everything around. My DPs on the mend - I hope yours is too. Thinking of you both. X

My Mum passed away on sunday afternoon.
She'd been ill for years with her heart and had been seriously ill for the last 3 months.
She went peacefully with no pain.
Strangely she died at 1.50pm on 18th of december, my Dad died at 1.50pm on the 18th of June (1990).

I've written a short meditation for Yule.

If anyone wants a copy PM your e-mail address and I'll send you a copy.
(Grockle I've already sent you one.)

Oh childofisis, I'm sorry for your loss. Am so glad it was peaceful and that your mum is now at rest. The 1:50 thing can't be purely coincidence, can it? And both just before a solstice...

I hope you have lots of love and support around you. How's DD?

Solstice blessings to you all. It's been a hard year for many of us but I know the coming light brings hope.

Happy Winter Solstice all.

So sorry to hear about your mum childofIsis - hope the lengthening days bring you some comfort.

Thank you for your kind thoughts.
DD is ok-ish, she's upset because she thinks other people will leave her too.
Daddy left in september and Grandma died in december, who's next?
We talk about it when she wants to but some days she just assumes I'm going to leave her too. It's heartbreaking to see her struggle with it all.
I continue to reassure her of my love for her and my pride in her.

I'm surprised at how balanced I do feel considering the changes I've been challenged with since the summer.

The best comfort for me is acceptance.
Once I've accepted the truth of a situation I know that I am able to respond with clarity rather than react out of fear.
Some days that is very hard to do but I continue to strive for acceptance and to find gratitude in every day things.

My faith has been a huge support for me and I find myself with more understanding of who I truly am.
All those sleepless night gave me lots of thinking time.

I have a strong sense of something new awaiting me, something I would never have considered previously.
Watch this space!

I'm looking forward to my Yule ritual later on and have really enjoyed sharing the spirit of today with DD.

Great to have you back, Earthymama.

Good to see you too, ChildOfIsis, so sorry for your loss. Would you be able to pm me your Yule meditation please?

There is so much to do this time of year, but all I want to do is eat and sleep . I wonder what next year will bring? can i have another holiday in Glastonbury please

Pm me your e-mail address and I'll send it now.

I'm sorry I've been absent from this thread and sorry to hear your news ChildofIsis.

I've had a bit of a basinful of pagan politics over the last few months and made the decision to tread a more solitary path. I feel all the better for it, to be honest and much more at peace.

So tomorrow, I am off to have a quiet, contemplative celebration of the solstice on a magical hill very near me.

I wish you all a wonderful Yule.

Pagan politics are the pits aren't they Pandemoniaa.

Enjoy the space and air on your hill, what a wonderfull way to welcome the sun.

I haven't been in here for a very long time. I've been feeling lost and completely disconnected from my beliefs and the earth. This year has generally been a good one, I got married and had a good summer and nothing too terrible has happened. December however has been very dark indeed with bereavement of both a much loved pet and very dear friend, the latter made harder by the fact he chose to leave this life. I'm also having an ongoing struggle with secondary infertility - on a personal level this has hit my sense of self very hard.
I'm feeling very contemplative today and thinking I need to make more of an effort to keep myself connected to my beliefs.

I am new here, so hello!

I was wondering if anyone could recommend any good books or websites about family pagan celebrations etc. I have several books on pagan celebrations and traditions etc but nothing aimed specifically at family life, I have two kids (3 and 18 months) and would like to start to involve them, but as I don't really do much myself (except in thought- I used to celebrate summer and winter solstice and Samhain with a good friend when i lived in the UK but now I am not there it is much harder ) I wanted to take them both to make a fire yesterday in the local forest BBQ pit but unfortunately DS had a raging fever so had to stop that plan (he was making his own fire!)

Nothing to complicated or ritualistic, just some simple things that we can start to make family traditions if you see what I mean

Thanks xxxx

Thank you all for your understanding and kind words, they mean a lot to me.
I feel as Life is reawakening as the Sun returns. I am in Glastonbury, with DP having a really lovely time.
We went out into the woods last weekend with my DD and her friend, we collected greenery and made beautiful wreaths and drank DP's mince pie brandy! She has gone to town on the HomeMade stuff and it has helped her heal I am sure.
We came to Glastonbury and are settled in a lovely cottage, right close to the Town Centre and have thrown ourselves into celebration!
We went to a Winter Solstice celebration with poetry, choirs, wonderful violins and beer
Then a meditation at Chalice Well, followed by a fire-lighting ceremony, more music and a Mistletoe Ceremony at White Springs. We saw a band called Dragonsfly in the evening and danced the dark away.
It's been so lovely and I feel so connected to Goddess again.
I hope you all had Joyful Yuletide celebrations, each in your own way, and that you are able to feel the sense of peace as we are held in this MidWinter pause.
Merry Christmas too! May the Goddess, wreathed in Holly and Mistletoe, dance through your celebrations
Bright Blessings to you all
EM xx

Leni, I have several books for children, I can't remember the authors and titles off hand, except for Circle Round by Starhawk and another woman whose name I have forgotten
I'll look when I get a chance, nice to see you on this thread.

ChildofIsis, bless you, I lost my mother a couple of years ago, it is hard and hurts a lot.
However, the cliches are true, time does heal and your mum will always be in your heart.
Your little one will remember too, my grandchildren still tell stories about their Nannie and know that she loved them.
I'm sorry she is feeling such loss, I send blessings and will remember you at the Well tomorrow x

Just composed a long message twice only to have my phone eat it and now too tired to type it all a third time... Just want to wish all a peaceful Yuletide with loved ones, full of optimism brought by the lightening days x

Hello I'd just like to register my interest/compatibility with this subject.

Welcome trulyscrumptious.

I hope you had a Merry Yule.

Thanks you...merry and mixed, and it ain't over yet!

Earthy, that sound like a lovely weekend. I want some of your DPs mince pie brandy. Is there a recipe?

I'm feeling overwhelmed and very stressed atm. I want to stop the worl and jump off, in order to have a break. Either that, or take DS to a remote croft in Scotland and hide there, snuggled by the log fire all winter. Unfortunatley, I need to tidy my house and do work. But I can dream!

How're things, ChildofIsis.

Welcome TrulyScrumptious