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?

Right, I've caught up now!

Welcome Chelc, Geomancer, Cantthink andGossipWitch - I'm glad things worked out.

Hello Jux - I remember your thread about your DD. I think it'd be lovely to share this thread with your DD.

Geoff, how's things with your friend?

I've been quite unwell so haven't done much at all, other than pottering in the garden. We got a dog back in June which has meant more trips out to walk on the beach & in the forest when I can manage it so that's been lovely.

I'm really interested in Reiki but still too sceptical to try it. I think i need to be open to the idea of it working before I give it a go. I'm feeling fairly desperate though so I think it will probably be my next step. I did have a wonderful reflexology session recently that sent me to sleep. It was the strangest thing - the lady was working on different parts of my feet and I could feel tingling in my shoulders and my hands would twitch depending on which bit of my foot she was working on. I'm a convert!

Any ideas as to what I can do to restore good health myself? I need some way to help myself heal but I don't know what to do

WB Grockle - I saw your posts on some other threads but was not in a position to offer up any helpful advice.

Relexology session you had sounds promising. I know you mentioned diet before, so perhaps that is something to work on? Or would you be in a position to go to/consider going to a retreat? An acquaintance of mine runs a pagan retreat once a year, but she may know of others.

A friend of mine does Reiki but we're not in your area at all (as far as I can recall) - she does have a number of contacts around the country so if you PM me your location I can ask her if she know of anyone. It has worked for her, both as a recipient and practitioner. Open-mindedness seems to be the main key.

Did you do anything for Lammas? I did not, sadly. DD has been sleeping erratically and hence the evenings I had intended to get outside and do something were rather sidelined. I do have a box of offerings which I'd like to place outside, but I think they'll now just have to wait for the next full moon.

As for the friend, I haven't heard from her in weeks, so no idea what is going on. Hopefully a bit of time and a bit of distance between her and these vile people has helped her.

How is everyone else? :)

Hi All

Just checking in. I didn't celebrate Lammas this year (the death of the Corn King), instead I got to celebrate the Irish festival of Lughnasadh in Ireland, which was fascinating. The Goddess is the one who dies of exhaustion after clearing the land of Ireland so that the people can plant crops. Her son, the God Lugh orders 3 weeks of feasting, dancing, games and markets to honour the sacrifice she has made for the people.

It was really interesting to see how other cultures celebrate the harvest time.

I just hope we get some actual Summer before we head into the Autumn.

Just checking back here to keep the thread going!

World that sounds like a really interesting festival. At the moment I am really interested in Lugh, as he appeared to me in a vision about 2 years ago - I have hazy memories of what he looked like, but the things I do recall have linked up quite clearly to things connected with him - flames, birch trees, warrior-like.

I STILL haven't been able to celebrate anything properly :(

On the plus side, we have been seeing a bit more summer.

Hi all, I am now covenless :(. my old hps has moved out of the area, and is still too poorly to run one anyway, so I'm back to hedgewitching.

Hello everyone, I haven't read the thread yet but thought I'd introduce myself first and ask what everyone is planning for the Autumn Equinox, if anything.

I don't know what DD and I will be doing yet, but I'm sure we'll have fun :)

hello thelast

I don't have any plans at the moment - presently, everything for me is rather 'wait and see how it is on the day'. Pretty much like Gossip I am approaching hedgewitchery (though I wouldn't class myself as a witch, just as a pagan). DH is not interested in any form of religion, and DD is too young to ferry around to much. Not too keen at being out and about late at night on my own, so rather limited. :)

I'm supposed to be celebrating the equinox with my coven, but I have a handfasting booked for the same day, so it may be logistically difficult. Whatever happens, I will be looking forward to the winter months, a time of contemplation and relaxation, a time for snuggling in front of the fire and being thankful that I have a fire to snuggle in front of and people to snuggle with.

I like this thread. I have to be careful in whatever I do with my chosen peeps. I like to walk at night to the beaches & reflect. I love to just soak up the moon at anytime late in the p.m. This happens when most are asleep. I love to sit by the window with it open & stare/meditate on the moon. Especially in summer. I like to pray & just speak to Great Spirit/Goddess/God. I like to charge my crystals in the moonlight. I observe the turning of the wheel but not as "religiously" as others. I do what feels right to me. I've never been into spells & all that. Not my thing. I'm more into words & prayers. I like my tarot, astrology, chakras, & auras. I love my candles, gemstones, & crystals but use what I feel is correct for me not always what others say. I do as I please.

I have always shared my spiritual beliefs & practices with my peeps. No one else ever. I don't care for groups.

Hello - life has taken over recently so I've not been on here so much. It's been nice to catch up on the thread and see what you've all been up to. My health has limited what I can do but I've had a good few weeks and managed a couple of lovely long walks... 1 in Yorkshire, around Malham which was gorgeous. The limestone pavements, moors and the cove never cease to fill me with wonder.

The other one was interesting - we changed our route up north at the last minute and drove from Liverpool to Skipton. As we drove through Lancashire, we passed a hill with 1612 written in huge numbers on the side. I had no idea what it was for until I looked at facebook and a friend had posted about the Pendle Witch Trials, with a photo of the hill we'd seen. It seems we passed Pendle on the 400th anniversary of the witch trials. DP decided that we should go back and walk over the hill the next day, so we did. It was pouring with rain, blowing a gale & no-one else was around. It was lovely! When we got to the top, DP produced a bottle of bubbly from the rucksack & a pretty ring & asked me to marry him. It was lovely (until I drank the whole bottle because DP was driving home so I was rather more merry than perhaps I should have been )

I've since read a lot about the witch trials and am keen to read more - does anyone have any book recommendations about witches?

Hoping you are all well. I need to make plans for autumn equinox - this one is always significant for me as it's DS's birthday around then.

How's everyone doing? I'm very much taking the wait and see approach with the equinox as everything seems to be a little hectic right now!

Grockle - My DH has, as long as I've known him, said that one of the Pendle witches was his great, great, great (add some on for good measure) aunt, one of the Device family. I don't know how true that is, but would be very cool if it is! I don't have any recommendations, your post just reminded me of that is all

Can I ask a daft question for those who have altars? Mine is just made up of things I happen to find when thinking of things to do with my craft and just show up in my path. If it's not too rude, does anyone else make theirs up the same way?

Grockle - Congratulations! What a lovely day you had! :)

I like Malham too - we visited there a few years ago. We did the cove, and also the tarn - on the way to which, I saw a weasel.

I don't know much about Pendle - will have to read up, but I think by the time I finish the pile of books I have, it'll be time to get back to research reading as I'm about to start an MSc.

Just to say that I don't really have an altar - I have a small shelf which holds some candles and god and goddess symbols. And a small pentacle. A friend of mine has several altars around her house - one is to her patron goddess and she will add things to it that she finds when out and about that are relevant to that goddess. One of her others is seasonal and is changed accordingly.
Another friend puts things on that she finds along the way, usually when thinking about a ritual that's forthcoming, or something that she needs help with.

Hi. I haven't posted on here before as i'm no longer really a pagan so feel a bit of a fraud, but like to read. Just wanted to say congratulations to Grockle - what a wonderful proposal!

I do still have an altar. It is in the garden under a massive old beech tree and is a minature stone circle (and i mean minature - it's about the size of a cake tin). I still celebrate the festivals in a low key way as it helps keep me grounded and connected to nature. I add bits to the altar as i come across them, and sometimes still bury votive offerings there (which the dog then digs up).

There was a piece on Woman's Hour a few weeks ago about the Pendle Witches - don't know if it still available on iplayer though.

Can anyone suggest any good books on paganism? I'm curious about our links to the earth / seasons and nature. Thanks.

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
www.orkneypaganweddings.co.uk/
Wish I'd had something like this (see her page) it sounds really special.

Hello to Molly and Wisteria

I have a number of different books I dip into from time to time; most frequently I use 'Wheel of the Year' by Gail Duff which has some great ideas for rituals, and I have also used Scott Cunninghams' 'Wicca: A guide for the solitary practitioner'.

Plenty of information on the net. :)

Wisteria - I think Hedgewitch by Rae Beth would be right up your street.

notgeoffI went to a conference in Boscastle and there was a speaker (Jason Karl) speaking about the Pendle Witches. These poor women weren't witches at all, from what the speaker was saying it was more like a latter day "Jeremy Kyle" where a poor and illiterate family were picked on and used as scapegoats and entertainment by those who were in a better position than themselves. It all sounds very horrible. The families home was actually called a name which translated to "shit tip". All very sad. The inhumanity of the witch trials is sickening.

Rae Beth is a good read too. I quite like some of Cassandra Eason's books too.

That conference sounds interesting, World - I figured that many people accused of witchcraft were elderly or possibly had some mental health problems, or were just wise women/men that scared the church because prayer didn't work for the issues they were working with. In an age of superstition, it was easy to point a finger and condemn someone (Reminds me of the song 'Burn the Witch' by Queens of the Stone Age).

Unfortunately similar attitudes still prevail in some areas of the globe. If only the human race could learn and practice tolerance. Sigh.

Had a very emotional day today, will definitely need a load of r&r as I attended a prem babies funeral.

Was wondering if it may be an idea to have a sort of online coven where we put idea's forth for upcoming holidays, and pick and choose what's right for us at the time?

just an idea :)

Gossip how sad! The interesting thing is that on this thread we have all the highs and lows that life throws at us.

I quite like the idea of an online coven. I always pick and choose things from different rituals either in books or that I see online; I haven't done anything tangible for ages though.

This Samhain I want to do something, but I don't know what. I know I will end up in tears but hopefully they'll be soothing ones. I know I need to get myself back on track, to be the organised and methodical person that I was when I was studying from Sept-May. I have to find her and get her to be even more organised and methodical for the next two years!

Hallows/Samhain is a very sad time, but it can also be very cathartic for those who have someone to mourn.

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.

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.

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

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.