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?

sorry, didn't mean to post twice

CoI, I've only just read this - so sorry to hear your news. I have candles lit and am thinking of you and your friend. I like having somewhere to channel my thoughts, outside of my usual ways.

I was wondering if any of you do anything for Imbolc? I tend to just light candles and notice the bulbs growing. I'm going for a mooch round the garden centre tomorrow to lift my spirits a bit. I love spring.

This is a time of positivity and new beginnings, CofI, so is auspicious for your friend.

We do a ritual, during which we burn or throw in the river the things we need to get rid of, and visuale all the positive things we seek.

Obviously we have nice food and drink!! Lots of candles, music and laughter.

That sounds lovely. Yesterday I swept the garden and tidied everything up then planted some pots with bulbs and pansies so my front door looks really colourful and uplifting now. Will have candles, ale and cake this week too

Hello all,

CoI I'm so sorry to hear about youur friend...I spent a few minutes in thought for her the other day (after I looked in on the thread but didn't have chance to post)

I don't have any imbolc plans I've been a bit busier than i'd like with work (when projects collide) but that should be calming down again now...phew!

SO tommorw I'll be abit harrassed...work in morning then ds never seems to nap well at his grandma's so is always reallt tired and ready to sleep all afternoon...maybe he could do this in the sling while I go for a walk and collect some nicely budded twigs to decorate the house.

I can celebrate more on thurs when I have the day off. I think then I might do something like the ritual you describe EM..

I have something good to focus on at the moment...I am pg!

Only six and a bit weeks so it's tentative early days, but fingers crossed...

So I guess actually that's the focus of my Imbolc this year...how crazy to think that last Imbolc I was still awaiting ds's arrival.

Well...I came here all"argh....I haven't even had chance to think about Imbolc" ...but just writting has helped me work quite a bit of it out...

Anyone got a suitably seasonal cake idea/recipie?

Grockle I am rather of youur doorstep!

Ooo, how exciting! Congratulations - what a lovely Imbolc surprise

I don't think I have any seasonal cake recipes... I've been making Macarons recently due to a surplus of eggs (we have chickens)

Thanks Grockle

I hope you are having an enjoyable Imbolc...I'm defering till tomorrow!

Spring is comming! Soon be warm enough to get back to the countryside and out in the sun.

MFM congratulations, I'm delighted for you!
lovely news on this dismal morning.
I'm wondering how you are all feeling about the anti-woo and anti-horoscope threads?
I am definitely in favour of woo in some areas of my life in that I believe that there is Spirit who I acknowledge as Goddess. All life, All things are part of an on-going evolving changing pattern that is driven by the Life Force. I acknowledge daily the elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth and Spirit that combines them all. I try to live my life in a way that harms no others, including the planet, as best I can.
I am really happy to meet others who share this outlook, which is why I'm on this thread but I am not at all bothered about persuading any one else to join me.
With regard to horoscopes I'm a bit surprised that they upset anyone. I know I'm a Gemini as is DP, DD, one of my nieces, BIL, and several friends.
I know the vague characteristics we share, liking to talk and being good communicators, showing two faces to the world. I don't think any of us live our lives according to the Stars but if I found out that someone was being guided in that way I would see it as a seeking for guidance and reassurance.
(obviously I don't mean reading your stars in some tacky magazine and following that to the letter, rather people who have in depth readings) it seems harmless to me.
I'm happy for everyone to follow their chosen Path, however, I abhor anyone whose choice leads them to hate and despise others, whose fundamentalism teaches them that to mock and look down on others is OK, to hurt, kill rape and torture those who don't share there views is OK.
Sorry this turned into a rant. I am just surprised that things like horoscopes and crystals upset people so much.
How do all feel about it?

Earthymama- I totally agree with you and I haven't even ventured into those threads because I just don't have the energy or space in my head to deal with all that at the moment. I don't generally let on to people about things I believe in because I can't be doing with defending everything all the time. I don't give a monkeys what other people believe and I certainly wouldn't comment but sadly not everyone does the same.

I haven't seen any of those threads, thankfully. I really believe in 'each to their own' and 'An it harm none, do what ye will'... that's my basic philosophy for life. I don't care what anyone else believes as long as they don't upset or hurt other people. And likewise, I think I should be able to believe and think what I want as long as it doesn't cause problems for other people. I think people who get so upset by these sorts of things don't have enough other things to worry about. My life if busy and stressful enough without fretting about what other people do.

Thanks for confirmimg how I feel; I agree with both of you. I had a quick peep when they started but just ignore them now, though I was a bit put out by the inference that as a 'woo' person I rejected science Why get so upset, just get on with what does interest and excite you?

I've been asked to be friends on FB with people who know me slightly and I'm reluctant to confirm as I use my FB to be politically and spiritually active.
I'm thinking of having a page for work persona as oppossed my real self as people get so cross if you don't add them.

Aargh!

It's complicated in FB, isn't it? I used it to keep in regular contact with my family when I was overseas but it has snowballed somewhat and I now am friends with staff at work so need to be more careful about what I share.

It's mad that we're supposed to 'reject' science because we're pagan. What a load of rubbish.

I've always followed new advances in technology, specifically astronomy and geology. It's all part of our evolution as a species.

Congratulations MFM, what lovely news.

My friend is coming to terms with her situation, she'll have a mastectomy on 9th March.
She's viewing the cancer as an alien invader that's taken over her breast, as such she's very accepting of the removal as a way to remove the invader.

Thank you for your kind thoughts and words, they're very much appreciated.

I'm glad your friend is able to be so courageous, being ill is so scary. I have a benign cyst in my breast and the time when I found it and got to see consultant was so nerve racking and that was just one day!! They were piloting a project that sped up referrals. I was so grateful.
How are people doing these days? We are under lots of stress, I'm not very well and DP's job under threat so I'll be certainly Drawing Down the Moon tomorrow!! I struggle to sleep at Full Moon, so I try to find something to celebrate.
Blessings everyone, EM x

Any equinox plans?

We've been moon-gazing tonight and will bake a big chocolate cake tomorrow and fill it with eggs. Am going to try to do an egg hunt too as we've always done. Other than that, just gardening and smiling at the bulbs that are just beginning to flower.

Hope all of you are well

Hi Grockle!
We've had problems with the PC and internet, it's all been very stressful.
I can't believe that I used to cope if I didn't know the time of a bus service until the office opened in the morning. If I needed a contact address for an organisation I was able to survive until they answered the phone.
I have been SO frustrated and bad-tempered!

Anyway....Equinox was amazing; we went to Glastonbury and met up with a friend, had lovely food and lots of drinks, attended meditations and rituals,and so on.
It was so wonderful to be there, basking in the Sun light, walking in the Super Moon light.

I love the thought of you smiling at the bulbs, it's so evocative of those wonderful moments when the balance of the Year changes and tips towards the longer days.
Bright Blessings to you all xx

Hi, ChildofIsis,
how is your friend doing? Ok I hope.
Bright Blessings.X

Hi all,

I'm pagan, and can't believe I've only just found this thread!

I am currently 10+4 pg with DC1.

I am a solitary pagan and not part of a coven, and tend to mark the wheel of the year privately. DH is not pagan but athiest.

Once DC is born i'd like to try and mark the wheel of the year in a more open way, making each of the days "fun" for the LO to mark too.

How do you do it with children?

Blessings

Hi apples, welcome.

I am also solitary and my DP is an atheist but tolerant of my beliefs. With DS, I tend to just do 'normal' things - we talk a lot about the seasons and the changes. We walk in the Forest and on the beach and spend loads of time in the garden. He loves Hallowe'en and we always have a Samhain feast and he knows a little about that. Same for Yule & Ostara. We don't do anything partiularly more pagan than appreciate our surroundings and environment.

Congrats!

hi all and welcome apples!

Sorry i haven't been around much. Work and broken phone have kept me from mn for a while. but i have a t'interweb phone again now so can be a bit more on t'ball!

I haven't even had chance to properly celebrate madron yet. Though i have been able to get outside a lot, soaking up the growing sun and diving amongst the beautifull green as it first creeps, and now gushes forth.

Ds has just started walking and loves touching trees and leaves and things. We always let him do that in the sling but is fascinating seeing what he is naturally drawn to.

Apples i am pg too. Thirteen weeks so just starting to feel not yuck. How are you feeling?

So as soon as ds comes off my boob i'm going to make some cheese and leek pasties to take off in to the woods for a wonder this afternoon. Then i can spend some time getting my head round the changes going on all around us. And see the oak king finally starting to win the battle against that dastardly chilly holly king!

ooops. Ment to say that i hope your friend is doing well child of isis.

And i hope things pick up for you soon earthy, sounds like a difficult time for you and your dh.

Blessed be.xxx

Hello All, thanks for your positive energy.
My friend had her mastectomy and 3 lymph nodes removed on the 9th.
She's doing great, still having alot of nerve pain in the lymph area but apart from that is fine.
She got her results and does not need any chemo or radiotherapy.
What a fantastic result, all due to the fantastic amount of good wishes and energy sent her way I'm sure.

Isn't it great to see all the new growth in the gardens?
I love Spring, the flowing energy is really revitalising.

What good news, Child of Isis

Great news CofI, I'm so glad.