Ah, Spring in the Sacramento Valley. 50 degrees one day, 100 degrees the next. Winds that rip the pollen loose and rain that barely covers our needs. It has been an interesting spring this year. I am not looking forward to summer. The valley isn't pretty in the summer. Everything turns brown and crispy and no one goes outside for fear of being baked by the 100+ temperatures. Lots of wavy mirages created by the overabundance of asphalt though. Although by the end of summer the sunflower fields bloom and that's nice to see if you happen to drive past one. So much for that mythical perfect weather anyone outside of California thinks we have.
But I didn't come here today to complain about the weather. Nope, today I am thinking about the moon. Makes sense since there are two full moons this month. There is one today which I won't see tonight unless the clouds clear (we got drizzled on last night) and then there is a blue moon on the 31st.
I happened upon The Farmer's Almanac Astronomy page. They have an article about names for the full moons that are supposed to have come from the Native Americans, and since this I live in America, I thought it would be good to know these names as opposed to the celtic ones I so often see. We are currently in Full Flower Moon, because, that's right, there are lots of flowers (April showers bring May flowers), makes sense doesn't it.
On the same Astronomy page was a link to a site that allows you to find the moon phases for the past three hundred years. I was born during the New Moon in 1974, in fact, the New Moon was that day. I had wanted to know that, but wasn't sure, beyond finding an old calendar, how I would figure it out.
I've always been fascinated by the moon. We had a house when I was a teenager where the moon shone directly onto my bed and I could lay beneath its rays and I would feel a sense of peace. If the sky is clear tomorrow morning, I will be able to see it as I leave for work, but given how hot it has been already, I really hope it rains more.
Blessings,
Agate
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Expanding my practice
Through the 14 years I have been a witch my least favorite thing has been doing formal rituals. I often find that having to memorize and go through 'the motions" of creating a circle to feel more like acting, than religion. In college I was in theater, and many rituals seem to read like a play, say this, walk right, point there, etc. Not particularly inspiring. I realize that in a group this sort of thing is necessary to prevent chaos and confusion, but I'm a solitary and it just wasn't working for me.
But I want to do rituals, so I have had to alter how it is done. For example I like to dance my circle into creation. Except for music, it is silent. I do call the quarters, just without words. This I like, this feels spiritual for me. I speak later on, saying the Charge of the Goddess (which I do want to memorize) prayers, songs, chants, then I release the circle as I opened it, but going the other way around. It is a more spontaneous ritual, more creative in the moment, I only do basic planning beforehand.
So having found a method of ritual that feels spiritual, I want to do more. I want to become adept at the practice of ritual and get past the resistance I have had for them. I was thinking maybe one a week, but it will probably be more like once or twice a month, which, trust me, is way more than the once or twice a year I was doing. I did my first ritual Friday a week ago; a gratitude ritual after my father's surgery to remove his foot. We were worried he might not make it (he's had bunch of surgeries for an infection he had, is diabetic and on dialysis; the surgeries began in January, we're hoping this is it).
I bought a book yesterday, and it is on creating rituals. It is called Women's Rites, Women's Mysteries by Ruth Barrett.
I am eager to read it and see if I can put it to use. I wanted to get The Earth Path by Starhawk too, but I have got to be careful with what I spend, so maybe next time.
Blessings,
Agate
But I want to do rituals, so I have had to alter how it is done. For example I like to dance my circle into creation. Except for music, it is silent. I do call the quarters, just without words. This I like, this feels spiritual for me. I speak later on, saying the Charge of the Goddess (which I do want to memorize) prayers, songs, chants, then I release the circle as I opened it, but going the other way around. It is a more spontaneous ritual, more creative in the moment, I only do basic planning beforehand.
So having found a method of ritual that feels spiritual, I want to do more. I want to become adept at the practice of ritual and get past the resistance I have had for them. I was thinking maybe one a week, but it will probably be more like once or twice a month, which, trust me, is way more than the once or twice a year I was doing. I did my first ritual Friday a week ago; a gratitude ritual after my father's surgery to remove his foot. We were worried he might not make it (he's had bunch of surgeries for an infection he had, is diabetic and on dialysis; the surgeries began in January, we're hoping this is it).
I bought a book yesterday, and it is on creating rituals. It is called Women's Rites, Women's Mysteries by Ruth Barrett.
I am eager to read it and see if I can put it to use. I wanted to get The Earth Path by Starhawk too, but I have got to be careful with what I spend, so maybe next time.
Blessings,
Agate
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Practicing what we preach
Did you know that Green Egg magazine has been reborn online? Their first issue has a beautiful 'cover' of a pheonix rising from the ashes. In it is one article in particular that I'd like to talk about here.
Michael R. Gorman, a druid out of Sacramento, wrote a piece called Our Pagan Elders. In it he criticizes the pagan 'community' and how we make no effort, do no work that requires any more time than it takes to type into our keyboards (my reduction of his topic). He's right. We do not really have a community. No place for people in need to go to, nowhere for people to get together that is our own, no way to really support each other. We throw a few good thoughts, a little postive energy, in someone's direction when they need help, when what they really need is a hand to hold or a place to stay, maybe even a little cash. We expect the leaders of our groups to do all the work without compensation (and yes, I mean cash, you ever try to live in this world for free, but Goddess forbid any one dare ask a little renumeration for their time). We search everywhere for the work of someone else that we can benefit from so we can crawl back into our closets and go back to our nice, safe lives.
I once tried to create a pagan newsletter. After a local church began an effort to shut down a pagan store, I thought I'd try and bring our local pagans together. I did manage to find a partner, but when I asked for submissions from the public I recieved one letter and a picture in almost a year of publishing. By the way, this was a free publication, I covered the cost and asked for no money, only participation. Nothing. No one cared enough. Oh sure, they were happy to pick up the newsletter, but no one wanted to participate. Apathy runs rampant in the pagan community. How sad is that?
I would love to create a community center, not here in Yuba City, I don't actually like this town, but wherever I eventually end up, I'd love to create a place where people from any tradition could come, teach lessons, share art, and meet each other in the flesh rather than over a computer. But would I find anyone who wanted to help? Would anyone volunteer to do things there? Or would they be too busy pretending they are as mundane as their Christian neighbors?
I read so many self-righteous comments online from pagans as they proclaim their superiority over that other religion, yet how are we better? We don't support our leaders, we don't educate our children (I've met pagans who raise their children as Christians), we don't support those who are needy among us (either with personal or monetary support), we don't do anything that requires any real effort beyond sitting on our butts in front of a computer screen.
Are you going to argue it? "But I did this-once." I know, I don't think I have done enough, but if no one else is willing to try, how much can one person accomplish? Not a great deal. A community is not created by one person, that would be a cult. You need many people, working together towards a common goal, to have a community. The computer may have connected us across land mass and oceans, but that is all it has done.
Blessings,
Agate
Michael R. Gorman, a druid out of Sacramento, wrote a piece called Our Pagan Elders. In it he criticizes the pagan 'community' and how we make no effort, do no work that requires any more time than it takes to type into our keyboards (my reduction of his topic). He's right. We do not really have a community. No place for people in need to go to, nowhere for people to get together that is our own, no way to really support each other. We throw a few good thoughts, a little postive energy, in someone's direction when they need help, when what they really need is a hand to hold or a place to stay, maybe even a little cash. We expect the leaders of our groups to do all the work without compensation (and yes, I mean cash, you ever try to live in this world for free, but Goddess forbid any one dare ask a little renumeration for their time). We search everywhere for the work of someone else that we can benefit from so we can crawl back into our closets and go back to our nice, safe lives.
I once tried to create a pagan newsletter. After a local church began an effort to shut down a pagan store, I thought I'd try and bring our local pagans together. I did manage to find a partner, but when I asked for submissions from the public I recieved one letter and a picture in almost a year of publishing. By the way, this was a free publication, I covered the cost and asked for no money, only participation. Nothing. No one cared enough. Oh sure, they were happy to pick up the newsletter, but no one wanted to participate. Apathy runs rampant in the pagan community. How sad is that?
I would love to create a community center, not here in Yuba City, I don't actually like this town, but wherever I eventually end up, I'd love to create a place where people from any tradition could come, teach lessons, share art, and meet each other in the flesh rather than over a computer. But would I find anyone who wanted to help? Would anyone volunteer to do things there? Or would they be too busy pretending they are as mundane as their Christian neighbors?
I read so many self-righteous comments online from pagans as they proclaim their superiority over that other religion, yet how are we better? We don't support our leaders, we don't educate our children (I've met pagans who raise their children as Christians), we don't support those who are needy among us (either with personal or monetary support), we don't do anything that requires any real effort beyond sitting on our butts in front of a computer screen.
Are you going to argue it? "But I did this-once." I know, I don't think I have done enough, but if no one else is willing to try, how much can one person accomplish? Not a great deal. A community is not created by one person, that would be a cult. You need many people, working together towards a common goal, to have a community. The computer may have connected us across land mass and oceans, but that is all it has done.
Blessings,
Agate
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Merry Meet
There may be a few people for whom this blog sounds familiar. I did have a blog before called Agate's Cave that I kept for a little while. But I had a great deal of trouble trying to post on it because every time I tried to publish a carefully written post I got kicked off the web. May have been my computer's fault or my provider, but whatever the reason, I got frustrated and gave up. Now I don't remember the password to get back onto it, so here is Agate's Pen.
I have been a witch (based upon Wicca as I learned it from Scott Cunningham's books) since 1993. I am eclectic with definite Dianic leanings, but I practice no specific tradition. I am a creative witch. Most of my practices include the making of something, from a poem or prayer, to a crocheted or embroidered item and in this way I connect with Goddess.
I am a solitary practitioner although my best friend, Kindra and I often try to celebrate the holidays together in some way, especially the past year or so as her four year old daughter Visha has gotten old enough to begin participating.
I am a writer and have a regular column on MysticWitch although lately I have been writing a story serial for that zine.
For this blog I am going to refrain from the complaining I seemed to be doing a lot of in my last blog and focus on my learning and successes in my life. I've been trying to make a lot of changes and one of those is to find the positivity in my life. Several years back I suffered a deep depression that led to thoughts of suicide and while I don't want to kill myself anymore, I often still find myself in those bouts of depression so forgive any lapses I have.
One of the things I am doing to improve myself is to write as much as possible and not just in stories or articles. I have two blogs, the other is about my forays into the craft world. I mostly crochet, but also do embroidery and cross stitch and just last week taught myself how to spin yarn. I am very excited about that.
I am considering the possibility of posting some of my other writing here as well. Maybe things that have been published in the past.
Well, that's what I have for you right now. I've been trying to post to my other blog at least once a week and will do the same for this one.
Blessings,
Agate
I have been a witch (based upon Wicca as I learned it from Scott Cunningham's books) since 1993. I am eclectic with definite Dianic leanings, but I practice no specific tradition. I am a creative witch. Most of my practices include the making of something, from a poem or prayer, to a crocheted or embroidered item and in this way I connect with Goddess.
I am a solitary practitioner although my best friend, Kindra and I often try to celebrate the holidays together in some way, especially the past year or so as her four year old daughter Visha has gotten old enough to begin participating.
I am a writer and have a regular column on MysticWitch although lately I have been writing a story serial for that zine.
For this blog I am going to refrain from the complaining I seemed to be doing a lot of in my last blog and focus on my learning and successes in my life. I've been trying to make a lot of changes and one of those is to find the positivity in my life. Several years back I suffered a deep depression that led to thoughts of suicide and while I don't want to kill myself anymore, I often still find myself in those bouts of depression so forgive any lapses I have.
One of the things I am doing to improve myself is to write as much as possible and not just in stories or articles. I have two blogs, the other is about my forays into the craft world. I mostly crochet, but also do embroidery and cross stitch and just last week taught myself how to spin yarn. I am very excited about that.
I am considering the possibility of posting some of my other writing here as well. Maybe things that have been published in the past.
Well, that's what I have for you right now. I've been trying to post to my other blog at least once a week and will do the same for this one.
Blessings,
Agate
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