Thursday, March 28, 2013

G is for Grounding and Centering


G is for Grounding and Centering - Pagan Blog Project - Week 13

                What exactly is grounding and centering, and how do you do it? When I was but a witchling, we always made sure to ground and center before our ritual celebrations. I’d read the words, probably in various 101 books, but had no real idea what it was or why I was doing it. We ground and center to bring ourselves into the here and now by pulling our often divided attention back to self; we do it to release excess energy, to heal, and of course to connect with Mother Earth.

You don’t have to be a pagan or a witch to benefit from the practice. Life is hectic, and most of us cast our energy out over various people, places, and projects at any given time of the day. We worry about traffic, and what to cook for dinner, we fret over our children, and consider how to stretch our hard earned dollars. With so many considerations and worries swirling around in our brains, it’s important to take a few moments and just be.

With that being said, I think it’s doubly important for the magick types to incorporate grounding and centering in their daily rituals. If you work in the astral, play with crystals or herbs, or practice divination techniques, you probably know how easy it is to be completely lost in your project. We spend a lot of our time working in the Upper and Lower realms, and this can cause us to become uninspired or even dissatisfied with the physical realm. Many of us live in our own little world. I’m sure you've heard the old joke about pagan standard time.

                We ground and center to bring our awareness back to self. That sounds interesting and useful, but how the hell does one go about doing it? There are plenty of different ways, but the most common is to simply plant your feet on the earth. Go outside, take your shoes off, stand with your feel firmly planted on the ground, close your eyes, raise your hands into the air, and breathe slowly and deeply.

Breathing techniques are an important part of the process. If you have a regular practice of meditation, then you know a little something about deep breathing. Most people breathe shallowly, from the chest. A good way to figure out if you are breathing too shallowly is to note if your shoulders are heaving. To breathe deeply, you pull that air down into your belly. Imagine it flowing even further, down into your feet and into the ground; then pull your breath back up from the ground and so on. If you place your hand on your tummy, you should be able to feel it rise with each inhalation. It may feel kind of weird at first, but I promise you’ll start to enjoy it!


Be the tree.
                Now that we've got you outside, connected to Mother Earth, and breathing properly, it’s time to get rid of all the mindless chatter that floats around in one’s brain. If you’re new to deep breathing, just concentrating on the process tends to push away everything else, and old hands probably know how to clear the mind, but for those of us in the in-between stages, it can be a bit challenging. This next step is for everyone, and will help refocus your energy. Imagine that you are a tree; yes a tree, that’s right. Grow your roots deep into the ground, feel the cool moist earth surround them. Imagine all the little life scurrying around you, the bugs going about their daily chores, or maybe you’re planted near a burrow or den. As you expand yourself below, grow upward toward the nurturing rays of the sun. Your trunk is thick and sturdy, your branches long and reaching. Bask in the breeze as it dances through your leaves, feel the weight of birds or squirrels on your limbs. With each inhalation, pull the earth and water energy from the ground beneath you and the air and fire energy from the sky. Allow this energy to move through your entire body, to mix and mingle, and to cleanse and rejuvenate. With every exhalation, release any tension, anger, or unhappy thoughts or feelings. Pull all those stray thoughts back into yourself and push them into the ground. This is not the time to worry about tomorrow’s doctor appointment or whether you’re running low on milk. Enjoy the flood of energy and your connection to the earth. When you feel that you've reaped all the benefits of the exercise, pull those limbs and roots back into yourself. 

Congratulation, you’re now grounded and centered. 

Monday, March 25, 2013

Mind, Body, and Spirit – Week 5, I think


Mind, Body, and Spirit – Week 5, I think

                I've done pretty well with the no soda stint. I've had a few here and there, but honestly it’s gotten to the point where they taste disgusting, and each time I pick one up, I wonder why I bothered to pop the tab. Now we’re on to the biggie (or rather, one of the biggies), quitting smoking. I've gone back and forth with the idea of getting back on Chantix (sp?), but at this point, I don’t think I’ll need it. I really haven’t been feeling well lately, and smoking seems to be making the symptoms worse.

                I’m going to limit myself to ten a day to begin with. I know that sounds like a huge amount for someone who is trying to quit, but I've been smoking well over a pack a day. I’m allowing myself 4 before and after work, and one to and from. If I feel the need for more, I’ll pick up the e-cig. My biggest concern is that my boyfriend will not be quitting with me. Having him smoking in front of me is going to be a very big challenge!

                My other concern is the weight gain issue. In the past, each time I've “quit”, I've always picked up about twenty pounds, and I’m already at my high-end weight at this point. I’d really rather not push myself over into the 200 zone. While I’m not ready to move toward a change in my eating habits, I will be keeping an eye on things so that I can at least attempt to keep it under control. We’ll see how the ten a day goes this week, and then look at dropping it by two next week.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

F is for Fellowship


F is for Fellowship - Pagan Blog Project - Week 12

                I know that there are a lot of solitaries out there who are perfectly happy with remaining that way. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I practiced and celebrated solo for many years. Finding common ground has always been a bit of an issue for me, even within the pagan and witch community. It seemed that each time I attempted to mingle, I always ran into the pompous types. While I most certainly could have furthered my studies with a teacher, I wasn't in the market for a pretentious instructor. What I really wanted was to share experiences and build solid foundations with trustworthy people (see my rant on F is for Fluffy Bunny).

                In the twelve or so years I've been practicing, I've come across exactly two groups of people that I've felt comfortable with. The first was a group of dabblers I happened to network with via a coworker. The connection was unexpected, and I’m grateful that I overcame my antisocial nature and actually ventured forth to meet them. We learned and played together, and they became a family to me, a group of sisters. Some of us would probably still be practicing together today if it weren't for a career change and a hurricane. After the move, I sort of drifted in my practice. I attended a few Pagan Pride Days and mingled with a couple of dabblers, but I just never could manage to make the connection. Admittedly, these failed attempts kept me underground for quite some time. I decided to take the leap again, about a two and half years ago, and it was well worth the wait. Finding this group of people has felt like coming home.
Hecate's Cauldron of Mississippi
Ostara 2013

                I have not entered into a coven. That kind of commitment is not to be decided upon at a whim. But we have formed an organization, a community, in which we learn, teach, share, grow, and celebrate together. I’m very much enjoying the fellowship shared between this new family and myself, and I hope that all you solitaries out there are able to find the same harmony and joy in the group experience at some point in your journeys.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

F is for Fluffy Bunny


F is for Fluffy Bunny - Pagan Blog Project - Week 11

Apparently, you can buy these
cloths on Zazzle.
                If you haven’t heard the term “Fluffy Bunny” before, you've probably never been in a pagan or Wiccan forum. Wikipedia describes the term as “a pejorative expression used since at least 1987 in Wicca (and in Neopaganism generally) to refer to adherents of the religion who are thought to be superficial or faddish. They are considered to dislike darker elements and emphasi[z]e goodness, light, eclecticism and elements taken from the New Age movement, or follow it as a fad.[1]

                I've seen this term all over the place, mostly out of context, and I honestly think it’s pretty darn disrespectful. More often than not, I've seen the label pasted on individuals who are guilty of simply holding a differing opinion, or Goddess forbid, asking a question. I lurked around a few forums in my witchling years, but rarely joined in on the conversations for that very reason. I wanted to learn everything I could, and in the beginning, I read more than I practiced. I was a teenager with no connections, no teachers. The only books I had were D.J. Conway’s Celtic Magic and a bit of Mama Ravenwolf (yes, I can actually hear you snarling). My stint with the forums ended rather quickly after I observed all the name calling and sheer bitchiness.

                Catherine Noble Beyer’s website Wicca for the Rest of Us is dedicated to “Stop[ing] the Fluff”. She provides her own definition of the term “one who refuses to learn, refuses to think, and refuses to consider the possibility that they could possibly ever be wrong.”[2] She goes on to point out that she does not mean “those who disagree with [her]” and also excludes “newcomers”. Beyer brings attention to the fact that there is a lot of “bad information” floating around out there and you can’t exactly blame the practitioner for following it. Ignorance is only shameful when a person refuses to pursue a resolution. To correct the issue, you must first be aware that a problem even exists. People have a tendency to completely ignore new ideas and stop seeking that resolution when they are presented with a snobbish, mightier than thou attitude. I acknowledge the fact that there are fad supporters, blind followers, those who extremely resistant to change, many who do not like to go outside their own comfort zones, and a plethora of slow learners, but there are plenty of seekers out there, some who are too scared to speak up or ask questions for fear of ridicule.

Providing Guidance

                I’m not too proud to admit that I once held those same lighthearted views about spiritual concepts that so often “gift” newcomers with the fluffy bunny label. I chased an imaginary goddess of “all that is good” for many years while ignoring the fact that life is a balance and you will find that balance everywhere you turn, even in the gods. I was not guided to this information (by a human being, anyway); I eventually came to the conclusion on my own. Balance works for me, but I honestly don’t see what the big deal is when it doesn't work for someone else. My moment of “enlightenment” opened a lot of doors I never even knew existed, but that doesn't mean John Doe’s spirituality is false simply because his relationship with deity is all hearts and rainbows. I personally like it when my life is going smoothly, and do everything within my power to maintain it. I think that perhaps those who bash the concepts of peace and true love must be lacking it in their own lives and are maybe a teensie bit jealous.

From SodaHead's article:
"The Top 10 Weird Animal Kingdom
Mating Rituals
"
                If you truly feel that someone is in need of guidance, try teaching instead of bashing. People are more receptive to learning when you approach them respectfully. Also keep in mind that spirituality is a journey. We are always learning and evolving. You may have had an “ah-ha!” moment years ago, but John Doe is still working toward his. Be receptive! While John may be a little behind in one area, he could be ahead of the race in another. Remain open in your own learning process.

                I pose a challenge to anyone who casually uses the term "fluffy bunny". The next time you come across a person whose ideas do not fit your own, or who asks what you think is a silly question, engage that person in a meaningful conversation. Find out how and why that person has come to certain conclusions. Answer those silly questions. Suggest new and inspiring material that may help that personal along in their journey. Don’t stamp that person with a label; be a teacher.




[1]Fluffy bunny.” Wikipedia. 12 March 2013.
[2] Beyer, Catherine Noble. “Fluffy Bunnies.” Wicca for the Rest of Us. n.p., n.d. Web 13 March 2013.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Mind, Body, and Spirit – Week 2


Mind, Body, and Spirit – Week 2

                The first week and a half of “no soda” didn't go so well, but I won’t beat myself up over it considering that I drank less than I had two weeks previous. I picked myself up, dusted myself off, and started anew last Monday. To date, I've consumed a single 20 oz. Mountain Dew. I was extremely tired at work and thought it might wake me up. It tasted horrible.

                Honestly, the thing that’s saved me is Kool-Aid. I realize that I’m adding empty calories back to my diet, but it doesn't have all the other extra nasties that you find in soda, and it doesn't affect my IC like soda does. I have this odd thing going on where I cannot have a salty meal without a sweet beverage. I can usually get by with water, but if I’m eating one of my favorite foods, I feel compelled to drink something sweet with it. The Kool-Aid has proven to be a good replacement. It calls for an entire cup of sugar, but I've cut it down by an eighth of a cup with plans to use only 3/4 cup in the near future. It’s working so well that I haven’t had a craving for Coke. All seems well on the IC front, and I’ll begin my next transition in a week or so.

                This one is going to be rough, but after a recent event, I’m suddenly more inspired to kick the smoking habit. My mother was taken to the hospital on Friday for a blood clot in her leg. They told us Saturday morning that she had a few small ones in her lungs as well. Fortunately, they aren't affecting her breathing, but they have kept her there for observation and testing while they adjust her medication to the correct level. She told me, rather sternly, that being a smoker who takes birth control doubles the risk of getting a blood clot. Of course there is a whole list of other horrible things that can happen to a smoker, the least being cancer. But her admonition was rather well timed.

Friday, March 8, 2013

E is for Eggs


E is for Eggs - Pagan Blog Project - Week 10

                In celebration of Ostara, but mostly because I’m out of ideas, I've chosen “eggs” for my topic for this week’s PBP post. For obvious reasons, the egg is symbolic of fertility and new life. With all the budding plants and baby animals, it’s no wonder that eggs are a popular focus during the spring months. This post contains a general overview of egg symbolism through different cultures and religions, fun facts, a story or two, and some spells.

                Ostara, being the spring equinox, is the perfect time to celebrate the fertility and growth symbolized in the egg. Eostre, a purposed Germanic goddess, is said to be the namesake of the festival. She makes her first documented appearance in Bede’s 8th century work title De Temporum Ratione, in which he states that festivals were held in her honor, later “replaced by the Christian ‘Paschal month’”. His claim has been much debated; many scholars believe he simply made her up[1]. In Jacob Grimm’s Teutonic Mythology, he plays with the entomology of her name and connects Eostre with the east and the rising sun. Beyond that, there isn't much information on the gal. Most of the sites I've come across have nothing to back up their claims. These sites tend to claim that she had a bird companion turned hare who continued to lay eggs. She has been called a fertility goddess and is heavily linked with eggs and their rebirth symbolism. Whether she existed or not, the imagery fits the season, in my humble opinion.

                Many of the Hindu religious texts state that the universe and everything within it was formed from and contained inside a golden egg.

                We find the cosmic egg creation story in the Chinese Pangu legend. It begins with the typical “formless chaos” which eventually turns into the cosmic egg. The egg contained a perfect balance of Yin and Yang principles and from that sprang Pangu, the creator god[2].

                One version of Egyptian mythology places the Ibis-headed Thoth as a creator god and states that he laid an egg in which Ra was born.[3]

                One source, which was re-blogged several times, states that eggs “were part of the Bacchic or Dinoysian mysteries, possibly a chthonic symbol; they could be used to cast spells and, conversely, to offer protection.[4]” Another source states “that in the rites of Liber, Roman god of fertility and wine (who was also called Bacchus and identified with Dionysus), eggs were honored, worshiped  and called the symbol of the universe, the beginning of all things.”[5]

                The Cahuilla Indian creation story states that their creator gods, Mukat and Tamaioit, were born from two large eggs from their mother, Darkness[6].

                Clay eggs, perhaps symbolic of immortality, have been found in burial spots in Sweden and Russia. Depictions of eggs have been found on Roman sarcophagi along with clay or stone eggs used as funerary offerings. It is suggested that the eggs may have represented rebirth or renewal for the departed[7].

                The first chapter of the Kalevala[8], the national epic of Finland, suggests that the world was formed from the egg shells of a duck, which had nested on the knee of Ilmatar, an air goddess or spirit.

Quick the maiden moves her shoulders,
Shakes her members in succession,
Shakes the nest from its foundation,
And the eggs fall into ocean,
Dash in pieces on the bottom
Of the deep and boundless waters.
In the sand they do not perish,
Not the pieces in the ocean;
But transformed, in wondrous beauty
All the fragments come together
Forming pieces two in number,
One the upper, one the lower,
Equal to the one, the other.
From one half the egg, the lower,
Grows the nether vault of Terra:
From the upper half remaining,
Grows the upper vault of Heaven;
From the white part come the moonbeams,
From the yellow part the sunshine,
From the motley part the starlight,
From the dark part grows the cloudage;


Ilmatar
                The Chinese hold what is called a Red Egg and Ginger Party[9] to celebrate the birth of child. The celebration usually takes place after the child has reached one month in age. It originated due to the high mortality rate in infants. They believed that if the child survived the first month, there was a good chance the baby would be alright. Guests attending the party usually bring gifts for the baby, money for boys, jewelry for the girls. The red dyed eggs are gifted to the guests and are symbolic of “happiness and the renewal of life.”

                In the Ukraine, Easter eggs are called pysanka and are decorated with wax resist[10]. The designs are not painted, but written on with beeswax. There are several different methods and many traditional designs and motifs used to make a pysanka. It is impossible to tell when the practice began, but the symbolic importance of the egg dates back to a pre-Christian Slavic sun god named Dazhboh. Apparently, Dazhboh had a thing for birds. Though humans were unable to catch the birds, they did manage to scavenge the eggs which were considered sacred and a “source of life”. Symbolic of the rebirth of the land after a difficult winter, they were honored during spring festivals.

                Nowruz, the Iranian/Persian New Year, also features brightly painted eggs which are symbolic of fertility. A festival table is set on the night of the celebration with a dyed egg for each member of the family[11].

                There is a Jewish feast, called Passover Seder, in which eggs play an important role. The Seder is a ritualistic “retelling of the story of the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt.”[12] During the feast, celebrants partake in symbolic foods from the Passover Seder Plate. One of these items is a hard-boiled egg called a Beitzah, which represents a festival sacrifice. According to Wikipedia, “eggs are the first thing served to mourners after a funeral”.[13] They were roasted and offered as part of the Seder meal in the Temple of Jerusalem. The eggs now symbolize the mourning of the Temple’s destruction and the “inability to offer any kind of sacrifices in honor of the Pesach holiday.”

                From there, we move to Easter, which Christian’s typically celebrate as the day in which Christ rose from the grave. It is said that the Easter egg (an empty shell) is symbolic of the empty tomb Christ left behind after his resurrection. The eggs were originally dyed red to represent the bloody death he suffered[14]. I’m glad I lacked that information as a child. Our celebrations were fairly void of religious practices and leaned more toward the consumerist nature; just another excuse to give gifts to the kiddies. Our own eggs were dyed every color of the rainbow and often decorated with crayon and stickers. Why? Because the decorating process was just as fun as the hunt!

               Wikipedia suggests that Lent may be another reason eggs are so popular around Easter. Eggs lain during the Lent fast might have been boiled for storage. If this were true, participants would have amassed about six weeks’ worth of eggs by the time Easter Sunday rolled around[15].

               Why are eggs sold by the dozen? It’s been suggested that the “dozen” concept is a holdover from earlier times. I read on several pages that staples in Europe were all sold by the dozen. I’ve also stumbled upon a suggestion that it may have something to do with the fact that there are approximately twelve moon cycles in a year. However, I was unable to find anything credible to back it up either of these claims.

                Some people believe that finding a double-yolked egg is either a sign that someone in the family will have twins, or an omen of good luck. When I was a kid, my parents decided to try their hand at raising ducks. One of our ladies always laid double-yolked eggs. My brother and I made a game out of hunting for them. I loved to crack them open for breakfast and find the extra yolk inside.

                An egg with no yolk is considered to be bad luck. This is a rare occurrence, but sometimes occurs in young hens.

                While the time honored tradition of tossing rice or seeds at newlyweds persists in many countries, some traditions call for an egg to be smashed under the foot of the bride for fertility and abundance.

                In the Hobbit, Bilbo asks Gollum a riddle about eggs. “A box without hinges, key or lid, yet golden treasure inside is hid.”
-----

The Egg
By: Andy Weir

You were on your way home when you died.

It was a car accident. Nothing particularly remarkable, but fatal nonetheless. You left behind a wife and two children. It was a painless death. The EMTs tried their best to save you, but to no avail. Your body was so utterly shattered you were better off, trust me.

And that’s when you met me.

“What… what happened?” You asked. “Where am I?”

“You died,” I said, matter-of-factly. No point in mincing words.

“There was a… a truck and it was skidding…”

“Yup,” I said.

“I… I died?”

“Yup. But don’t feel bad about it. Everyone dies,” I said.

You looked around. There was nothingness. Just you and me. “What is this place?” You asked. “Is this the afterlife?”

“More or less,” I said.

“Are you god?” You asked.

“Yup,” I replied. “I’m God.”

“My kids… my wife,” you said.

“What about them?”

“Will they be all right?”

“That’s what I like to see,” I said. “You just died and your main concern is for your family. That’s good stuff right there.”

You looked at me with fascination. To you, I didn’t look like God. I just looked like some man. Or possibly a woman. Some vague authority figure, maybe. More of a grammar school teacher than the almighty.

“Don’t worry,” I said. “They’ll be fine. Your kids will remember you as perfect in every way. They didn’t have time to grow contempt for you. Your wife will cry on the outside, but will be secretly relieved. To be fair, your marriage was falling apart. If it’s any consolation, she’ll feel very guilty for feeling relieved.”

“Oh,” you said. “So what happens now? Do I go to heaven or hell or something?”

“Neither,” I said. “You’ll be reincarnated.”

“Ah,” you said. “So the Hindus were right,”

“All religions are right in their own way,” I said. “Walk with me.”

You followed along as we strode through the void. “Where are we going?”

“Nowhere in particular,” I said. “It’s just nice to walk while we talk.”

“So what’s the point, then?” You asked. “When I get reborn, I’ll just be a blank slate, right? A baby. So all my experiences and everything I did in this life won’t matter.”

“Not so!” I said. “You have within you all the knowledge and experiences of all your past lives. You just don’t remember them right now.”

I stopped walking and took you by the shoulders. “Your soul is more magnificent, beautiful, and gigantic than you can possibly imagine. A human mind can only contain a tiny fraction of what you are. It’s like sticking your finger in a glass of water to see if it’s hot or cold. You put a tiny part of yourself into the vessel, and when you bring it back out, you've gained all the experiences it had.

“ You've been in a human for the last 48 years, so you haven’t stretched out yet and felt the rest of your immense consciousness. If we hung out here for long enough, you’d start remembering everything. But there’s no point to doing that between each life.”

“How many times have I been reincarnated, then?”

“Oh lots. Lots and lots. An in to lots of different lives.” I said. “This time around, you’ll be a Chinese peasant girl in 540 AD.”

“Wait, what?” You stammered. “You’re sending me back in time?”

“Well, I guess technically. Time, as you know it, only exists in your universe. Things are different where I come from.”

“Where you come from?” You said.

“Oh sure,” I explained “I come from somewhere. Somewhere else. And there are others like me. I know you’ll want to know what it’s like there, but honestly you wouldn't understand.”

“Oh,” you said, a little let down. “But wait. If I get reincarnated to other places in time, I could have interacted with myself at some point.”

“Sure. Happens all the time. And with both lives only aware of their own lifespan you don’t even know it’s happening.”

“So what’s the point of it all?”

“Seriously?” I asked. “Seriously? You’re asking me for the meaning of life? Isn’t that a little stereotypical?”

“Well it’s a reasonable question,” you persisted.

I looked you in the eye. “The meaning of life, the reason I made this whole universe, is for you to mature.”

“You mean mankind? You want us to mature?”

“No, just you. I made this whole universe for you. With each new life you grow and mature and become a larger and greater intellect.”

“Just me? What about everyone else?”

“There is no one else,” I said. “In this universe, there’s just you and me.”

You stared blankly at me. “But all the people on earth…”

“All you. Different incarnations of you.”

“Wait. I’m everyone!?”

“Now you’re getting it,” I said, with a congratulatory slap on the back.

“I’m every human being who ever lived?”

“Or who will ever live, yes.”

“I’m Abraham Lincoln?”

“And you’re John Wilkes Booth, too,” I added.

“I’m Hitler?” You said, appalled.

“And you’re the millions he killed.”

“I’m Jesus?”

“And you’re everyone who followed him.”

You fell silent.

“Every time you victimized someone,” I said, “you were victimizing yourself. Every act of kindness you've done, you've done to yourself. Every happy and sad moment ever experienced by any human was, or will be, experienced by you."

You thought for a long time.

“Why?” You asked me. “Why do all this?”

“Because someday, you will become like me. Because that’s what you are. You’re one of my kind. You’re my child.”

“Whoa,” you said, incredulous. “You mean I’m a god?”

“No. Not yet. You’re a fetus. You’re still growing. Once you've lived every human life throughout all time, you will have grown enough to be born.”

“So the whole universe,” you said, “it’s just…”

“An egg.” I answered. “Now it’s time for you to move on to your next life.”

And I sent you on your way.
-----
Egg Spells


This spell is used to make an “astral decoy” of yourself in times when you may feel that you are being attacked and need time to figure out how to handle the situation.

Materials: plain white egg, pencil or marker.

Take the egg and decorate it with words and symbols that are specifically meant to symbolize you. Hold the egg between your hands to raise the temperature to your own. Raise and channel your energy into the egg. Put the egg as close to the area in which you believe the attack is coming from (under your bed if you’re having nightmares etc). Then ask the egg to make a lot of noise “to attract anything predatory that is looking at you.” Do not break the egg when you are finished. Instead, leave it at a crossroads, bury it off property, or even burn it.


I personally wouldn't do this one. ;p

Materials: Rotten egg

Write the name of the person you are sending away nine times son the egg. Be sure to add where and how far you want this person to go. At midnight, throw the egg against his/her door.
Another spell from the same site suggests that you toss an egg over the top of their house while yelling, “you son of a bitch, go!” That one made me giggle.

I've used an egg in healing spells, but it can always be used in the same manner to remove any sort of negative energy. Just take an egg and rolls it over your body, visualizing the egg sucking up the energy or illness. Dispose of the egg by throwing it into a moving body of water or burying it off site.



[1] "Eostre.” Wikipedia. Web. 8 March 2013.
[2]Pangu.” Wikipedia. Web. 8 March 2013.
[3] Hill, J. “Thoth.” Ancient Egypt Online, 2010. Web. 8 March 2013.
[4] Killgrove, Kristina. “From Birth to Burial: the Curious Case of Easter Eggs.” Powered by Osteons, 20 March 2012. Web. 8 March 2013.
[5] Simoons, Federick J. Eat Not This Flesh: FoodAvoidances from Prehistory to the Present. London: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1994.
[6] Hooper, Lucile. The Cahuilla Indians. Kessinger, 2005.
[7] Simoons, Federick J. Eat Not This Flesh: FoodAvoidances from Prehistory to the Present. London: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1994.
[8] Crawford, John M. “Rune I. Birth of Wainamoinen.” Internet Sacred Text Archive. Web. 8 March 2013.
[9]RedEgg and Ginger Parties.” About.com. Web. 8 March. 2013.
[10] "Pysanka." “Wikipedia.” Web. 8 March 2013.
[11] "Nowruz." “Wikipedia.” Web. 8 March 2013.
[12]PassoverSeder.” Wikipedia. Web. 8 March 2013.
[13]PassoverSeder Plate.” Wikipedia. Web. 8 March 2013.
[14] Bonsall, B. T. “An Easter Talk to Children.” Guardian. Vol. 30. 1879: 119.
[15]Easteregg.” Wikipedia. Web. 8 March 2013.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

E is for Evil, or Lack there of


E is for Evil, or Lack there of - Pagan Blog Project - Week 9

                When we hear the word evil, we are often reminded of red horned imps or the vile antagonistic characters of literature or popular movies. Quite often, these characters lack any real substance of even a personality beyond that nebulous description – evil. These characters are fueled by broad motives like ruling or destroying the world or amassing copious amounts of wealth or power. I often ponder just to what extent Christians believe in the concept of Satan. Do they truly believe there is a being out there vying for their downfall, leading them toward their misdeeds, and pitting them against God?

                I think many of us pagans and witches do not believe in an ultimate evil, or the concept of a being that encompasses all that is wrong in the world. We do not seek to blame our shortcomings on an imaginary puppet master, but instead take personal responsibility for all that we do. We may give thanks for our blessings, or mourn our misfortunes. We may applaud the joyous outcome of our hard work, or curse our failures, but we realize that these things are our own.

When I look at the gods and guides that I follow, I find only nature. Bast is a protector, a fearsome lioness. Her cubs are well versed in the tenderness and security of her love, but I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of those claws. Phoenix burns with pure passion and will, but his flame can be dangerous. My gods are not shining epitomes of purity, nor are they devilish miscreants set on a path of destruction. There is both good and bad in the cycles and systems of life. A rainstorm can make a crop thrive, but a tsunami can destroy a home or even take lives. Fire can do the same, but we can also celebrate the flame for its warmth and cheer on a cold winter night. While these situations can yield good tidings, they can also be destructive. A rabbit may die in the fangs of the wolf, but the wolf is rewarded with life. But Lily, you say, what of senseless death? To what purpose does murder serve? Why do people lie and cheat and steal?

                I’m not sure there is a purpose, but there is most certainly a reason behind it, and I refuse to pin that reason upon a vague term like evil, or a cowardly concept like Satan. Looking at a more recent tragic event, the Sandy Hook School shooting - I have heard countless people labeling Adam Lanza as evil and condemning him to hell. My heart goes out to the families most certainly, but I simply cannot agree with the clamoring masses. His actions were atrocious and sickening, but when I think about the man behind the actions, or anyone who has committed a similar crime, all I can muster beyond sorrow for the senselessness of the crime is simple pity. People are not monsters, but the product of their environment and experiences. But Lily, you chime in again, what of this free will thing you mentioned earlier? What about taking responsibility for your own actions? People suffering from mental illnesses, biologically, psychologically, or environmentally derived, sometimes lack the ability to reason. That’s not to say that every person suffering from depression or bi-polar disorder has the capacity to commit heinous crimes, but there are some disorders which can vastly skew a person’s reasoning and ability to problem solve.

                I came across a story some time ago, about a 40 year old man who’d been a public school teacher. He’d never displayed any deviant qualities, but quite suddenly became obsessed with child pornography. His urges became progressively worse until he was sent to rehabilitation after “making advances toward his stepdaughter”. The behavior persisted, even in the hospital. The rehabilitation failed, and a day before his prison sentencing, he showed up at a hospital claiming he was unable to control himself. It turns out that the man had an egg sized tumor in his brain that was pressed “against the prefrontal lobe…, the area responsible for self-restraint.” After the tumor was removed, his personality reverted to its normal state. A year later, the man began to show the same troubling signs, had another MRI, and found that the tumor had begun to regrow. Again, they removed the tumor, and again, he returned to his old self.

I just couldn't help myself! >.>
While I’m certain this is not the cause in every case, it does make one reconsider the knee-jerk reaction of auto-labeling someone as evil. My awareness of this and other mental illnesses has greatly changed my opinion of people and their actions. We find abnormalities in nature – cancer, disease, and various conditions. I can provide no solid answer as to why these things occur, but I simply cannot attribute it to some form of ultimate evil.