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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Lazy Pagan

Sometimes I'm a lazy Pagan. I just can't revolve my entire life around one thought or idea at all times. I'm so much more than just a Pagan, I can't help it. I'm a writer, a mother, a cook, a wife, a woman, a daughter, an artist, a friend, and a physical being who craves physical activity. Now while I am fully aware that all of these things can have paganism incorporated into them in one way or another it's not always easy to remember. Shit didn't I plan on stirring that soup deosil.

Lately I've been focusing on my health. I've been arming myself with as much information as possible, altering my eating habits to a healthy way of eating (that allows for treats) that I can keep up without falling off the wagon. I've been working out every day. Yoga in the morning and then a mix of cardio and resistance broken into 10 minute segments spread out throughout the day.

Not to mention I still have to keep my apartment clean, do what I can to make a little money, spend time with my son, spend time with my husband, and make sure we don't lose track of our bills. Needless to say spirituality ends up falling to the bottom of my list. I've tried meditating but honestly I kind of suck at it. Every once in a while I can get into a nice meditative rhythm but most of the time I end up battling falling asleep.

So that brings me to the meat of my post, my real reason for writing. I know I'm not the only one who has this stuff going on in their lives, and I know I'm not the only one who has this approach to her spirituality. However everything I read states over and over again, "It's a practice, you need to set special time aside for it, you have to work"

Now while Christianity never rang true for me, one of the things that always turned me off was the amount of work you were expected to put into it. Go to church every Sunday, go through Sunday school, first communion, confirmation, donate money, go to church held events, pray, read your bible, study your bible know your bible, attend bible study. Why? Because it's going to make you a better Christian? Because it will appease God? In that same token, I don't understand people who take on Paganism, no matter what flavor of Paganism they choose, and turn it into work. Meditate, pray, follow the seasons, follow the moon, follow the sun, do ritual work, keep a Book of Shadows, study, Study, STUDY!

I'm Pagan because I believe in balance, because I believe that male and female energies are equally important, because I feel the change of the seasons, and the phases of the moon in my blood and body, because I honor the dead as well as the living and because I never forget where I came from or how I got here.

Am I honestly to believe that the powers that be want me to spend what very little down time I have to turn my spirituality into a job. I don't think so. Study, practice and ritual has it's place when there is need of it, and when we're called to it. Who else is a lazy Pagan and not afraid to admit it, it's okay we won't judge you  ;-)

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Last Quarter Moon

It's feels like my creative ambition has been waning. I'm currently trying to focus on my physical health and sadly my spiritual health has been going to the wayside. Mentally, I just feel fucked. My brain feels out of sorts and in a dark place. Not necessarily depressed, just dark.

I've noticed that my moods tend to wax and wan with the moon. Even my monthly cycle seems to follow the moon. I always get it around the Last Quarter. If I ever had to pick a patron Goddess it would be the Goddess of the Moon. I've even had her appear to me in dreams. Is there a particular God or Goddess that resonates with you?

Okay so sorry for all the ramblings, trying to get my head sorted I guess and get back into the habit of writing.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

July's Full Moon

~The Blessing Moon~

We are currently in the phase of the Full Moon. It is considered the Full Moon because it is when the surface of the moon is fully visible to us. This moon phase lasts for 3 days. The day before, day of, and day after. This is the Moon Phase that is associated with the Mother aspect of the Goddess. This is a time of completion and fully realized goals.

Thanks to the abundance of vegetation we are blessed with at this time of the year July's Full Moon is known as The Blessing Moon. This month's Full Moon is also known as The Full Buck Moon, Thunder Moon, Full Hay Moon, and Meadow Moon.

June's Full Moon was all about taking the time to appreciate, maintain, and enhance the things we have present in our life. Perhaps now would be a good time to once again look within. Not to make sure we are on the right track but to figure out if there is another area of our life we are unhappy with or needs improvement. This could be a good time to divine a new project through the use of divination or dream work.

Check out A Witch's Book of Dreams, an excellent book to have on hand when starting dream work.

Color Associations: Green, Silver, Blue-gray
Gemstone Associations: Moonstone, White Agate, Opals or pearls
Tree Associations: Ash and Oak
Gods and Goddesses Associated with this Moon: Juno, Venus, Cerridwen, Athena Nephthys, Lugh
Herbal Associations: Mugwort, Hyssop, Lemon Balm
Elemental Associations: Water
Zodiac Associations: Cancer


Sources:

Monday, July 2, 2012

Magickal Vs. Mundane

I have a message for my fellow Pagans. Just because we believe in magic doesn't mean we need to depend on it to cure all of our ills. Now I don't want to offend anyone and if that happens I appologize. But I'm so sick of the "send me healing energy I have a headache", "please light a green candle for me so I can put gas in my car". There is nothing wrong with wanting a little magickal oomph but honestly, take some damn tylenol and close your eyes for a half an hour. Poof, headache gone. If you're someone who's against conventional medicine sip some Rosemary tea and close your eyes. Or even better take some preventative measures, meditate to reduce stress and limit your caffeine intake.

These same people who always seem to need some type of magickal assistance are perpetually experiencing bad luck. They have no money, they have family issues, they have health problems. I'm not saying their problems aren't real but if you've got $10 left to your name why are you wasting it on magickal supplies to try and get yourself out of the hole.

First of all magickal tools are not necessary. They're fun and they're helpfull when directing energy but they're not something we NEED to work magick. Secondly, it would appear to me that the universe is having one large laugh at your expense. Nine times out of ten the things we need to do to solve our problems are much simpler than doing a full and lengthy ritual.

To me using magick should be either a last resort or something small we do on the side simply to aid us and make our intentions clear. Not to be our only course of action when dealing with our issues. I've talked to people who literally ended up being homeless because they based whether or not they moved cross country with no financial support on the advice of a woman who read in her cards that it was a good idea. Why would you risk your life and security simply because someone you've never met before who is going to receive none of the reprocusions from your actions told you they divined that it was the right move?

This type of naivity and quite frankly laziness will never cease to baffle me. Like the rest of the world I could use some more money, so I have a candle that I light. It's a beautiful rich green color and  it's infused with herbs meant to attract wealth. However I also make sure all of my bills get paid, If I run into trouble paying a bill I cut back on frivolous expenses and work out a payment plan until things get sorted. I do so immediately and am responsible with the payment plans I set up. I have a credit card for emergencies (and to boost my credit) so I always have some money, I eat at home instead of out, and I do whatever I can to earn a little extra cash. I write freelance, I take surveys, I make jewelry. So far it all seems to work out pretty well. Maybe the candle helps. Maybe it cosmically attracts more buyers to my etsy shop who knows, but it doesn't hurt. What I do know is that if that candle burns out, I'm not buying another one unless I have the cash to spare and if I didn't put in the work the candle wouldn't mean shit.

If you need help, meditate, call on the Gods for assistance, do a ritual to banish bad energy or attract, but please remember your problems will never go away if you're waiting around for cosmic interference.

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