Pagan

[Arwen]

Originally Posted by Rockinonahigh

Arwen,Ty for this post as it so reminded me of the way my grandmother spoke of the beauty of this night and what it represents to the world and those who beleave.She was a hard core catholic but also had srtong pegan roots.Samhine blessing to you and all who are hear.

Thank you, honey. It's a solemn night but filled with such beauty for me. I think I would have loved your grandmother.

Originally Posted by Bit

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Arwen}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} What a lovely Samhain story!

I used to feel so alone, all the time. I was terribly afraid I would die alone. These days, though, I have the sense of always being surrounded by loving family, adopted family, Allies and friends... and yes, the furbabies are family to me, my deeply beloved family.

Now that I think about it, so are the ghosts who live with us, and so are our Allies. I guess that even though my mind makes distinctions, in my heart they are all simply my family. Thank you for opening the trail of thought that led to me to this realization. {{{{{{{{{{{Arwen}}}}}}}}}}}

I read an interesting statement. When they asked Susan B Anthony about the afterlife, she said she was going to stay and pester the feminist movement. I think she got it.

I love you, darlin'. hugs.

[Bit]

LOL! We could certainly use a Guardian Pester-er!

Love you too, Arwen my dear.

I had a lovely experience last night, got reminded that one of my neighbors is also Pagan. I remembered it when she called her dog by name: Gaia. Just loved that!

I've never been one to name my furbabies after gods and goddesses. This is probably because they are very much "babies/children" to me. Lady decided early on that she had multiple names. The one that cracked me up was "Baby," because it tells you just how often I called that doglet "babygirl" and "Ladybabybug." I'm not quite so baby-inclined with Trooper, but then he's reminded me of a seven-year old since we got him.

*starts laughing* Well, that is, when he's not busy reminding me of Chewbacca in distress! *takes the hint and shares some tiny bites of apple with him*

[Bit]

It's time for Soulcake!! *bounces* Been waiting all year for this, wooohooo!!!

I know that the song originally--in medieval times--was a Samhain song, an All Souls' Day song, but somehow it just doesn't work that way for me. I suppose that's because it's been cast as a Christmas song in modern times. And certainly I am NOT READY for snow and ice before Samhain! My alltime favorite version of this is Sting's group, in a youtube that was made with pictures of deep winter in Sweden. I swear I start shivering just looking at the pics, lol...

Anyhow, I justify listening to this song for the whole Samhain-through-New-Year season by adding together the original intention plus the modern interpretation; it equals "Play me now!"

[Arwen]

Merc goes retro 11/6 and direct 11/26. Please hold on to your horses and try not to show your asses.

[Bit]

Originally Posted by Arwen

Merc goes retro 11/6 and direct 11/26. Please hold on to your horses and try not to show your asses.

BUT... butbutbut....but they're such CUTE asses....

[Parker]

I have a question for those that use and work with runes pretty regularly - or at least are pretty familiar with them.

Way back in the day, before I could do searches on the interwebs, I used 2 books for my basic Wiccan/Pagan needs: Scott Cunningham's Wicca: A Guide For The Solitary Practitioner and Raymond Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft.

The information on runes in Buckland's book was all about alphabets and I used that mainly for spelling out my name when I carved it into my athame or whatever; but the information on runes in Cunningham's book was what I used for divination, carving runes into candles, etc.

One of the things I did was to create rune necklaces for myself and for a few close friends - basically a little wood piece onto which I would etch and burn a rune or two with a burning tool - usually something like comfort on one side and health on the other - or whatever.

Again, in those instances, I would use Cunningham's rune meanings:




Well, I lost my own necklace years ago - or I gave it to someone - whatever, my memory sucks - but what matters is that I am in the process of making myself a new one and when I was googling around looking at runes online, I found that it appears that either Cunningham's info is wrong or obsolete because instead of finding the same meanings for runes that he had in his book(s), I am finding things like this site and this site.



I understand that there are 3 main/well-known/most used rune meanings (Elder Futhark, Anglo-Saxon Futhorc, and Younger Futhark) and that those meanings are all somewhat similar (and some of Cunningham's rune meanings match those other site's meanings), so I guess what I am asking is (a) do you consider the meanings behind the runes Cunningham provided in his book obsolete or incorrect, and (b) which rune meanings do you follow when doing rune work and/or divination and why?

Thanks for hanging in - that was a long way to go for that question! lol

[JustLovelyJenn]

Originally Posted by Parker

so I guess what I am asking is (a) do you consider the meanings behind the runes Cunningham provided in his book obsolete or incorrect, and (b) which rune meanings do you follow when doing rune work and/or divination and why?

Thanks for hanging in - that was a long way to go for that question! lol

While I haven't had a decent set of runes for a few years and have used other forms of divination, I used to read them quite frequently. I also found that many of the meanings varied to some degree depending on the source. So I fell back on the advice given to me by my first mentor.

The meaning is important only in that YOU are consistent. If you are most comfortable with Cunningham's meanings then they will work for you. If some of the other sets ring more true for you, use those. All of them have truth, because they are the meanings that were passed down to that person from whomever taught them. Your own intention is the most important determination of any magic.