Pagan

[Bit]

Nat, I love the altar and tool pics! Also adore those candles *heartmelt* awww!

Blue and Magic, hello! Yep, I'm also one who always has piles of craft things in progress.

As for the book, well, that's one way I measure my growth as a Priestess, actually. The first time I read the book I was REALLY disappointed, could not BELIEVE that Starhawk would write such a "woo-woo" novel, couldn't even suspend my disbelief like I would for any other sci-fi novel, was SO turned off that I actually thought it was a badly written book.

The second time I read the book, I was like, "HEY! I can do that!!.... oh, I can do that, too.... HEY!! I think maybe I can learn to do that one if I work at it..." I was surprised that over the years I had done a complete 180 in my opinions about what is actually possible.... and I was also surprised what a good book she had written. *sheepish look*

I still have my reservations about the crystal communication for the computers.... but yanno what, I'm not dismissing it out of hand anymore. It might very well be that it will take considerably longer than the novel's time frame for it, but it also could still happen in my lifetime--you NEVER know, you just never know.

Also, now I'm the age of the grandmothers who took the pickaxes to the streets to break them up for gardens... and I can relate to them, oh I can relate! Even in my disability, I am stronger, more vital, more vibrantly alive than I was ten years ago, and that again is the opposite of what I believed when I first read the book. Age brings power, even to the disabled--who would have guessed that, living in this society??

I'm looking forward to the insights I'll find when I read it the third time. I hope I'll have made more progress!

[oblivia]

Originally Posted by Nat

I was wondering if any of y'all have a spirit animal that you know of?

Also, do you find yourself connected to any other-worldly beings/elementals?

And, do you find yourself connected to certain trees or types of trees?

I suppose it depends on your definition of spirit animal. I have had various animal guides (primarily a Unicorn).

I am VERY connected to Unicorns and many of my general journeywork and meditations have me in Unicorn form myself.

I am very drawn to the Weeping Willow and to very strong, old, tall trees in old growth forests.

[oblivia]

Also...

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{bit}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

How are you!??

[Bit]

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{oblivia}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} Hi darlin! How am I... oh my... on which level? *wry smile* Even speaking in terms of being Pagan, there are so many different things going on... mostly internal.

Externally, I'm really concerned for Isaac Bonewits right now. Have you read his books? I've only read Real Magic but I've seen his website and read many of the magazine articles he's written over the years. He has colon cancer and there's a world-wide effort to get him through the challenge. Gryph and I joined in the healing. He's our main concern in spirit work right now.

We've been working on clearing our space energetically for quite a while. I seem to be our weak link, so to speak; this is a very active area, and lots of ghosts/spirits/beings come through. Not all of them are friendly and when they aren't, I seem to be an easy target for them. We're constantly working on shields and also on keeping the portals closed. Now I understand why That House waited eight years for us! There's been a lot of weirdness, a lot of negativity, and a lot of hostility. The work and trouble are balanced by our getting to know Margaret, the Grandmother who watches over That House (and now watches over us, too). I don't think she'll ever be willing to move on; this was her house, she loved it, and she came back to it when she died.

One of my favorite memories was walking up onto the porch and being greeted with an unmistakable feeling of open arms and an offer to shelter me against the storms. At the time, I thought it was the house itself making the offer. Give it another hundred years or so, and there might not be much difference between Margaret and the house--but that day it was definitely Margaret, welcoming me into her home and her life. We're pretty sure she's the one who made it possible for us to buy the place.

The interior work I need to do is about ceremony and ritual. I've been a long time away, so to speak, have been working without formal Circles, without props of any kind. I think it's time I changed my working style again and got back to basics.

Now doesn't it figure that I would find this need in myself JUST as the fans and air conditioner go on? So much for candles and incense, lol!

So how have you been, darlin? What's up in your world?

[oblivia]

Wow, that is a lot going on!! Congratulations on the house and while it sounds like you have your work cut out for you, it also sounds like it's a special blessing that you are there and not somewhere else.

Have you ever tried one of the incense stick holders where the incense is actually lit and held sideways with a (very well ventilated) lid that closes over it? Hard to describe. I had one of those and it protected the incense enough to keep it going even with a bit of breeziness. Also, cones inside small cauldrons or bowls with sand in them can protect them from windyness too (plus cones stay lit better) - bowls can be a helpful alternative for charcoal burning incense too.

As for me.... wow.... married and raising two boys. Spiritually, I've been a member of the Sisterhood of Avalon now for almost 3 years and it's been incredibly empowering. I've also been doing a regular yoga practice and learning a lot from bits of yoga-based or buddhism-based wisdoms, which has been amazing.

It's interesting. My practice now seems to have many layers. There is the eastern, yogic/buddhist slanted layer such as my yoga practice and certain tools I use to work on my own internal battles. There is the more traditional pagan layer which involves honouring the eight sabbats in some way, and circling with my son or wife and having tarot nights with friends and having traditional circles with the elements. And there is the very personal Avalonian layer with the Sisterhood that is primarily a solitary path (but one shared with the other Sisters via online forums, and shared journeying/questing together) and ritual. Most ritual work I do is the Avalonian pathwork, with some exceptions when I am circling with others. The Avalonian stuff has been amazing. I've really been going through completely constant growth and evolution since joining, all to the betterment and increased mental/emotional/psychological health of me. Good stuff.

I feel pretty solid spiritually and very strong. It's a new and good place for me to be and I keep spreading my roots out ever further and deeper.

I think that many of us cycle with our spirituality in ways. We have periods of intensity and periods of rest. I really relate to what it can be like to come back after time 'away'. Sometimes, it starts with the smallest little thing, done consistently to dig one tiny little root in to anchor us, and then we can spread out as comfy from there....

[Bit]

We were given a gift today--an incense burner that is enclosed! I didn't even REALIZE the significance of that until I read your post just now, oblivia!! It's pretty cool to have that need answered so VERY quickly. And I also found a square holder for a votive glass--in effect, an enclosed candle holder.

For cone incense, I have a ceramic echinacea shell, again, enclosed.

Today, we cleared space physically, rearranging the house. It's strange; now that we've moved the computers out of the dining room, it no longer feels like home to me... and yet the room we put them into doesn't feel like home either. I think this is going to take some getting used to.

Oh! I just realized... the walls are the wrong color. This room is white and the dining room is a mushroomy beige... how odd; I didn't know I liked that color--actually, I thought I DIDN'T like it! But now I miss it; it's soothing on the eyes. Huh.

Congrats to you on all the growth! It sounds like life has really settled down for you in all kinds of wonderful ways!

I agree about the cycling, spiritually, although I tend to think of it as ebb and flow. This might be because my physical energy ebbs and flows, and so it seems familiar to me. I am finding that the limits on what I can do are more and more a function of my own physical state. It's frustrating because I keep thinking I could heal my body, if only I could somehow dredge up enough energy to do the work properly! Catch 22. *wry smile*

[Soft*Silver]

dropping in for a chat...

I too have had feelings of being welcomed to my new home. From the moment I sat in the driveway waiting for the realtor, I knew I had found my home. Only two families other than myself have owned this near century old house. I am carrying on the legacy of living simply and gardening heartedly. I also have such an energy surge when I am here. I have indulged in labor that I havent been able to do in many moons. And that says alot, with my fibro and my spinal problems.

I have literally lit up the place with plants. My front steps are filled with pots (left behind by the family who owned the house) filled with morning glories and sunflower seeds. I am hoping the glories will climb the sunflowers..how pretty that will be if it works! My back porch has raspberries planted, and a stand of strawberries, as well as a trellis of cukes...

I have 25 tomato plants waiting for me, all heirloom varieties. I will be swimming in them! Peppers, zukes, squash, cantelopes, punkins, etc are all in the ground garden or the trellis gardens. I have 5 trellises that I have planted beans and gourds on. Oh..and lets not forget the snap peas in the old metal tub outside of my porch...and lettuce in containers by the kitchen door...

I didnt have the energy to do this before...yet somehow, because of this house, I can. Its like a light socket...I am plugged into it..

[Bit]

{{{{{{{{{{softness}}}}}}}}}}} Welcome, honey! Glad to see you here!

I love the magic of your house. I do believe in that, you know? Some places are utter drains on a person's energy, and some are like yours, power places that re-energize a person.

More than that, though, your house seems to have a very active and aware guardian spirit, or maybe animating spirit--it seems to know what you need and it brings whatever it is to you. That is so wonderful, and yes, magical!

As we clear the negativity out, That House is beginning to do the same for me. I was SO FLOORED when I found the second (new baby!) mock orange, and the daylilies are a song in my heart. I'm waiting to see now if I have morning glories or moonflower vine--either or both would thrill me no end!

Not only that, but the things I have been thinking we need keep showing up--like friends to help rearrange the rooms, or the covered incense burner, or a peaceful refuge of a room...

Now I need a compost bin and more bookshelves!

So... y'all know what I'm having a really difficult time with? The two silver maples in the back yard are That House's Guardian trees... and their roots are in the sewer line. It's killing me to think of pouring anything into that line to kill their roots... and yet I MUST in order to avoid terrible sewer troubles.

I cannot force myself to do it.

Also, the Grandmother tree has watersprouts and new branches growing along her lower trunk--and they're already almost at the electric and cable lines. They need to be pruned off and again, it's killing me to think of hurting her.

It just feels so disrespectful, to cause any harm to the bodies of the spirits who guard us!! And yet these things are a safety hazard. I really struggle with the whole thing.

[Soft*Silver]

wow, Bit, you blew me away when you said my house was like a guardian spirit. I have felt this and not had words for it. My friend Jean told me she sees a "council of women spirits" around me and when i was trying to sell the trailer to buy this house, they told her to tell me it was all going to work out...they wanted me to know they were working on me,for me. I have felt hand picked for this house...Jean says its like I was selected to be the one this house was bestowed.

as for the roots of the tree..you need to realize that pruning roots and branches on trees are like cutting nails and hair on us. When you take something from her, just explain and beg her forgiveness but ask her to allow you to do so...

[oblivia]

{{{Bit}}} That's so amazing about the incense holder!!! What a cool connection!!

Sounds like some really wonderful home energy has gotten ahold of you and of softness! I think that's amazing. I know what a HUGE difference it can make living in a home filled with positive and welcoming energy! Ours is like that, though I think a lot of it is the energy and love and hope we brought to it. I haven't had specific encounters, but I do love it here and find that being home brings me peace in a way earlier homes just haven't.

[Bit]

oblivia, softness, thank you both!

I have a Council of Allies that I talk to. They give good advice and are strong protectors.

[Nat]

In one of my meditations a while back, I received a gift. I'd like to pass it on because I thought it was a lovely idea.

It's a true beauty mirror.



When you look into it, you see your true beauty.

I especially like the idea of shielding with it - to reflect back to others their true beauty, to reflect back to yourself your own true beauty.

In my meditation, I had asked what I could do to raise my vibrations to a higher level. This gift was the answer I received.

I think it's a gift that's best shared. So if this is a gift you would enjoy, it's yours for the taking.

[Bit]

Why Nat, thank you! What a lovely (and useful!) idea!!

[oblivia]

I agree, that is lovely Nat, thank you for sharing it with us!

[Massive]

When it comes to homes that feel completely safe and welcoming, I can completely understand. My Mums home is like that. It's so quiet and still and peaceful, I never get contacted by anything inside, although I often see the 'shadow' of a cat Mum once lived with, she comes to check in on Mum sometimes, she's brushed against me and Mum from time to time, but I'm the only one who 'sees' her.
The house is one of a row of homes that were built for miners, the village used to be the site of a coal mine. Other homes feel very busy, like a lot of people are still coming and going inside them, but not this one. I walk outside to smoke and if there's anyone around, I 'hear' them, but they never come indoors, they know that they're not allowed to follow me, so I get messages from our family outside to take inside to pass on to Mum.
I've never felt like this house needs to be blessed, I think it's welcoming enough without it. I's a very comfortable place to live, even if we're argueing as a family, it's still like being inside a cocoon of love and comfort...

And Nat, yes, I do have a spirit animal. Mine is a wolf!

[Soft*Silver]

thank you, Nat, for sharing your gift with us! How beautiful of a mirror that is too! I had been looking for a special mirror for my alter and magic work with people, and my butch buddy, Jean, brought me a boxful of stuff one day, from the primitive shop she works at. Inside I found this old art deco hand mirror. It sits on my vanity where I use it to compel spiritual beauty as I prepare for the day...

[2myladyblue]

I'm watching an interesting show on Stonehenge. Apparently drumming inside the stones would produce sound at the proper frequency (5-15 hertz) to induce alphawaves in the brain & a state of trance (which would be further enhanced by firelight). They've also likened this experience to modern day raves. Not that this is surprising, but I love it when science 'proves' the validity of rituals/ceremonies.

~Blue

[Massive]

If you're interested in Stonehenge, did you know that further upriver, there is Woodhenge?
It's the start of the spiritual journey of the soul that Stonehenge is the culmination of. They celebrated the lives of the deceased at Woodhenge, then followed their spirits downriver to Stonehenge where the dead where allowed to go back to the beginning, so to speak, and pass on into the spirit world.
They've recently excavated Woodhenge, nobody even knew it was their until about a year or so ago.

[Licious]

I really enjoy this thread and am thankful for it. I am in a fairly conservative community, and though small amounts of Buddhism and the like are "tolerated" really out paganism is basically a no no. Having mostly studied as a solitary and not knowing other pagans in my area, it can be isolating.

Thanks to everyone for posting.

[Bit]

Hi Licious, welcome! That's why we're here, to give each other a community. I suspect a lot of us have experienced what you do, and some of us are still that isolated. Threads like this one have been my haven from a harsh world for a long time.

Massive and LadyBlue, thanks for the info about Stonehenge and Woodhenge!

Hello to Nat, oblivia, softness, Magic, Foxy Shaman, and everyone else!!