|
|
|
|
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 4/8/2006 5:30:06 PM | Oh nice....
mythology older than Christ and younger than Abraham!
I haven't had dinner yet.
So you haven't heard of Celtic Outreach yet here in California?
Hummm.... | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 4/8/2006 6:02:22 PM | Very true observation seriouslyfunny lady:
Because the definition is derived from a Christian stand point, and Pagans are busy reclaiming that which was taken away from them.
This is so true. It comes, I think from Judeo-Christian brainwashing and indoctrination, they come here to attempt to take up our time.  | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 4/8/2006 6:06:10 PM | Statueman, not that your comments have anything to do with the title of the thread.
And it appears you are attempting to rile up what has been a very nice discussion up untill this point. I will answer your question.
Pagan Groups Doing Charity Work
The following is a sampling of charity work done by Pagan groups of a variety of paths and places:
Circle Sanctuary
PO Box 9, Barneveld, WI 53507, USA
(608) 924-2216
Email: circle@circlesanctuary.org
Website: www.circlesanctuary.org
Founded 1974; Incorporated 1978
high priestess & senior minister: Rev. Selena Fox
charity food drives for rural southwestern Wisconsin
counseling
prison ministry
networking, referral, & information services
Nature preservation & environmental education
S.O.T.E.S. (The Society of the Evening Star)
Operates Acts of Kindness, Inc. (A.O.K.)
PO Box 29182, Providence, RI 02909
(401) 331-8576
Email: Theitic@cox.net
Founded in 1977 (S.O.T.E.S.), Tax Exempt 1982; A.O.K. founded in 1991
feeding the homeless
support for elderly in nursing homes
assisting with medical & funeral expenses for those in need
ministry to the sick and lonely
support of animal shelters through donations & volunteer work
EARTHSPIRIT
P.O. Box 723; Williamsburg, MA 01096
(413) 238-4240
Email: earthspirit@earthspirit.com
Website: www.earthspirit.com
Founded 1980; 501(c)3 non-profit organization
Directors: Andras and Deirdre Arthen
charity fund-raisers for Williamsburg area
donations to food banks and homeless shelters
donations to AIDS hospices and homes for battered women
fundraising for environmental groups and reforestation projects
fundraising for peace and justice initiatives
DIAMOND CHARITIES OF PAGAN AWARENESS COALITION
California Chapter
417B West Foothill Blvd #302 Glendora CA 91741
(626) 786-4560
Email: PaganAware@Minister.com
Website: www.paganawarenesscoalition.org
Founded in 1990; umbrella group has tax exempt status
Coordinator: Rev. Imari Nuyen
food drives for local food banks
clothing & blanket drives
support for the homeless in Los Angeles County, California
ministry to the sick in area hospitals
CWPN, Inc. (Connecticut Wiccan and Pagan Network)
PO Box 1175, New Milford, CT 06776-1175
Email: jasmine@sevensages.com
Website: http://www.cwpn.org
Founded in 1990; registered as a non-profit in 2002
President: Liz Guerra
food drives for Foodshare to feed the needy
donations to local animal shelters
CEDARLIGHT GROVE
5918 Edna Ave; Baltimore, MD 21214
(410)426-3600
Email: clg@cedarlightgrove.org
Website: www.cedarlightgrove.org
Founded in 1991; 501(c)3 organization
President: Caryn MacLuan
Treasurer: Alison Armocida
Secretary and Contact Person: Sati Caldwell
food drives for food pantries
Clothing drives
Prison ministry
Volunteer work at the House of Ruth
LOVECRY, THE STREET KIDS' ORGANIZATION
1024 Queen Street, East; Toronto, Ontario, CANADA M4M 1K4
(416) 406-0099
Email: angel_love3@mail2devotion.com
Founded in 1992; registered charity
Director: Angel
ministry to street kids, including counseling, advocacy, psychotherapy, drug abuse treatment, life skills education, supplying of food, clothing, & supplies
direct service to 200 kids per week in downtown Toronto; outreach serving many more.
agency is owned by the homeless and run by ex-street people
M.A.G.I.C. (Mystic Arts Gathering & Information Circle)
6715 NE 63rd Street, #103-130, Vancouver, WA 98661
(360) 693-7349
Email: sienna@spiralrhythms.org
Website: www.spiralrhythms.org/magic/index.shtml
Founded in 1994; tax exempt status since 2002
Founders: Sienna Newcastle, Ian Drake, & Rev. Jordan Feathers
education support for at-risk teens
food bank work
PAGAN COMMUNITY CHURCH (PCC)
PO Box 5622, Bridgeport, CT 06610
203-922-1076
Email: PaganComCh@aol.com
Founded in 1995; tax exempt status in 1997
high priestess & president : Rev. Alicia L. Folberth
prison ministry
donations of food, clothing, supplies to homeless shelters, including Alpha Home & Bridgeport Rescue Mission in Bridgeport, Connecticut
INAC Independent Ministry (International Noted Arcane Covenant, Independent Ministry)
2100 4th St. North; Wahpeton, North Dakota 58075
(701) 642-8020
Email: RevKarenDavis@yahoo.com
Website: www.geocities.com/INAC_IndependentMinistry/
Founded in 1998
Director: Rev. Karen Davis
support for the disabled, including those suffering from Lyme disease
counseling for battered women
errands for shut-ins
Nature preservation & roadway clean-up
Mystic Moon
3416 N. Military Highway, Norfolk, VA 22351
757-855-3280
Email : MOONCELTS@aol.com
website : www.mysticmoonevents.com
Owners and Founders : Rev. Deborah and Brian Foley
Founded in 1998
Food Drives for local food banks
Collect donations of goods for Parc Family Shelter
Collect donations for Special Olympics, Junior Achievement
Collect donations for Virginia State Police Fund for Widows and the Firefighters Association
ROBIN'S HOOD COMMUNITY CENTER
108 W Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011
859-491-1888
Email: sheagh@yahoo.com
Director & founder: Rev. Dr. Bonnie Campaniello
Pagan charity serving the poor & disadvantaged in the greater Cincinnati, Ohio area
operate a food pantry; provide meals for families in need; provide some funds for emergency assistance with utilities & rent payments
provide warm space and overnight lodging for homeless in cold weather
all staff volunteer; privately funded
COVEN OF THE SACRED STONE PEOPLE
Gateway to the Sacred - Interfaith Fellowship
Sacred Oak Sanctuary, PO Box 769, Turkey Creek, AZ 85625
(520) 824-2282
Email: willowitch@yahoo.com
Church founded in 1998; coven in 2000
Director : Rev. Lezli A. Polm
provide meals & camping space for travelers
provide clothing for needy families
counseling
ministry to the sick & visits to nursing home residents
emergency child care
prison ministry
DELAWARE VALLEY PAGAN NETWORK
P.O. Box 34596; Philadelphia, PA 19101-4596
Email: dvpn@dvpn.org
Website: www.dvpn.org
President/ Contact Person : Bob Bruhin
At Large: Nancy Lebovitz, Helena Anderson, Three-Blade Jaguar
Publisher: Angelina Capozello
Finance: Maria Sawczuk
Artistic Programs: Franklin Evans
Outreach Programs: George Reinhart
Founded in 1999; 501(c)(3) non-profit organization status
Fundraising for AIDS and multiple sclerosis groups
Collect blankets for homeless
Food drives at Pagan Pride Day
Organizes blood drives
TEMPLE OF THE SACRED CRAFT
1106 N. Eagle Street, Naperville, IL 60563
Email: sacredcraft@sacredcraft.org
Website: www.sacredcraft.org
President and High Priest: Rev. Eric R Roberts
Vice President and High Priestess: Rachel Roberts
Incorporated 2000
clothing drives for Project Mercury shelter in Chicago area
charity food drives for local food pantries in western suburbs
participates in Illinois Adopt A Highway program
TEMPLE OF DIANA
P.O. Box 6425, Monona, WI 53716-0425
(608) 882-4655
Email: info@templeofdiana.org
Website: www.templeofdiana.org
President: Falcon
Religious director: Ruth Barrett
Founded 2000
charity food drives for local food pantries
contributes to The Heifer Project
Pagan Inland Empire Fellowship, Autumn Harvest Faire Email : jst4usppd@yahoo.com
Formed June 2000
No 501(c)(3) status
Sponsers a yearly Autumn Harvest Faire Food Drive, all food donations go to Second Harvest Food Bank, who provides food to local shelters and needy families within San Bernardino and Riverside counties in Southern California.
CERES (Coalition of Earth Religions for Education and Support)
c/o Mothersongs Project; PO Box 122; Asheville, NC 28802
Email: bballard@ceres-wng.org
Website: www.ceres-wng.org
Founded in 2001; 501(c)(3) organization
food pantry
clothes pantry
emergency financial assistance
TOUCHSTONE LOCAL COUNCIL of the Covenant of the Goddess (COG)
P.O. Box 822, Colton, CA 92324-9998
(877) 882-5409
Website: www.tlcweb.org
Founded in 2001; 501(c)(3) non-profit
First officer: Jeff Albaugh (first@tlcweb.org)
Public Information Officer: Glorianna Crow (pio@tlcweb.org)
Adopted soldiers in Iraq (provided regular letters and care packages)
Raised money/collected in-kind donations for: Rhode Island Disaster Fund, Second Harvest Food Bank, House of Ruth (organization for battered women), Victims of San Bernardino wild fires
GUARDIANS OF THE HEART
Website: www.guardiansoftheheart.org
Contact Person: Elise Coleman
fundraising for Domestic Violence Intervention Services
food drives
sponsors an AIDS patient
THE ART OF LIVING SPIRITUAL CENTER
PO Box 142345, Austin, TX 78714-2345
(512) 281-0754
Email: wicca@worldwidewicca.org
Website: WorldWideWicca.org
Founded 2002
Director: Rev. D'lana Raven
support groups for abused women
support groups for stroke survivors
LIVE OAK LOCAL COUNCIL of the Covenant of the Goddess (COG)
PO Box 14601, Austin, Texas 78761-4601
(512) 832-8387
Email: fossum@austin.rr.com
Website: liveoakcog.org
Founded in 2003
First officer: Susan Pinsonneault
Recorder & webmaster: Gordon Fossum
providing volunteers for remodeling houses in low-income areas of Austin through the Hands On Housing Project operated by AAIM (Austin Area Interreligious Ministries).
HALLOWED OAKS GROVE of ADF
P.O. Box 18833 Huntsville, AL 35804
256-337-7524
Email: hallowed_oaks-owner@yahoogroups.com
Founded in 2003
President: Reginald Darrell Bell
food drives for North Alabama Food Bank
volunteer support for Meals on Wheels
prison ministry
ASSOCIATION OF UNITED PAGANS
120 San Juan Drive, Modesto, CA 95354
(209) 549-1727
Email: PPD@WhisperedPrayers.com
Website: www.AUPagans.com
Directors & founders: DragonHawk & MoonRaven
Founded 2003
operates food bank with food for local families and other food banks
city beautification/tree planting projects
provide clothing, small household appliances, & supplies to those in need
FORT WAYNE PAGAN ALLIANCE
P.O. Box 11496; Fort Wayne, IN 46858-1496
(260)704-2384
Email: FWPaganAlliance@yahoo.com
Website: www.angelfire.com/moon/fwpa/fwpa.html
President: Angel Story
Vice President: Elizabeth Markley
Founded 2003
Collect food items for Community Harvest Food Bank
CRESCENT MOON SERVICE CORPS
Silver Spring, MD
Email: chrionnapaistin@yahoo.com
Website: www.witchiepoo.com
Contact Person: Jennifer Graham
Founded 2003
Hospice and nursing home visitations
Food service at abused women/children shelters, homeless shelters, soup kitchens
Mobile food cart for the homeless/street people
Collect clothing, dry goods, toys, books and toiletries for homeless shelters
School supply drive for children in homeless shelters and temporary housing apartments
CORRELLIAN NATIVIST CHURCH INTERNATIONAL, INC
279 Whitehall Road, Albany, NY 12209
518-221-7984
Email: admin@correllian.org
Web: www.correllian.org
Founded: 2004
Contact: Rev. Davron Michaels
Adopt a Family Program
Food drives
Community Service and Outreach
Ministerial Counseling
Support Groups and Classes
Healing Work
Animal Rescue
Prision Ministry
Military Outreach
Diversity Outreach
OFFICERS OF AVALON
PO Box 9932, Daytona Beach, FL 32120
Web: http://www.officersofavalon.com
Officers of Avalon began in December 1999 as an online discussion group for law enforcement officers who follow pagan spiritual paths. Today OOA represents Pagans who work as police officers and other professionals in the emergency services. Officers of Avalon wants to show the world that we follow valid and respectable spiritual paths. We want to show the people of the free world that some of the people who are defending that freedom are Pagans like us. We provide a support network for those Pagans within the emergency services who do not yet feel that they can safely make their Pagan beliefs public.
Source:http://www.circlesanctuary.org/liberty/pagancharitywork.html | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 4/8/2006 6:33:14 PM | Great post.
People have never been taught that the Gaelic-Celtic Ogham written language pre-dates Latin, it's derived from the early Celts invading Greece at 390 BC time.
So the Celtics and Pagans were writing before the Latins in Rome were using Latin.
It always upsets the Christians when they find out Ogham is based on the Greek alphabet and not the Latin alphabet. | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 4/9/2006 12:39:14 AM |
how many hospitals, schools and missions do these "strong spiritual" celtic witches run? I never saw a celtic soup kitchen or a celtic pagan never came to my house and tried to invite me to a celtic pagan meeting.
Actually, there are a couple of institutions run by Pagan groups. As for whether or not witches are involved depends on whom one asks. As for folks coming to your house, I'm sorry. Most Pagan religions don't pull that missionary stuff. If you'd like, though, you can stop by my place for a ritual.
What's so great about being celtic pagan?
No more or less than what folks might find to be "great" about any other religion, really.
I do like the fantasy novels... some of them are based on mythology older than Christ and younger than Abraham!
What any of this has to do with fantasy novels, I'm unsure. As for mythology, where do the distinct mythologies (Greek, Roman, Sumerian, Celtic, Native American, Christian, etc.) fall on a given timeline, I wonder?
God's gonna make Arizona beachfront property before too long if Californians don't repent!
Wow, Statue. Who p***ed in your Wheaties? The dude answered the question, and you apparently don't like the answer. Sucks, I know. But, come on, why you gotta go all fundy-we're-better-you're-all-sinners-and-I'm-going-to-pull-a-pigeon-shot-on-you-during-the-Rapture kinda gig?
It comes, I think from Judeo-Christian brainwashing and indoctrination, they come here to attempt to take up our time.
Not sure where that came from. As for SFL's post on the origin of the term, I don't really think it was necessarily derived from Christian "brainwashing," so much as that the term was already in use (an outgrowth of the term "wicce") and got misappropriated for use in persecution. It's only lately (in the last 30-40 years, I think) that the terminology has been retaken to mean (hopefully) something similar to its original use. That, and I think it's evolving linguistically away from even those simplistic usages.
Msg 330
Dude, SFL, you're bound and determined to get me out of my cave and involved in the community, aren't you?  Now I've got to contact those folks...
It always upsets the Christians when they find out Ogham is based on the Greek alphabet and not the Latin alphabet.
Hey, Mike, you got a reference for this? I'd really like to research that link. | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 4/9/2006 4:22:20 AM |
Dude, SFL, you're bound and determined to get me out of my cave and involved in the community, aren't you? Now I've got to contact those folks...
I was really excited to find a list of so many outreach programs for pagans. I added the site to my favorites so I could keep checking back. .Looks like we are coming out of the broom closet after all. | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 4/9/2006 5:16:06 AM | All,
Although I was raised a Roman Catholic, I beleive in having an open mind.
I like to look at the world with an objective and maybe a curious mind.
After having read how Christianity become the defacto religion of the Roman Empire around 300 AD, I saw a church that started to become perverted:
The church allowed the killing of pagans,
Hypatia of Alexandria, murdered by christian fanatics on her way to work at the Library,
how about the Inquisition,
how about the Crusades,
did a pope not say: Kill them all, God will know his own;
(as he ordered knight to exteriminate the Cathars and a few Christians),
I would like all fanatics of all religions to respect all people and
keep their rotten hypocritical thoughts to themselves.
As for pagan beliefs, they are ancient and they believe in the stewardship of nature.
They are more in tune to the seasons than the rest of us.
As for magic, we ALL have the ability to work miracles.
If you want to speed up the process, do much research in the occult arts.
It is there for the taking. One does not have to ask God for the ability.
It is already there, most of you dumb blokes do not want to take advantage of
your capabilities.
Heck our US government was trying to tap into these abilities: Opration Stargate.
This was the military/spy (ARMY/CIA) application of remote viewing & ESP.
So yes, there IS a Military-Occult Complex going on.
For now SRI (Stanford Research Institute) has been working on this.
To get a good Idea of what I am talking about, rent SUSPECT ZERO.
It gives you an idea what our tax dollars are being used for.
But there is a cost.
If you are using is for good: As long as it hurt none, do what thou wilt...
then no worry no problem.
If you are using it for really evil purposes, there is a karmic price to pay.
It is a self destructive price.
Heck I would rather learn from the Wiccan, Druids, et al,
and pick up on gifts I never knew I had. | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 5/5/2006 11:13:27 PM | Interesting post.
I have thought about it and I think "Witch" is a negative term used to reduce women spiritual advisors. Men have long dominated many religions so when a woman comes in and shows some power, the men have tried to call her a "Witch", with a negative connotation.
I think it's basically a sexist word up until this point in history. | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 5/6/2006 5:41:12 AM | This is the summary paragraph from an article I found when trying to figure out, just when the word witch became a bad thing, or when a healer started being called a witch:
The concept of the witch eventually “evolved” from an individual who attempted to utilize supernatural powers and contacts with the spirit world to make sense of the mysteries of the world and the universe to an individual who knowingly joined with the Devil to wield powers of evil for evils sake. This “evolution” is purely due to the importance that the Christian church placed on witchcraft as a way to force the Christian religion into the lives of the peasantry. It was also a way to prove the existence of the Judeo-Christian god for surely, if evil and the Devil existed then certainly, God did too.
Source:http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?AuthorID=1215&id=21493 | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 5/6/2006 12:03:51 PM | A witch:
per ^ "an individual who attempted to utilize supernatural powers and contacts with the spirit world to make sense of the mysteries of the world and the universe"
would also mean psychic or ..... enlightened individual for those who don't like labels.
...... a witch is then an explorer of the spirit world and one who makes useful those findings for their individual purpose or for the good of others.
As to the rest of the comment... that the Christian church forced Christianity by evilizing the individual... accurate. Not so of Jesus himself probably as I don't recall the man ever put anyone down, but rather lent a hand to pull them all up.
All of our early (and yes, some today) Christian and other religious leaders,
were / are Impotent without Power.
The need for power and control is always a bit evil.
Therefore I firmly believe that putting down any religion or sect by claiming they have an allegiance to evil - is man issued and not Godly issued.
The average seeker should read between-the-lines of the pulpit sermon as the speaker injects his man thoughts upon religions and God.
Thank God (s) not all "witches" were wiped off the face of the earth or went underground due to the pressure imposed upon them to hide their gifts. | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 5/6/2006 3:00:43 PM | Ashley, I have to agree with you, and I really don't want this thread to turn into any form of Christian bashing.
It was more the point that the *politics* of the time were leaning towards their specific brand of Christianity. Not necessarily what was originally intended. And just like the smear campaigns that our politicians use today. It was used back then to win as many followers as possible. | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 5/9/2006 8:58:59 AM | Feral, you will find that FilmmakerMike canot backup what he sais because it is all made up.
Here is the corect version of events for you...
People have never been taught that the Gaelic-Celtic Ogham written language pre-dates Latin, it's derived from the early Celts invading Greece at 390 BC time.
390 BC Rome was captured and burned by the Gauls under the leadership of the chieftain Brennius. No Gaels or Celti invaded Greece, but the La Tëne culture (known to the Greeks as the Keltoi or Galatae) did Sack Delphi in Greece in 400 BC.
The Celts never invaded Britain or Ireland Either, certain Aspects of thier culture were carried across here but the Celts themselve ended witht the defete of Vercingetorix in 46 BC. The modern term Celt ACTUALY refers to the cultures of the Picts, the Scotti and the Attacotti, who were cultures that Emerged in Britain and Europe, AD. (ie, they were not the anchient societies that ere thier before the Romans invaded and had nothing to do with the True Celts of Alpine Europe who emerged in 500 BC.)
So the Celtics and Pagans were writing before the Latins in Rome were using Latin.
It always upsets the Christians when they find out Ogham is based on the Greek alphabet and not the Latin alphabet.
Ogham originated in Ireland in the 4th C. As such it dose not predated Roman or Greek, but is an original Language with its base in the Anchient Norse language of the Vikings (Elder Futhark). Ogham is not a writen langauge but a symbolic langauge recorded as a series of notches similar to the Runic Alphabet.
Ogham as a language is almost imposible to read as it relies heavily on context and is imposible to vocalise at it is a dead language and can only be vocalised as Runic rather than Ogham. The pronunciation of the Ogham script is bassed upon the Galic language pronunciation of the Runes, because no one knows what the original sound should be.
Even after a full years study, I still can not translate Ogham without book guides to help me and can never be certain of the translation because it is imposible to know the corect context all the time.
.
.
.
It realy anoys me when people Talk about being a celt or druid as if they truely are. These are dead religions. We do not truely know what they actualy belived nor do we know what they practiced, no one alive today has actualy been taught by someone of the anchient traditions, only by people who are ussing a modern take on old religious ideas.
Saying you are a celt nowerdays, alows you take ideas from over 4000 years of history and three continents, when in truth, the celts lived in the Alpine reegin and existed for only 500 years. As for Druids, they were a warlike people who DID practice human sacrifice despite what modern Druids say.
As for what a witch is. In my opinion, a witch is any modern Magic usser. So all those people doing circle casting and candle magic and god/goddess worship ect ect. In fact about the only Pagans that I don't class as witches, are the ones practicing known old paths... which at the moment is only the Romany, the Native American (true paths and not modern mixed ones) and the Norse traditions. To me, everyone else is just another witch. | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 5/9/2006 10:23:36 AM | ^^^^
Cool! A scholar amongst us!
This thread will really get interesting!
Raziel, I have been reading some books on the Scottish and Masonic take on science.
Luminaries such as Robert Moray, Robert Hooke and Christopher Wren, with the aid of the King Charles ( if I am Correct) made the push for what is NOW taken for modern science. These men actually were trying to make sense of the collected and archived ALCHEMICAL texts. It was Robert Hooke that got the idea of Gravity going, but it was Newton that developed the theory of gravity (see THE SHADOW OF SOLOMON). Robert Boyle (Chemistry's Boyle's law of Gas Pressure and Volumes) also had access to these texts and decided to publish what he thought of his findings because he could not make sense ofthese texts.
To this day the scientists are trying to figure out ORMUS,or high spin state gold (and the Platinum based metals).(See Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark). Name taken from the Persian God of Light and Life ORMUZD. It is likened as such:
Heavier than its weight in gold , but lighter than a feather,....
Botmom line: Those who were dabbling in alchemy eventually begot what today is science.
As for those who scoff at the wicthes druids etc., just experiment.
Don't knock it till you try it I suppose. | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 5/10/2006 2:16:05 AM | Thank you Bright,
As always you come up with some very interesting history on things.
I am curious though, your ending statement almost sounded like you don't have a lot of respect for those of us that are attempting to find our spirituality through a more Pagan perspective. | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 5/10/2006 7:36:08 AM | As always you come up with some very interesting history on things.
I am curious though, your ending statement almost sounded like you don't have a lot of respect for those of us that are attempting to find our spirituality through a more Pagan perspective.
=============
What Raziel is saying that todays modern witch can not be considered pagan for
most of the olden ways have been lost. He did list those cultures that have retained their
magical birth right.
I would have to agree.
Much of todays spell casting is derived from Greaco Egyptian sources that have been
amalgamated with other practices. But the sources I have been reading make for interestin pracrices: Arthur Edward Waite, Samuel MacGregor Mathers, etc. | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 5/13/2006 9:28:55 AM |
I have been reading make for interestin pracrices: Arthur Edward Waite, Samuel MacGregor Mathers, etc.
Some excelent materials there MysticRogue, you should have a very intresting time researching those. I'm busy looking into space/time curture at the moment and some of its implications, there are some intresting paraleles between modern thinking on space/time and taoistick thinking on time and space. For example, taoists belive that time is like a sea, and we are swept along in time like a piece of driftwood, going with the flow, which is somewhat similar to hawkings Idea of rivers of time.
Anyway, back to the subject at hand, You are also Right that I belive most modern paths to have lost thier birthright to the paths they are named after. Modern Celts are not truely Celtic, and modern Druids are not truely Druids.
I would like to stress however, that those dose not in my eyes at least, make them any less valid. I belive there are many paths to reach the divine, or higher states of being, and just because one path may only be a few years old, dose not make it any less valid than one that is two thousand years old. It is people deluding themselves into thining they have some anchient spiritual conection that anoyes me, or worse than that, people being lied to to make them think that someone else has... Gardner, Silver Raven Wolf, Crowley, et all.
I can not stand people being lied to as most modern witchcraft books do, claiming that there practice is thousands of years old and celtic/druidic extra, when its mostly greco-roman/egyptian with a bit of hinduism thrown in and is only a few tens of years, up to maybe a hundred or so, years old. If people knew what the practices they are being told about, where in thier original context, I think they would get so much more out of them. | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 5/13/2006 3:38:50 PM | Good point Bright,
I did go out and research just a little bit. No where near what kind of studying you have done. But did find a lot to back up what you are saying.
I do believe though, that the Gods and Goddess of old are probably relieved that we are finally remembering them no matter what handle we put on it.
I am of Scottish decent, so would love for you to post more as all my Grandparents, both from my mother and fathers side were born in Scotland. I would really like to know more about what and who were actually worshiped during ancient times.
Thank you so much for your input. | |
|
chinua
|
Joined: 9/30/2005
Msg: 343 | |
| What is a witch?
Posted: 5/13/2006 7:45:22 PM | What about things that are passed down?? do you believe that some things might have survived that way???.........I seem to have inherited a few abilities....... | |
|
Xavi
|
Joined: 1/6/2006
Msg: 344 | |
| What is a witch?
Posted: 5/13/2006 11:53:52 PM | While I know that much of Wicca is based on Masonic teachings, I also feel there are those of us who can tune into things on a deeper level, those who have a gift for knowing if relatives are okay, when the phone is going to ring, etc.
I am always eager to find accurate information, though I am also willing to give an ear to reconstructionists as long as they aren't hovering in the far fringes of the fantasy novel zone.
In my opinion, witchcraft is a growing and evolving faith, and so long as it is kept in a healthy direction then it can only be taken as a good thing. | |
|
Breaca
|
Joined: 10/26/2005
Msg: 345 | |
| What is a witch?
Posted: 5/14/2006 3:51:12 AM | ^^^
I so agree. I believe that we all have gifts to share with the world, however, some people are more in tune with them than others. It’s unfortunate that we are still existing in a society that views differences with fear. That fear manifests itself in misunderstandings and often outrageous accusations (anything from weirdo to evil).
Actually, this is where I have some issues with current practice. Yes, it is open. However, I believe that there are a lot of books and people out there “teaching” what we inherently possess. Instead of learning how to tap into these resources from a gut level, we’re preached on the ceremony, proper colour of candle, tools, wardrobe or lack of wardrobe. All that can be so mind boggling and disheartening to the beginner.
Basically, I think we need to learn as much as possible through books, people and history. But, in the end, it is our own personal connection with the energy (for lack of a better term at this moment) around us that will honour and heighten our gifts.
We forget that everyone is different. Tapping into our own gifts and honing those into working craft skills can be a different experience for each person.
We are so tuned into books that our celebrations have become calendar driven instead of sense driven. We search on a piece of paper to tell us when to honour Deity instead of within ourselves. We become yet another book-driven religion where those with more reading under their belt are deemed more valid or correct than others.
There is a dance called balance that we need to be mindful of. | |
|
Eala
|
Joined: 3/19/2006
Msg: 346 | |
| What is a witch?
Posted: 5/14/2006 7:03:13 AM | | SFL, thank you, now I know there must be something in NH that I can be involved in or start right here...and Happy Mother's Day | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 5/14/2006 7:23:05 AM | what is a witch???
well here in Spain we have the answer,lol
our Inquisition killed many of them burning them at the stake | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 5/14/2006 9:11:34 AM | | Hmm...that wouldn't nearly be as funny but for the fact that durring the Inquisitions the ones being killed were actually Heretics, translation...Christians that went against the church.... | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 5/14/2006 1:18:39 PM | | not only Christians going against the Church but witches too,lol | |
|
| What is a witch?
Posted: 5/14/2006 3:34:43 PM | | If I remember correctly the percentage of actual 'Witches' that were actually burned was in the range of like 1 to 3%. Whereas the rest were either Herectics or burned due to 'political' disadvantage, ie someone with power wasn't to happy with the one being burned. | |
|
|
| Page 14 of 17
|
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
|
Home
login 
