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Online Wiccan and Pagan Schools – Are They Right for You?

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Online Learning

Online Learning

 

Would you benefit from studying with an online Wicca or Pagan school? To explore this topic, I interviewed Heather Greene, Luna Marr, and Aline O’Brien.

(Some responses may have been edited for length.)

Let’s start.

* When should someone consider going to an online school?

Luna: When it’s necessary. Some students work out very well with books and doing their own research, but there are others . . . who feel they need to hide their beliefs and study in secret, or just live in areas where a one-on-one pagan education isn’t available. Not all online educations are equal. . . . Some online schools just charge you money, hand you a bunch of information with little to no guidance. And others give you a mentor experience [in] your own home via the Internet.

Aline O’Brien: In the case of Cherry Hill Seminary (CHS), because there is no other school offering full training parallel with what is taught at mainstream seminaries. I strongly feel that Pagans should collaborate on the creation of our own culture. That means not attending liberal Protestant seminaries because you think they’re the only game in town when it comes to seminary-type training (chaplaincy, pastoral counseling, interfaith, history, etc.)

Heather: Online schools can help people who, for one reason or another, don’t have the ability to physically attend classes. In addition schools like Cherry Hill Seminary offer access to subjects and teachers that might not be available locally.

Moonwater: I agree. Online education may be necessary for someone who does not have a local pagan community for support.

* Would you use an online choice for your primary way of learning Wicca verses face-to-face learning?

Aline: Not necessarily. It really depends a lot on what’s available in a particular individual’s area. 

Heather: I would not choose distance learning as my primary way of learning any subject unless no other option was available. And there are situations where that is the case. I do prefer the immediacy of presence and the concentrated, shared energy of the “classroom” experience. This cannot be replicated online. However I also believe that there are educational opportunities in all forms of learning processes. Distance learning gives us access to teachers and professional who might otherwise not be available to us at any point in our lives. I see that alone as an invaluable resource.

Luna: I wouldn’t say that I would choose it over face-to-face learning, simply that it’s an alternative and another valuable option. . . . In my school Pagans Learning Online we believe that an online education should mimic the face-to-face experience as closely as possible, through technology such as Skype, Google, and the ability to upload voice, video, and written materials. We are able to replicate the face-to-face experience fairly well. Is it the same as having that mentor there who can give you a hug when you’re down? Absolutely not. However, an online education can still offer the same benefits.

Moonwater: I prefer the face-to-face approach when possible. This way you can experience how your student moves and uses energy. However, it’s important to me that students have access to information. That’s the reason that I write this blog (with the help of my editors) and I wrote my book The Hidden Children of the Goddess.

* Are online schools helpful or harmful to our community?

Luna: This question is like a double edged sword. I want to say that online schools can be incredibly helpful to the Pagan and Wiccan community . . .  . [But] some schools offer a lot of false certifications and dangerous ideas that if a person was so willing they could take advantage of. I even heard of one online school that tells you that you’re not allowed to worship the Gods and Goddesses unless you are a Level 1 priestess and [have] passed their tests. A student looking into an online school needs to know when something just doesn’t sound right or seem right. They need to do their research. . . . Healing of the aura and the chakras is something that should be left up to trained professionals. . . . For people who are forced to practice in the shadows, having the opportunity to practice online is something that [can] change who they are in a positive way. Online schools have the ability to help guide and grow future leaders of the Pagan and Wiccan community so that the next batch of people who look for a place to learn may not have the same struggles.

Aline: Some are helpful, others not so much; depends upon the school. I can say, however, that Pagans attend CHS for two primary reasons: one is for personal enrichment and the other to better serve their own communities. They don’t come so they can get a degree and get a job by being hired by some Pagan ‘church.’ They don’t come so they can get a raise at their current job. In the bigger picture, some seek chaplaincy degrees because in the mainstream world having one is required in order for one to do that work (the military being the most stringent in terms of chaplaincy requirements).

Heather: Just like anything, distance learning can be both helpful and harmful. It is helpful for the reasons specified above. Distance learning can offer people an opportunity to attend classes that they might not be able to otherwise. At the same time, distance learning is not yet accredited in the same way as conventional institutions. Assessing a school’s credibility and legitimacy is left to student and [it’s] often very difficult. The digital world has created a universe in which legitimacy is easier to falsify. Students must be very cautious.

* Online schools are on the rise, so how can you tell if one is right for your student?

Luna: It’s about doing the research, knowing yourself and your own personal learning style, and using your common sense. . . . Paganism and Wicca are terms for thousands of proud and dedicated religious pathways and traditions, rooted 60,000 years in the past. That isn’t easy stuff to learn over night. I think that as a society we get far too wrapped up in the “I want it now” of things and we overlook the hard work and dedication it takes to do something right. So before you jump into the first online school of Paganism that you see, do some research and ask some questions and remember that if it doesn’t look right or sound right then keep looking.

Heather: It is important to research the institution, teachers and the administrative staff; to examine the promises made and the cost; to talk to former students and to ask as many questions as possible.

Aline: I would say in the same way one would explore schools for any other kind of learning–read everything possible, ask others who attended that school, etc. I’m not sure I quite ‘get’ telling what’s right for one’s student. To me, the student her/himself would be the person making such decisions. S/he could seek advice and recommendations from a teacher. Alternatively, a particular teacher may wish to direct a particular student to a specific online educational resource/school for, say, a course on ministering to the dying.

* When should you not consider a school as a supplement for your student?

Heather: If local resources and lifestyle permit, it is good to consider the local options first. I would also steer a student away from a school that does not “check out” as legitimate.

Aline: Again, I can’t really speak knowledgeably to this because my experience is with a graduate school. It’s not about learning Wicca per se.

Luna: The only answer I would have for this is when the reason for seeking out the education isn’t pure of intent. . . . However if what you’re looking for is a chance to grow both as a person and in your magical abilities and you embrace the dedication it takes, then online schools are a great choice. I have seen many students whose self-esteem has bloomed. [And, one’s] inner light and love of yourself and those around you [become] powerful tools to change the world.

Since, Luna and Aline are active with online schools, I asked this question:

What can web schools like yours offer students with mentors?

Luna: I suggest a student stay with their mentor . . . unless they aren’t getting a full education from their mentor. I have had very good mentors. My first mentor was a Wiccan High Priestess. I myself have chosen the path of druidry, but it was very nice and refreshing to be able to learn so much about the Wiccan beliefs and practices. [I enjoyed] spending time with someone who knew what I was going through at a young age and was able to help guide me. It was a valuable experience. However, she was only able to offer me part of the picture that I was looking for. She could only teach me about Wicca. Because of this, I found myself studying books for years, doing research and seeking out others who had other beliefs.

Aline: The online school with which I’m affiliated, Cherry Hill Seminary (www.cherryhillseminary.org), provides primarily graduate-level education. We offer two masters’ degrees–M.A. in Pagan Studies and M.Div. So CHS is different from other online Pagan schools in that our students are already whatever kind of educated Pagan they are. In other words, mentors aren’t in the picture. Those who are seeking degrees, which is not all of our students, must attend two live, in-person multi-day retreats during the course of their studies. (http://www.cherryhillseminary.org/) CHS has a Dean of Students, who is not exactly a mentor but does help students determine their personal course of study. I think (not entirely sure) students have faculty advisors when they choose a degree path. (There’s tons of detailed info on this topic in CHS’ Catalogue.)

Some Pagans view Online Wiccan education as a controversial topic. The views expressed above belong to those who expressed them.

I, Moonwater, prefer the one-to-one mentor/student process (and that is my training). However, it strikes me that it is helpful to carefully study material if a local Pagan community is not available.

As with other important decisions, devote great care to your educational path.

Biographies of Our Interviewees

Luna Marr, has been studying paganism both independently and with various mentors for the last 21 years. She is very proactive in her local pagan community, serving as both clergy and secretary in her local pagan church. She says, “I have always believed that paganism deserves the same respect as other religions, but with that respect comes responsibilities to be knowledgeable in your beliefs and in the history of your beliefs. I feel that with the growing interest in paganism there need to be more hands-on ways for people to learn and grow without the pressure of being forced down one pathway or another.” Email: Luna@paganslearningonline.org  Her online school is Pagans Learning On Line.

Aline O’Brien, known among her co-religionists as M. Macha NightMare, is an internationally published author, ritualist and all-round Pagan webweaver. A member of the American Academy of Religion, the Marin Interfaith Council, the Nature Religion Scholars Network, the Covenant of the Goddess (CoG), and the Advisory Council of the Sacred Dying Foundation, Macha speaks informatively about Paganism to news media and academic researchers, presents at colleges, universities and seminaries, and teaches on the broomstick circuit. She has taught at Starr King School for the Ministry and since 2000 has served in various capacities at Cherry Hill Seminary, the first and only seminary serving the Neopagan community.  Blogs:  Broomstick Chronicles, Witch at Large , Wild Garden: Pagans in the Growing Interfaith Landscape at Patheos.

Heather Greene, is a freelance writer living in the South. She has a master’s degree in Film with a background in commercial media and technology. She is currently serving as National Public Information Officer for Covenant of the Goddess. From 2010-2012, she served as Public Information Officer for Dogwood Local Council. Additionally, she collaborates with Lady Liberty League on a variety of cases and is a regular contributor to Circle Magazine. Heather has been practicing Wicca and Witchcraft for almost twenty years in both solitary and group settings. Personal Blog  Google +  Twitter  Pinterest  – See more at: http://wildhunt.org/about/heather-greene#sthash.mwzYAeWA.dpuf

Heather Greene

Freelance Writer

Staff Writer, The Wild Hunt
Staff Writer, Circle Magazine
What do you think? Take the pole.


The Mobile Shrine

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The Mobile Shrine

The Mobile Shrine

 

Have the Gods With You When Travelling:

The Portable Shrine

 

Do you travel a lot? Have you missed viewing your Gods from your home altar? Make a Portable Shrine. It’s fun.

The Shrine Closed

The Mobile Shrine Closed

What you will need:

  • One wooden hinged box
  • Different colored tissue paper (I used some paper with a flower-pattern for one of my boxes.)
  • Image of the God
  • Image of the Goddess
  • Glue gun and glue
  • Tulip® Dimensional Fabric Paint–Glitter
  • Mini flowers and/or other decorations for the Gods

(For example, I included flowers for the Goddess. You can use beads,

paint, coins or other decorations that have meaning for you and your

Gods.)

  • Electric tea lights. Hotels do not let you use lit candles.
  • Mod Podge glue
  • Sponge applicator (for the glue)
  • Other decorations like stickers and such as desired

To start, I applied Mod Podge glue to the exterior surface of my wooden box. Then I affixed the flower-patterned tissue paper to the surface with the glue. Note in the photo how the patterned tissue paper provides an interesting texture. (Be careful and use glue on only one side at a time. Let the glue fully dry.)

Then I applied another coat of glue over the tissue paper to seal it.

As another option, you can paint your box any color that seems appropriate, perhaps, your favorite color.

Although you could add decorations to the outside of the box, I suggest leaving it plain. Why? You do not want a hotel maid or other stranger to be drawn to the box out of curiosity.

Inside the box, I used red tissue paper. Pick the color you prefer. Whether you glued paper or painted the inside, wait for it to dry. Then use glue to apply the images of your chosen God and Goddess.

Note in the photo that I used Tulip® Dimensional Fabric Paint–Glitter to cover the edges of the Deities’ pictures—gold glitter for the God and silver for the Goddess.

I added pearl 3D-stick-ons and other jeweled stick-on pieces to accent my images. I also added glittery stickers on the sides to personalize the interior of my box.

I strung beads in strands—two for the God and one long strand for the Goddess. I used fishing line for that. I draped the beads and used the glue gun to affix the ends in place.

As a finishing touch, I employed the glue gun as I added mini-flowers to the Goddess’ side.

Once your Portable Shrine is fully dried, you close it up. From the outside, no one will know what it is.

Take your Portable Shrine anywhere, open it up and place the electric candle in front to honor the God and Goddess.

My Portable Shrine is small and compact enough to fit into a backpack that I bring on a plane. I even took it on a cruise. It’s nice to have the familiar company of my shrine when I am away from home.

At home, I place my Portable Shrine in a prominent location and enjoy it.

Since, when closed, your Portable Shrine is nondescript, it can be placed on a book shelf or the corner of a desk. Some people consider using a Portable Shrine in a dorm room because the Portable Shrine can be closed quickly.

Making a Portable Shrine can be a fun family project. You could have each family member contribute to one Family Portable Shrine or each person could create his or her own. Perhaps, you might want to do both. They are fun and relatively easy to make.

So keep the craft in witchcraft and have some fun while honoring the Gods.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw


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How You Can Feel True Security

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 Security

How You Can Feel True Security

Security—what is it? Is it a home, a job, or family? If that’s security, what if these things are taken away? What then?

My friend Bob lives with his parents. He is disabled and so he can’t manage to live on his own. He also needs the support of his family to help him with day to day activities such as cooking and cleaning. To him, his living situation with his family is a place of security. However, last week he was told by his father that he had to move out. This pulled the rug of security right out from under him.

Bob was terrified.

Here’s another example: Janet has to keep her Wiccan faith a secret from her family who subscribe to another religion. One day, at a family gathering her pentacle pendent fell out of her blouse. Aghast, her mother called her father and together they yelled and drove her from the gathering. Her parents and other relatives disowned her. That was their word, disowned.

Now, Janet cries–at different times during the day. Sometimes, she flees to the restroom, when she’s at work. She used to believe that her family was her bedrock. No more.

What happens when our sense of security is taken? Where do we go? Did we really lose security?

I say security isn’t a place. It’s not a thing, and it’s not a family tie. The truth is: Things change. We can’t rely on these things for our security.

So where is security found?

True security is found in our hearts and minds. It is found in our faith, and it resides with the Gods who walk beside us everyday.

The Gods do not waver. They are constant, eternal, all encompassing.

So let’s face it. Security is not in the material. True security is in the spirit.

You can call on your true security anytime and anyplace. The great thing about being Wiccan is that you can create your temple anywhere by casting your circle.

More than that, you can recite a blessing in your own thoughts.

Here is a blessing that you can recite to yourself:

Gods to enfold me, Gods that surround me.

Be that peace and serenity for me.

 Lead me on my path, far and wide,

Traveling with me, by my side.

Never will I be alone,

Evermore you’ll be my home.

Ever safe and secure I will always be,

Never bowing defeat upon one knee.

 Lord and Gracious Lady be,

mine for all eternity.

So mote it be.

Remember your true security with the Gods.

Blessed Be,

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Beware The Fluffy Bunny!

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Rainbow

Beware The Fluffy Bunny!

What is a Fluffy Bunny Pagan?

Patti Wigington defines a “Fluffy Bunny” as: “In general, ‘fluffy bunny,’ or ‘fluffbunny,’ is a derogatory term used to apply to members of the Pagan community who (1) insist that they know everything they need to know, (2) often make blanket statements about what ‘real Pagans’ do and don’t do, and (3) flat-out refuse to acknowledge that people who think differently from them can be Pagan, too.”

If someone thinks they know everything they need to know, they can make serious mistakes. Such arrogance can lead to physical danger. For example, I once read a book that talked about grinding certain stones, putting them in water and drinking the water. Do NOT do this! The rocks may contain traces of harmful compounds like arsenic or other poisonous substances.

Further, grinding stones with a high silicon composition is like grinding up glass. Drinking such a solution will turn your insides into hamburger. Again, don’t do it!

Watch out about herbs, too. Avoid just taking the advice of one book. Check in with an elder or mentor (or two or three). Do NOT experiment on yourself!

By definition, Fluffy Bunnies aren’t doing research. They can fall into believing mixed up notions. For example, Wicca is NOT the TV show Charmed.

The truth is: Wicca and Paganism have a real history throughout time. It’s valuable to study such history and avoid being misguided by something created merely for entertainment. I have heard a number of people saying that Fluffy Bunnies have a bad reputation for talking about things in an “everything is butterflies and unicorns” manner.

Fluffy Bunnies, as Patti noted, often make blanket statements about what “real Pagans” do and don’t do.

I note that sometimes Wicca and Paganism appear like herding cats. Everyone has their own ideas of what is the right way. I am Gardnerian, a British tradition. Does that make someone in the Feri tradition wrong? No.

Here’s a way to view the situation. Let’s say you have a potato. Every tradition cooks the potato differently. One may dice the potato, fry it and enjoy fries. Others mash the potato. Still, others may bake the potato and leave it whole. Does this mean that one is better than the others? No. The people all cooked the potato.

The outcome was the same, just the preparation was different.

Now, one might say that Fluffy Bunnies are merely cooking the potato in their own way. Fair enough. However, with this article, I’ve pointed out some details that we, as Wiccans, need to view with great care.

How about being a Learned Wiccan or Pagan?

Sounds good to me.

Blessed Be,

Moonwater

Invoking and Banishing the Elements

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The Pentagram and the Five Elements

The Pentagram and the Five Elements

Invoking and Banishing the Elements

 

When we begin a ritual and call in the Elements, we are inviting them to protect us and help us with something we want in life.

For example, if I’m doing a ritual related to love, I may invoke Water because it focuses on emotions.

I may want to bring passion to some situation in my life, and I would then invoke Fire.

How do we invoke an Element? It involves moving your hand in the air according to that which is indicated in the below diagram.

Proper invoking is easy. All you need to know is where to start. Here is a good rule: To invoke, go towards the element you’re invoking.

What this means is: you move your hand in the air (according to the diagram) in the direction of the desired Element.

At the end of your ritual . . .

At the end of the ritual, you will want to banish the element. I’ve shared with a student that if you don’t banish Water after you invoke it, you might end up with plumbing problems. If you don’t banish Fire, you might have a fire start in your home. Don’t let this happen! Be sure to banish the element.

To banish the element, move your hand in the direction away from that element you wish to banish. You can see this in the diagram below.

 

Pentagram Chart

When do I use the elemental invoking and banishing pentacles? One of the most common ways to use these pentagrams is casting and later taking down a circle. The other most common use is when you work with specific elements.

Elements can be a powerful part of your spiritual practice.

Handle with care.

And watch positive outcomes happen.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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Death and Grief during Yule Time

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The Summer Lands Garden

Death and Grief during Yule Time

A dear friend of mine was shot at his workplace and killed last Wednesday, the 11th. I’m grieving and I’m angry because I feel his death could have been prevented.

Grieving during the holidays when everyone is supposed to be so cheerful feels especially painful. In our pain, we might even feel anger take hold. It’s unfair to be singled out for grief.

So what can you do for a person in grief? Just listen to them.

Listening to a person dealing with grief is a hard thing. It often brings up our own pain.

Listening is a gift you give to help the grieving person feel needed support. Saying what she feels can even begin her healing process.

It’s true that you can’t solve anything for the person. But you don’t need to, and you shouldn’t try. The person grieving must travel the path of healing herself.

Being there for your friend or family member is the best thing you can do. Offering a kind heart, understanding shoulder and attentive ear is the best gift you can give someone going through grief.

May all those who cross to the other side this Yule Time be blessed, and may those who are left behind be blessed as well.

So mote it be.

Blessings,

Moonwater

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Finding Your Way on the Sacred Path

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Path

The Path

 

Finding Your Way on the Sacred Path

How did you find the Wiccan faith? Was it through a personal connection or was it through a book or website?

Wiccans until recently were hard to find. Many followers of the path work in secret, in the shadows. Why have all the secrecy?

This secrecy was vital because throughout history and even to this present day Wiccans (and other pagans) have been and continue to be discriminated against.

Face it, we are still a minority faith in this world. Most practitioners prefer to stay in the shadows because of the possibility of retaliation and prejudice found in family, school, work, and the general public. We know too well that there are general misconceptions and fear about the Craft. So many Wiccans practice in the shadow. (After all, I call my blog and my book The Hidden Children of the Goddess.)

So how is one to find a reliable teacher while so many teachers practice in the shadows?

You need some initial education. Books can be a great way to start. Read a bunch of books and you will start to see a pattern. Your intuition will alert you to who really knows valuable material and who may be offering faulty information.

Here is a good reading list to start your path. Those of you who have been on the path for a time may want to revisit some of these books. It’s important to have a good foundation in the Craft before moving on to the more advanced practices.

Reading List:

I invite you to consider my book:

 

SilverClaw, Moonwater. The Hidden Children of the Goddess: Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You, QuickBreakthrough Publishing (October 31, 2013)

And here are more books:

Buckland, Ray. Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft, 2nd Edition. Llewellyn Publications, 2002.

Buckland, Ray. Practical Color Magick. Llewellyn Publications, 1999.

Castleman, Michael. The New Healing Herbs, The Essential Guide To More Than 125 of Nature’s Most Potent Herbal Remedies. Rodale Inc 2009.

Cunningham, Scott. Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner. Llewellyn Publications, 1989.

Cunningham, Scott. Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Expanded & Revised Edition. Llewellyn Publications; 1st edition (October 1985).

Ferrar, Janet and Stewart. Eight Sabbats for Witches, Revised Edition. Phoenix Publishing, WA, 1988.

Ferrar, Janet and Stewart. The Witches’ God: Lord of the Dance. Phoenix Publishing, WA, 1989.

Ferrar, Janet and Stewart. The Witches’ Goddess: The Feminine Principle of Divinity. Phoenix Publishing, WA, 1987.

Ferrar, Stewart. What Witches Do. Robert Hale, 2010.

Fitch, Ed. A Grimoire of Shadows: Witchcraft, Paganism & Magick. Llewellyn Publications, 1996.

Frazer, James George. The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion, A New Abridgement from the 2nd and 3rd Editions. OxfordUniversityPress, USA, 2009.

Gardner, Gerald. High Magic’s Aid. Aurinia Books, 2010.

Gardner, Gerald. The Meaning of Witchcraft. Red Wheel/Weiser, 2004.

Gardner, Gerald. Witchcraft Today. Citadel, 2004.

Giles, Cynthia. The Tarot: History, Mystery, and Lore. Touchstone, 1994.

Graves, Robert. The White Goddess: A Historical Grammar of Poetic Myth, Amended and Enlarged Edition. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1966.

Leland, Charles G. Aradia or The Gospel Of The Witches. Kessinger Publishing LLC, 2010.

Lipp, Deborah. The Way of Four: Create Elemental Balance in Your Life. Llewellyn Publications, 2004.

Marcoux, Tom. Darkest Secrets of Spiritual Seduction Masters: How to Protect Yourself, Boost Your Psychological Immune System and Strengthen Your Spirit. Tom Marcoux Media, LLC, 2011.

McCoy, Edain. Sabbats: A Witch’s Approach to Living the Old Ways. Llewellyn Publications, 2001.

Murray, Margaret Alice. The God of the Witches. NuVision Publications, 2009.

Neal, Carl. The Magick Toolbox: The Ultimate Compendium for Choosing and Using Ritual Implements and Magickal Tools. Samuel Weiser, 2004.

Russell, Jeffrey B. and Alexander, Brooks. A History of Witchcraft: Sorcerers, Heretics & Pagans, 2nd Edition. Thames & Hudson, 2007.

Starhawk. The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Goddess: 20th Anniversary Edition. HarperOne, 1999.

Sylvan, Dianne. The Circle Within: Creating a Wiccan Spiritual Tradition. Llewellyn Publications, 2003.

Tognetti, Arlene. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Tarot, 2nd Edition. ALPHA, 2003.

Tognetti, Arlene and Flynn, Carolyn. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Tarot Spreads Illustrated. ALPHA, 2006.

Valiente, Doreen. An ABC of Witchcraft Past and Present. Phoenix Publishing, WA, 1988.

Valiente, Doreen. Natural Magic. Robert Hale, 1999.

Valiente, Doreen. Witchcraft for Tomorrow. Robert Hale, 1993.

Wood, Robin. Robin Wood Tarot: The Book. Robin Wood Enterprises, 1998.

Wood, Robin. When, Why … If. Robin Wood Enterprises, 1997.

Once you have read a number of books, you will have a basic familiarity with the Craft. Next, find a mentor in the particular Tradition (type) of Wicca you want to study.

The Witches’ Voice (witchvox.com) is a great place to read more articles and to network for new connections. You can find people who have taken the giant step (and risks) to be known in the community.

Observe carefully. Use your basic familiarity with the Craft and your intuition to find someone who you feel is a good match for your next steps in learning.

Each Tradition does the Craft a little differently. It’s not that one particular Tradition’s ritual is “wrong” compared to another Tradition. There are many ways of doing the same thing correctly.

How did you come to know the Craft? Let me know in the comments section. Thank you.

Blessings,

Moonwater

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Feeling Stressed Out? Call on the Gods

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Cat waiting.

Waiting for Guidance?

 

Feeling Stressed Out? Call on the Gods

 

Have you recently had to make some choices that brought you stress?

Stress can tell us a lot. We can see what is important to us. In this way, stress can actually guide us to the secrets of our hearts. How? We wouldn’t be feeling stressed out about something if we didn’t think it is important and it’s being threatened.

Once we know what we value, we can better set our course through life.

You see, what we need is clarity.

This is where the Gods can help.

If you’re under pressure and feeling the burden of stress, you can ask the Gods for clarity.

Why is clarity so important? When you can see things clearly, you can make a plan and take appropriate action. Those two things will reduce your stress.

One of the best ways to do that is through meditation. Here is a simple meditation to ask the Gods for their guidance.

For all meditations, follow these simple guidelines.

  • Find a place where you will not be disturbed for the entire meditation.
  • Turn off the ringer of your cell phone.
  • Take a sitting position where your spine is straight and your feet are flat on the floor.
  • Dim the lights.

Asking the Gods for Guidance – The Meditation

Start by breathing in and out deeply.

With each breath in, pull in relaxation.

With each breath out, release the stresses of the day.

Visualize breathing in the light of the Gods, soothing you.

And picture that with each breath out, you’re expelling a black cloud of stress.

Keep breathing–in and out, in and out.

And as you keep breathing in and out deeply,

Notice now that the light begins to fade around you.

Slowly at first, it gets darker and darker — until you are in total darkness, and you’re feeling safe and secure in the darkness.

Then . . . a new light blooms around you, slowly at first, but gradually it gets brighter and brighter.

You see that you are in the middle of a circle of standing stones. This great henge protects you from all bad entities.

In the middle of this henge rests a large stone altar. You walk to it and sit in front of the altar.

Now you ask the Gods for their guidance.

As you sit, you notice two loving energies beside you.

One is the Goddess and the other one is the God.

You ask them for their help and they lovingly answer your request.

(Pause for a time to hear their guidance.)

Having gifted you with their guidance, they bid you farewell.

Now it’s time to return from where you came.

Notice the light starts to dim until you are in total darkness, where you feel safe and secure.

Then . . . a familiar light returns, slowly at first, but gradually it gets brighter and brighter.

Open your eyes; you are back in the room and safe.

Note: After completing your meditation, light a candle to the Gods to thank them for their guidance.

With the Gods help, you make great decisions, creating your life of happiness.

The Gods are always there to help you. All you need is to ask for their help. You can go to them for help about anything you need.

Knowing this now, what guidance would you seek from the Gods?

Blessed Be,

Moonwater

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How to Give Back to the Gods — and The Heron

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The Heron Logo

The Heron

Ardea Herodotus

Perhaps you’ve noticed our new logo for this blog. It is the heron. Why this particular bird? The heron has been a representation of the Goddess for a long time. Below is the heron’s story as told by my friend Kay Pannell.

Ardea

The name Ardea Herodotus is the Linnaean classification for the heron. The Ancient Greek historian, Herodotus, wrote in the 8th Century BC. His history of the fall of Troy included this:

After the fall of Troy, Prince Aeneas traveled to the area around Rome. One of the lands he visited was the land of the Rutuli, whose capitol was Ardea and whose ruler was Turnus. Turnus had been betrothed to Livinia, daughter of a neighboring king.

Unfortunately, the king decided to give her to Aeneas instead. (You’d think after Aeneas’s brother Paris took Helen of Troy away from her husband, King Menelaus of Sparta, he’d have wised up about taking a woman away from a man with an army—but no). A war ensued between Aeneas’s fleet and Turnus’s army. During the hostilities, the city of Ardea was burned. Herodotus reported that from the ashes of the city a white bird arose that no one had seen before. It was the heron, and for ever afterward, the heron was called Ardea. When Carl Linnaeus began his classification in the 17th Century, he called the heron, Ardea Herodotus, for the story.

The word, Ardea, also translates as “earth goddess” in Greek.

 

Written by Kay Pannell

Thanks, Kay.

This story is here to stay. I hope you enjoyed it. Now here’s my post for this week.

 

How to Give Back to the Gods

How do I give back to the Gods? It’s something I think about daily. When I was younger I had no idea. But then I encountered this quote:

Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.   – Leo Buscaglia

This hits the mark I think. We may not thing we have much to give back but all of us has something, our talent—the gifts the Gods have given us.

When we use our unique gifts to help others, the Gods smile upon us. For this is why we were given the gifts. To make each other’s lives more enjoyable.

Using your talents doesn’t mean you have to make it a business. You don’t need to produce products or live on a demanding schedule to serve others.

Maybe you like to cook or bake. Prepare some food and take it to a friend who is sick. Or take it to an elderly woman who lives alone and on a fixed income. This will mean a lot to someone who needs something but has no other way to get it. (Be careful to ask about dietary needs and allergies to guard the person’s health.)

If you don’t cook, do you play music? Go to a children’s hospital and play for the kids. You don’t need to book gigs and have tons of followers. You’ll still make an important difference in the hospital.

Can’t think of some particular gift to share? Donate some of your time and do volunteer work for some charity. For example, I donated time at The Peninsula Humane Society. I helped with the small animals.

Now, I write this blog. This came as a surprise because of my dyslexia. But I was led to writing by the Gods themselves. It’s hard to argue with that.

But you don’t need the Gods’ intervention to tell you what to share with others. Try something. You won’t know what is a helpful activity until you experiment a little.

Here are some possibilities:

Your local animal shelters

Retirement home/hospice

Homeless shelters

Soup kitchens for the homeless

Local Hospitals

The World Wildlife Fund

Green Peace

Habitat for Humanity

Consider looking up local organizations that need volunteers. Just donating a few hours a week can make a big difference.

Express compassion and love as you invoke your talents. This pleases the Gods.

By pleasing the Gods we honor them.

You can make a difference for the Gods.

How do you please the Gods with your talents? Let me know in the comments section. Thank you.

Blessed Be,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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P.S.

Don’t forget about the workshop, sign up now.

Real Magick Workshop

Real Magick Workshop

Buy the workbook Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magick now and give me the receipt number and get $10 off your ticket to the workshop! You can sign up for the workshop below. See you soon.

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Find New Ways to Celebrate

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Roses

Tend to Your Roses

Find New Ways to Celebrate

Want to feel better?

On Monday September 23rd, I was reminded of the importance of celebrating small victories.

Life is meant to be celebrated.

In the days before September 23rd, I was running frantically with so much to do: Getting ready for my upcoming Oct. 19th workshop (in California) and getting my first workbook completed and then available for people to purchase online (available here). I was tired.

I took a belly-flop on the couch. I expected my sweetheart to offer me at least a score of “9.2” for my maneuver.

Instead, he asked, “How are we going to celebrate?” It had been months of work on my workbook with my sweetheart editing portions of the book daily.

Celebrate? I was exhausted and I could only think of the rehearsals for my workshop and other projects with deadlines.

Still, he was right (Don’t tell him.) It’s important to pause and celebrate a little success.

Along the same lines, my sweetie writes in his daily gratitude journal–that’s where you note what you’re grateful for. Perhaps, you had a good phone call with a friend. Maybe you took a walk for exercise. He writes in his gratitude journal just before he goes to sleep each night.

It’s so easy to forget the blessings in our lives. They happen everyday. Some may be small but they are there. However, many of us only remember the things that troubled us during the day.

It’s like a stubbed toe that screams pay attention. But we miss acknowledging all the other toes that are just fine. We concentrate on that which gives us pain.

But what about the joys in our day? The cat that purrs with affection as you caress it; your partner smiles in the morning; and you hear your favorite song on the radio. How about when your loved one makes your favorite meal?

I invite you to push forward the joys and blessing of your day. Pause. Pay attention. Push the “stubbed toe” into the background.

How do we push the joys and blessings forward? Write in your gratitude journal. Then you’ll think about your day in a different way. Sometimes, I think of a day as glancing out the window and seeing two things: a pile of garbage next to a glorious rose. When you write in your gratitude journal, you’re looking at the rose.

When I write down the “roses” of my day, I’m always surprised about how many actually occurred.

How about you? How many positive things are in your life right now? You’re reading this, so your eyes are working. You’re breathing. You’re probably looking forward to something even, perhaps, a favorite TV show.

I find that consciously choosing to look at the “roses” of life helps me focus on the beauty and joy that I experience. Soon after I started this writing in my gratitude journal, I realized that I didn’t just have one rose, I really had a rose garden.

Now, you can take this a step further. In addition to remembering the roses of your life, show your gratitude. Do a simple ritual at the end of your day. After noting my blessings in my gratitude journal, I take a candle and offer it as thanks to the Gods for the blessings I enjoyed.

Tea light candles work great for this. They are small and don’t take too long to burn. This way you don’t have a candle burning when no one is around. (Never leave a burning candle unattended.)

This candle is a small gesture to the Gods in thanks for all the blessings they provide. Since starting this ritual, I have noticed even more blessings occurring in my life.

The nice thing about this ritual is that it doesn’t take much time and it doesn’t require a big fanfare. As long as your ritual is heartfelt and sincere the Gods will be pleased.

If you live with someone who isn’t Wiccan, lighting a candle in not a big inconvenience. Simply let them know that this is a positive part of your daily life.

This ritual is a great way to say “I noticed” and “thanks” to the Gods. They will appreciate it. This ritual also helps you be happier and healthier.

Please leave a comment and let me know if you do something like this or if you have a different way to honor the blessings in your life. I’d love to hear your perspective. Thanks.

Blessings,

Moonwater