Happy Beltane!

Pagan Prompts steps in to save the day...

The latest from Pagan Prompts...

"This week, we're talking about Rituals.
Do you perform rituals? Or are they not right for you?
If you do, give us a basic outline of a ritual you've done in the past.
Share a little insight into what rituals mean to you and how you go about them."

I am going to answer this, but I don't have time tonight. I thought I would give you a chance to answer it first.

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April 25
I appreciate the comments so far...hoping for more.

I feel so connected to Goddess on this path that like many of you I do small rituals on a daily basis. A thanks or a request for help from the Elements can be sparked by a foggy morning, a riotous sunrise, a beautiful pasture, a glimpse of mule deer in the brush, a perfect spring rain.
When I am driving to work and see a perfect moon, I might give thanks to the Goddess or just say hello.

But I also like to do just slightly more formal ritual. I have one listed on A Borrowed Book of Charms that is a ritual to say good morning to the Elements and the God and Goddess. I love to take five minutes, light a candle and do that ritual. I don't do it as often as I would like, but I enjoy it when I do.

And on occasion, and not necessarily on an Esbat or Sabbat, I like to do a full blown ritual with candles, cast a circle, call the Elements and Spirits and make an offering to Goddess. Not very often but I do this when I feel the need and always feel better during and after.

I don't consider doing magick the same as doing a ritual. Even though magick is ritualistic, I separate them in my mind.....rituals are just for their own sake and magick is to change something.

politics again...

I am so sick of the dithering and the political football that health care has become. The US rates like 29th out of 29 'developed' countries in health care.

The only way to get reforms is the take away the socialized medical care that our ENTIRE CONGRESS gets. Then they might stop whining about how the country doesn't need to change anything about our medical system and actually do something.

As long as THEY have socialized medicine they are not going to help anyone else get affordable health care. They are free to take the money and advice from lobbyists, who can talk to them while they are getting their free medical care.

If I was ever going to seriously curse someone.....

10,000 visits!

Holy blogging, Batman!!
10,000+ visits to Pagan Tapestry.

When I started this blog I wasn't sure that anyone would ever find it, or read it or care.
I found that putting things down on paper (sort of) help to clarify my own thoughts and in some cases, challenge what I had believed.

A huge change in my practice that has come out of this blog is a better relationship with the Element of Fire. In my writing about the Elements, which are very important to me, I realized that I just skimmed over this Element that intimidated me. I resolved to change that and as a consequence I feel that my creative urges are no longer blocked as they were.

I have also realized that the Wheel of the Year, the changing of the seasons, the paths of the sun and the moon really do make up the pattern of my life, always have and always will.

Thank you to everyone who has visited and/or commented. Your input makes this worthwhile and I have found new friends along this path. I hope you will an continue to visit and speak up whenever you please.

Thanks again.

goddess

Epona

Leaving the secular world behind and returning to the topic.....

Epona is an unusual Celtic goddess. Many Celtic goddesses are associated with a particular location, but Epona was well known throughout the tribes. Goddess of fertility, abundance and most often associated with the horse.
The Romans were so taken with her that they put her in the temples in Rome along with their own goddesses and believed that she traveled with their cavalry. On the way back to Rome she also became a favorite of the Germanic tribes and has her own legends among them.

Call on Epona for help, guidance and protection when starting along a new path. She may appear in the form of horses and foals. Burn a white candle in her honor and rose or sandlewood incense to please her.

Never EVER judge a book by its cover.

The embed link for this is disabled....a must watch. Live your dreams...
Susan Boyle

sometimes I just can't help myself....political observation...

I am an NPR junkie. I have been listening to the debates lately. I think the show is called IQ Squared. It is Oxford style debating on some interesting topics.

This week's motion:
"Blame Washington more than Wall Street for the economic crisis"

This exchange about summed the whole thing up for me:



point: ...when Wall Street spent millions lobbying Congress for less regulation, they were not debauching a virgin, they were paying a harlot.

counterpoint: ...but they stole the money they used to do it.

Happy Easter

This wonderful graphic is courtesy of The Graphics Fairy.
thank you

cool award for moi

awwww, this is nice. Sent to me by my very favorite oils and potions witch, mixing up magical brews for body and bath. Visit her site at Mea Culpa's Body and Bath Creations.

Thank you very much and now I am going to award it to some new pagan blogs that have joined my every morning reading list. Welcome:

Crafty Celtic Cutie

The Spiral Dances

Crafty's Cuppa Coffee

new pagan prompts...

This week's Pagan Prompt is
Are you in or out of the broom closet?

This one is fairly uncomplicated for me. When I was Roman Catholic I did not go around discussing my faith with people. If someone asked directly or if it came up in a friendly discussion I would answer with a response that I felt was appropriate. From 'Catholic' to 'lapsed Catholic' to 'none of your business.' This went through stages as did my answers as my spiritual path wandered about.

Since I started calling myself Pagan I do exactly the same thing. Friendly discussions with friends or sincerely interested persons is fine, otherwise MYOB.
I don't defend my beliefs or proselytize them and I won't put myself in a position to do either.

I admit that I do soft peddle my beliefs a bit when I think someone might faint. I might say, my beliefs are like Wicca, an earth centered religion. I might say I believe in the goddess. I rarely blurt out Pagan with no other description and I almost never call myself a witch to anyone outside the Craft.

I am annoyed when others wave their religion at me and I try not to do the same.

Chime in....is this an issue for you, are you still undecided or have you resolved this issue in your life?

April Full Moon, Seed Moon

April Full Moon, The Seed Moon, is the time for new beginnings.
Plant the seeds of the year to come. The energy of the moon is focused on creating. Take advantage of opportunities. Also work on getting over emotional flareups and your temper, which inhibit new growth.

If the weather where you are permits and the sky is clear...go outside and celebrate the Full Moon. Feel her energy on your skin, enjoy the cool spring evening.

full moon is at 10:56 am EST on Thursday April 9

Pagan Prompts

A brand new blog called Pagan Prompts is proposing to offer questions to inspire comments and blog posts. The first one is
What makes you a Pagan?

I think this is a good subject to think about on a regular basis. Sometimes I get the impression that Pagan is just a label to state that you don't agree with Christianity. While that may be true, hopefully there is more to our Pagan beliefs than what we don't want.
My list starts with that idea, but goes on to bigger and better things...

I reject the God of Abraham. I don't say he doesn't exist, I just don't want anything to do with him.

I do believe that we share this planet and the universe with many deities and spirits and life forces that we don't understand.

I do believe that some of these deities and spirits are available for communication with us, on a hit and miss basis. I believe that being in tune with the natural cycles of the earth and being part of them, instead of trying to remove ourselves from them, is the key to this communication.

I do believe in magick and I don't believe that it is some sort of hocus pocus, I think that science is getting close and will someday explain how it works.

What about you? What makes you a pagan?