Simple Pagan Practice

I am starting to see the error of my ways when it comes to trying to be someone I am not.   By exploring other paths and other ideas, I have become a hard core capital A sshole.   

Yet I am compelled to continue down these paths, the paths of The Satanist, The Vampire, The Witch.   I need to explore and experience as much of these concepts as I can so I can come out of it on the other side, more connected, more focused on where I really need to be and who I really am.

Sometimes I admit that I think I am a HIGHLY Eclectic Unitarian Universalist, after all that is my former church and they do encourage active exploration of other paths and ideas but I dont agree with all of their core beliefs and values--or do I?

Satanism has me so baffled...I am not sure where I am at the moment.

I see myself down the line having a simple Pagan practice where I have my rainy day rituals, contemplate and visualize in the mornings, drink my tea or coffee and listen to my native american music, light some candles and incense or my oil burner and spend time in Nature...Nothing fancy...

Blessings

Amber....

Don and I took Amber to chinese buffet!

We had fun!

:)

I sure love her.   :)

I have a lot of books I'd like to give her on Wicca.   Yeah.  She is Wiccan.    :O

Blessings!

Is The Goddess a Misnomer?

The Universe and Nature are The Goddess to me.

Yet....

If I were to remove the word Goddess and just say that I thought The Universe/Nature was sacred, Holy, Divine, would that make more sense and be less confusing for people?

Do I care?

I understand where I am coming from and why I use the words that I use, I understand my need for personification so why should I be concerned when someone else does not get it?

I used to really care about this, I guess I had a need for validation from other Witches, other Naturalists and now I am just not of that need, I know who I am and where I am so that is what really matters!

The Goddess is here to stay!

Blessings!

365 Ways to Climb The Levels

I read meditation books which have titles such as 

365 Days on the Red Road

or 

365 Tao

365 Mystics

These are how I was raised to walk The Sacred Journey and Climb The levels so that I could earn my degrees as a Witch.

Inside each of these books is usually sage advice.  Instructions.  Inspirational quotes and Valuable information.   All of this is to be used in advancement both on a spiritual plane as well as a physical plane.

As you complete the Instructions that either The Die has said you must complete or that you have chosen to complete using your own free will-You will Earn a better position.    

I no longer believe that The Die is The Goddess. I used to.  Now I believe it's random.   Yet, that does not mean it's not Valid and it's not valuable.  Random lessons can teach us just as much about life as it could if their was a Goddess.    

And you never know...There could be.    I am not 100% against theism or supernaturalism, I just have not had any such experiences and so for me...I am where I am.

:)

Blessings!

Pantheism?

Pantheism says that Everything Natural Is God.  That is basically what I am saying.   I believe that Everything Natural is The Goddess.    Some Pantheists believe though that everything that exists is God.

Microwave ovens.
Toasters
Guns
Bombs

I do not look at man made natural objects as The Goddess.   I see Nature.  

Rain
Wind
Trees
Stones
Animals

So, I would not fit into Pantheism on a technical level but It's the closest label I could apply to where I am and what I believe in, I have heard other terms, Naturalistic Pagan, Religious Naturalist.

Whatever.

It all works for me!

Blessings!

To Be Vegan or Not to be!

I was raised Vegan and loved every moment of my childhood and because I didn't have meat or animal products growing up I had no idea what I was missing.

I was missing a lot.     I love bacon!   I love cheese!   I love chocolate!    Oh crap.

I cant be Vegan!

What about the rede?

Well...Good question!

I adapted the Wiccan rede into my practices because at the time I agreed with it.   I have heard watered down versions though such as -live the best life you can and do as little harm as possible-   I agree with that but the same question comes up, am I doing as little harm as possible when I eat meat?

Anyone who has done proper research knows that it takes a shitload of water and grain to feed cows to fatten them up so we can feed the steak eaters out there and that same grain and water could feed a third world country.

We are doing incredible harm to the Goddess and to other parts of The Goddess by eating meat and meat products so it has to be really something we think about instead of just acting on impulse or because something tastes so good.

Vegan food has EVERY Nutrient that we need to survive.   It is just as healthy if not MORE healthy to be Vegan because Vegan foods have zero bad cholesterol, less fat, more fiber, more nutrition.

And some of it tastes better to me!

I LOVE Vegan sour cream much more than regular.    I love daiya shredded cheese and its a lot less fat so I feel good eating it too.  Dark Chocolate is Vegan naturally and is my favorite.   

Before I met Don and Mom got sick I was Vegan.   I have only been a meat eater for about 3 years now.   I enjoy the foods I mentioned above but I am 203 Pounds now when I was 170 before, I have high cholesterol, I feel tired all of the time, my back is killing me, right now as I type  :(

I was working on a Vegan cookbook before this as well...

I need time to really think about this....

:)    Maybe...You should too!

Blessings!

The Sacred Journey

The Way that I was raised in that we are to walk on a Sacred Path and wait patiently for other Pathways or Doors to Open to us and then head down those other Paths if that is what we wish OR if that is where we are instructed to go.

Waiting for the doors to open is a HUGE part of Witchcraft in the way that my Aunt Helen raised me.   She said that we should live a life close to the Earth, in harmony with other people, nature and animals and be as low key as we can to lessen our impact on the Environment.

Another reason would be if you believe in fate.   For example...now this will be a bit radical but lets say that you are supposed to marry a man named Jack.

You have an illness where you lose your teeth (like I did when I was 23).   You want dentures or implants but the door to get them has not opened Yet.   Do you go against the die and the Path?

You do?  

Ok.   So You never meet Jack The Dentist.

I hear you screaming, But wait, I went to the dentist!

Yes but Jack isn't a dentist in the same city where you live, you went at 23 but the door to meet him didnt open till you were 25 and you went by your own choice but at the wrong time.   so no Jack.

I believe in FATE.    I believe that things happen when they are supposed to happen if you are on the correct path for your Journey.

How do doors open?

Books

I am to read various books to lead me and guide me to new changes.   These Books are chosen by The Die.

Believe me this system does work.    

Also connected to Opening doors and being led in new directions is the concept of Climbing The Levels.  

This means earning degrees.

There are 4 degrees to Witchcraft.    6 levels within each degree.

So, as you read and do the tasks inside each book, You are led to many new experiences and changes, hopefully solidifying your Path to The Goddess and to having the life that you will be happy with.

When you finish the Book at hand.   You cast The die to see if you have earned a new level.    If You have-GREAT!

If Not, You ask if you will ever have to read that book again and you move on to the next one.    

What Degree am I?

1st degree still.

In Witchcraft it takes YEARS of hard work and study to become a 4th Degree Witch.   Not a Year and a Day!

Blessings!

The Goddess-The Earth

The Universe is Holy.

Sacred, Divine.

To me, it deserves a religious reverence, honor and respect.  

Worship?

Why not?

I feel completely in awe when I am in Nature.   By Nature I mean that which is Natural.   Forests, The Ocean, Beaches, Deserts, The Stars, The Rain.

Yes, I feel more connected when its raining or when its foggy.   When the wind is blowing or I hear thunder crashing in the skies, when I see the bright streaks of lightning.

I could stand in the rain for hours.

This is The Goddess to me. 

I cannot conceive of a God beyond The Universe.   

Does The Goddess have the ability to communicate needs or desires?   

Does The Goddess have a personality?

I have not seen evidence of that.    

Blessings!

This Blog is Witchy!

Hi!

Here is the deal.

I am exploring Satanism and next year I will be exploring New Thought which is a Christian organization that beliefs in the power of Prayer and Right Thinking to change our lives, they believe that affirmations have power and It's a very new agey version of Christianity but I am drawn to it and I love to explore and experience so why not?

But...

This blog is about me, The Witch.   This blog will from here on out be about my beliefs, practices, rituals and such things connected to The Craft.     

This is not to say that I will NEVER mention Satanism again or that I may not mention the practices I adapt from Satanism into my Craft but I want to talk more about The Goddess, The Rede, The Holy Days and such things that!

I love being a Witch.

:)

Blessings!

Is Witchcraft a Religion?

Hi!

When I was growing up, Witchcraft was The Religion, Wicca was a branch of Witchcraft.   Both were Pagan.   Now, these days Wiccans will tell you that they are Witches (when they admit to practicing magic) and that Witchcraft as a religion does not even exist.

It's insane and wrong.

Family Traditions of Witchcraft do exist and we do consider this to be our religion.   

I do consider this path to be my religion, when someone asks me what religion I am, I tell them I am a Witch.   Though right now I tell them I am a Satanist because that is what I am exploring and I have to take on that identity.

:)

But....

Back to the real world!

A religion is defined as a set of rules, laws and practices, holy days and a God that is venerated.

Well, I do not agree with that.

Buddhists do not have a God and I do consider Buddhism to be a religion.   Satanists also do not have a God and that is a legally protected religion.   

Witchcraft has a Goddess who reigns supreme but The Goddess IS The Universe/Nature.    I have rules that I follow such as not causing harm where I do not need to.   The Law of Return.  Waiting for the doors to open.   Random Ritual days that must be followed.

I'd say that YES Witchcraft is my religion.

Blessings!

The Last Bad Year

Aunt Helen did believe in Psychic ability.   she said that she knew that my 39th Year would be my best year and that my 38th Year would be my best and most productive year, I hope she is right, I am hopeful.

I turned 38 a few days ago.   I had a nice time with Don and his family.   I got to see Tammy.   Amber.   :)    The Rest of the idiots  :)

I was thinking about The Goddess.    I could call The Universe/Nature...The Universe and Nature and it would be the same thing that I was talking about but I really feel closer to the truth when I use the term The Goddess.   It personifies it to me and makes it more Vibrantly real, It connects me more to who I am and what I really believe.

I found some wonderful sites today on Pantheism and Naturalistic Paganism which I feel are helpful to connecting me through the essays to what I really believe in and practice.   :)     
http://www.pantheism.net/

http://naturepantheist.org/

The one above this is the one I like the best.    

Blessings!

Encouragement

Satanism is interesting.

It encourages me to not change a damned thing about myself.  Be a carnal animal nature.  If I am greedy, lustful, whatever, be that person because that is who I was born to be but I wonder as I explore if Satanism was/is just a reaction to Christianity because it seems to be everything that Christianity is not.

Being raised in The Craft.   and Yes I know that lately my posts have strayed from my beliefs/practices but as far as I am concerned, this is part of my beliefs, exploring other ideas and practices  :)

So...Being raised in The Craft I never had any exposure to Christianity until I was 17 and well out of school, I met this cute guy who was a Christian and he wanted me to go to his church with him and I did, it was only later that I found out that they thought I had a demon inside me because I was Gay and that he was straight-supposedly, I mean he let me kiss him and other things so I don't know about that.

It was a TERRIBLE experience but it taught me right there that Christianity was not for me and that it was a bad thing.   I needless to say never went back to church!

I also wonder if Satanism is a word that has so much baggage attached to it, maybe it would be better off just saying you are Atheists?    Since all Satanists are Atheists?     I am still exploring my ideas here and I do not know how long before I have all of the books in the series and have explored this idea completely, what will I end up taking out of the experience with me?

We'll see.

Blessings!

Do That Which Benefits You!

4 More people told me that they cannot handle that I am a Satanist. I didn't care about any of them so it's really no big deal to me, I have learned from Satanism that someone must benefit you or they should not be in your life.   

This does not mean that friendship is not valuable because it is, at least to me but I can honestly count just a few people that I consider to be true friends worth fighting for while everyone else would be clients or people I barely know and according to Satanism I should remove these people from my life.

I should always do that which benefits me completely.

I have learned to strive for the things that I want and need in my life and not wait for the doors to open as well.   Well, I haven't been waiting for many years, I got tired of sitting on my arse and hoping that something would open up to me but I have had it reaffirmed through Satanism that this line of thinking is right for me.

I just got back in touch with my friend Cassandra.  She is an Atheist from Livejournal!    of course, Technically Satanists are Atheists but I will wait to reveal to her what I am doing, in reality I wonder how open I should be with anyone about this since I am a Witch on an exploration but at the same time, how can I really know what it's like to experience life as a Satanist if I do not truly live as one?

When I was exploring Christianity, I did the whole thing, I went to church, I prayed, I raised my hands, I listened to Christian music, I even went to a church so they could get the demon of homosexuality out of me and while most people around me thought I was crazy for these measures, I am the kind of person that wants the FULL EXPERIENCE of Life.  

I want to LIVE fully and experience as much as I can first hand.   Just reading a book on something does not do it for me, I need more and that is what I am going for here.   :)

Blessings!

Satanic Ritual Day

Hi!

So I rolled a 6 today which is a Ritual Day.    If I lived somewhere with a beach or a forest, it would be an outdoor ritual day but I do not so I have to make due with what I have.   I decided that since I am exploring Satanism that I would make the focus of my work today all about that.

I read The Satanic Bible again front start to finish and read some of that woman's blog.   I listened to some videos on Youtube about Satanism and just filled my mind with it all day long and then at the end of the day I did my evening blessing ritual and that was the end of that.

I love learning about Satanism, really other religions in general and I love to find ideas and practices that I can adapt into my life but stay firmly dedicated to The Goddess and to Witchcraft.

Blessings!

The Darkness Falls

Hi!

Satanism is so very dark.   I am so deep into it now.  I do not know sometimes where I am or where I stand.  The thing is that Satanists do not worship The Devil or demons.  The Darkness in real Satanism stems from their beliefs.

Revenge on those who harm us.

Most people are stupid and/or weak and dont deserve to live

There are only 3 types of ritual -Lust (which is masturbation and sex), curses and compassion.

It is encouraged to manipulate people for your own needs.

The List goes on.

But....I have explored every religion I know of deeply and thoroughly from Taoism to Zen to Christianity-which was very hard for me because of the Gay shit to The Bahai and I will not quit because it's a little dark and scary.

I must carry on!

Blessings!

Been A While

Hi!

:*(

I am sorry, I haven't posted for a while.  I have been working to make money to pay off the bills from my mom's funeral and then Don and I went to San Diego last month and Kingman Arizona to get the rest of my mom's things because Jim (my stepdad) said he is selling the house and throwing it all away.

Other than that I have been around.   I am still exploring Satanism and I think I will be for some time.  I am however, Still a devout Witch.   This will not change.   I love The Goddess more than I did when I started this new path.

I see nothing wrong with exploring other paths and ideas and questioning other ideas because if we don't then we just stay where we are but of course I could be honest with people and tell them that I am JUST exploring and I have not converted but in a sense I am glad I am doing it like this because I get to test people and see who will stand by me regardless!

Yes?

Blessed Be
Er I mean Hail Satan!

I came out!

I revealed myself to Tim, Seth and a few other people today that I am a Satanist.   Tim is not happy,  Maria is not happy.  They do not understand why I have left The Craft.   I haven't but I am not going to break my cover and tell them that.  

I am enjoying the drama really.   Satanic huh?   :D

Is this behavior harming them?    I do not think so.   I mean, They are bothered by it because of their own narrow minded thinking, It has little to do with me and what I am doing and I am not trying to hurt anyone by making this claim, I am exploring a new religion.   

I was this way when I was a Christian.   :o)   shrugs.

Exploring Christianity I mean.  I was NEVER a Christian!   Yuckadooaroo!

:)

Blessings!

Yule and The Fake New Years

Hi!

Yule has come and gone.  I spent the 21st through the 24th here at the apt, I lit candles and make cookies, I spirit danced and sang holiday tunes.   I had a gay old time and then I went over to Don's and spent the last 2 days with him, his mom and his family, my first Yule without my mom though so it was very hard on me and I talked to Jim and we cried a bit.  :(

I saw Tammy and the kids and I gave them some gifts and that was nice.    I have most of them on my Facebook now.   :)

Fake New Years went by.   I say fake because for me, New Years begins when new life begins, in spring.  On april 25th.   :)

So Until then...Happy Nothing.  :)

Blessings!