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Pagan Dyscalculics unite!
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| Arwen Evenstar |
Posted on November 15 2009 06:07 AM
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Member
Location: NYC
Posts: 221
Joined: 2009-10-16
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In the job hunting thread, I know there's a few other fellow Pagans here. Let us unite and discuss awesome Pagan-y things. ^_~
Some discussion topics to get this party started:
Are you more comfortable being solitary or in a coven? I've been solitary since I started this path, but I think when I find a job I'd like to check out a few covens/groups. ADF and OBOD seem fairly interesting, so I'd like take a few introductory courses with them.
Any good book reccs? I need to get my hands on a copy of "The Silver Branch/Apple" (blanking on the name) even though it's out of print. |
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| RottieWoman |
Posted on November 15 2009 02:01 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 3037
Joined: 2008-12-31
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hey cool ....no time to reply now, just looking to see what's up, but will come back to ya'!
merry meet and merry part..... |
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| RottieWoman |
Posted on November 15 2009 05:34 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 3037
Joined: 2008-12-31
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....and merry meet again
am Jewish pagan. Have been involved in Circles but not official covens - wouldn't mind, but it's hard for me to get to the local witches coven I am interested in here, hard for me to drive in that part of town because I am unfamiliar and the roads are very narrow, lotta one-way, little parking. Was involved in Rosh Hodesh - Jewish womyn's spirituality group- for a while but once again location was difficult. Was also involved in Alexandrian Wiccan group w/HP's for a while and enjoyed that but am not Wiccan and one of our dogs was very ill w/kidney disease at that time making commitments to meet somewhere was iffy. Have also been involved in Dianic group here and there some years back. Very interested in Starhawk and Reclaiming Tradition but nothing of that here locally. <check out book! The Fifth Sacred Thing>
Have read Starhawk, Margot Adler<Drawing....>, Jennifer Hunter on jewish paganism, Grimassi, Crowley, Ray Buckland, Bonewits - and heard him speak too, that was cool - Marcia Falks' Book of Blessings, which is re-framed, gender neutral or inclusive liberal Jewish liturgy. I supposed I i.d. as solitary. |
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| Kestrel6 |
Posted on November 16 2009 12:37 AM
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Member
Location: Houston TX
Posts: 448
Joined: 2009-08-26
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OBOD has better credendials. Reading: anything by Silver Ravenwolf and Dorothy Morrison to start; they are geared toward beginners. Scott Cunningham is good after that.
I'm solitary, though I do participate in circles when invited.
Blessed are the PURR in heart! |
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| Addy |
Posted on November 16 2009 03:45 AM
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Member
Location: Foggy San Francisco
Posts: 255
Joined: 2009-08-18
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I was in ADF for awhile, but I left for a number of reasons. I can't remember why I chose them over OBOD... it might have been the information that was readily available at the time, back when the web was in its infancy.
At the moment I'm solitary, though I sometimes celebrate with friends. My need for spiritual/religious community seems to be at an ebb just now.
The single best book I've ever read about paganism is an ethnology of the Reclaiming Collective here in San Francisco. It's called Enchanted Feminism. It's an excellent academic history of the Pagan movement and how it came to intersect with feminist spirituality.
As for books about spiritual practice, I'm drawing a blank ... though I seem to remember that a friend really likes Starhawk's Twelve White Swans.
squidoo.com/mathld
squidoo.com/writi...
squidoo.com/LDsid...
www.AddaptAbiliti...
www.wellorderedch... |
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| RottieWoman |
Posted on November 16 2009 04:58 AM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 3037
Joined: 2008-12-31
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My thought for me personally only, I read some of Ravenwolf's and she didn't really serve me, seemed a bit "fluffy" to me. Scott Cunningham was one of the first I ever read, a little tiny volume maybe called, "Witchcraft Today" which I kept hidden in my desk drawer in college.
yeah, Addy, the Reclaiming really draws me, but we don't have any in my state. |
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| Arwen Evenstar |
Posted on November 17 2009 05:50 AM
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Member
Location: NYC
Posts: 221
Joined: 2009-10-16
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Read Ravenwolf, was ok when I started out, don't really like it now. Crowley is bloody fascinating-I went with a friend to the Temple of Thelema open house after chatting with one of the members at NYC's Pagan Pride Day, a nice guy and extremely gifted tarot reader named Billy. Very interesting and I dig the Ancient Egyptian aspect, but the jury's still out for me about the whole "channeling Aiwass" aspect of it.
No offense to any Thelemites, but Crowley WAS taking goodness knows what kind of drugs and I'm sure there was a hallucinogen or two in there, so I'm rather skeptical of that part.
My friend has a few books on Crowley, I have to borrow them and read more about him. Either way, he was an interesting bloke.
One of the books I found interesting was the books about the benedenti. The Night Battles? Blanking on the author's name, but I read The Night Battles and Deciphering The Witch's Sabbat.
Interesting reads. Not sure I buy the whole theory, but I'm always up for books on folklore/folk magic, especially Italian folk magic. It's not part of my practice, but I like reading about it because it's part of my heritage (my great-grandma's mom was apparently really into folk magic/spirit communication).
So, why OBOD over ADF? I haven't really researched which one I'd want to join as I'm waiting to have the money and the job before I start the introductory courses or whatever the equivelent is, but one thing that annoyed me a bit about ADF was the Celtic/Romano-British/Hellenic deities only. I completely understand the reasoning behind it, but considering I follow mainly Celtic and Egyptian deities, I'd feel bad that I couldn't include the Egyptian folk in the ADF ritual.
Not that They would really care mind you, and there's always personal ritual, but still. Both pantheons are such a huge part of my life that I'd feel like I was favoring one over the other when that isn't true.
Ah well, that's probably why I'm a solitary eclectic who just gets a couple of friends to celebrate the holidays haha. I have to say, our little Samhain ritual/get-together was pretty cool. Nothing crazy elaborate, but it was sweet and we had fun which is all that matters. |
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| Vecis |
Posted on November 18 2009 12:51 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 16
Joined: 2009-07-23
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I am not a pagan but here is my article about Latvian Paganism. We Latvians have long standing pagan beliefs.
http://latvianhis...mythology/ |
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| RottieWoman |
Posted on November 18 2009 01:16 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 3037
Joined: 2008-12-31
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thank you for interesting read, Vecis |
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| Arwen Evenstar |
Posted on November 22 2009 06:26 AM
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Member
Location: NYC
Posts: 221
Joined: 2009-10-16
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Funny story-I'm a fan of the show Paranormal State and post regularly on their boards. Recently, got involved in a friendly debate with another person, some guy who is really into Christian lore/mysticisim.
We're chatting, discussing our beliefs and such, but the minute I mention my personal pantheon, he got..kind of cagey? Insisting that my Gods are only manifestations of angels. Which is fine if he wants to believe that, but what made me roll my eyes and giggle was the level of condecension-oh, YOUR Gods can't be real unless they are super!Christian!Angels in disguise. And I wasn't nasty about his views, I was genuinely interested in the lore because I have a soft spot for angels. Ethereal, deadly beings with wings and flaming swords? Love it!
He eventually stopped talking to me after he saw that he couldn't win me over to his side of the story, so to speak. People are so entertaining...although I've noticed a great deal of hostility to Pagan folk at times on that board, so I don't really get involved with the crazy fan debates. Let 'em waste their time arguing, I'd rather watch the show and be entertained.
Anyway, so does anyone else have an annual Pagan Pride Day in their neck of the woods? NYC has PPD in late September. I went this year, it was my first time ever and it was loads of fun. Met some really awesome people and got some cool stuff-oils, necklaces, etc. Good times!
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| FeatherQuill |
Posted on November 23 2009 02:37 PM
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Member
Location: UK, South Yorkshire
Posts: 127
Joined: 2009-05-02
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I definaly have no relgious stance but my mother seems to be following some kind of stem from Paganism. I probably worked out a year ago that the little table of ornaments and what not in our livingroom is her makeshift alter my dad doesn't understand why she get's so upset if he puts somthing on it. I encourage her anyway don't ask why put I'll take melted wax an shape it into angels for her (she believes in guardians) |
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| FeatherQuill |
Posted on November 23 2009 02:50 PM
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Member
Location: UK, South Yorkshire
Posts: 127
Joined: 2009-05-02
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Evenstar,
seriously not trying to offend any christians here! But I always got the idea the Christian god was quite selfish. Brought up in a christian primary school I would hear bible stories and think to myself so he drowned... everyone? When I think about it though something wierd goes down in every walf of life.
But I just will never understand people who in the end try to convert a person in 10 mintues. At least the door to door people give me leaflets of explaination but some people just have that mind set of "I'm right" so I guess nothing can be done but to enjoy the coversation.
History though has always been one of my strong points with an added interest in mythology (greek possibly my fav)
Edited by FeatherQuill on November 23 2009 02:51 PM |
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| RottieWoman |
Posted on November 24 2009 04:47 AM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 3037
Joined: 2008-12-31
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Hi guys
Yup, PPD here, yes! Doesn't seem to be one exactly every year but every couple of years, maybe -yeah, I've enjoyed it. Took part in some public rituals which were televised which was fine with me <no that I personally was on, but parts of Circle allegedly were>
I have no Christian baggage to contend with, tho
my folks did also happen to know and hang out with some witches before I was born |
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| RottieWoman |
Posted on November 24 2009 04:51 AM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 3037
Joined: 2008-12-31
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"....no Christian baggage" - no offense meant-sorry if stuck foot in mouth- |
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| Arwen Evenstar |
Posted on November 24 2009 07:49 AM
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Member
Location: NYC
Posts: 221
Joined: 2009-10-16
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FeatherQuill-yea, the 10 minute conversion thing, especially online, boggles me. I've got no problems with Christians in general, it's the fanatics who run their mouths off with hatred I dislike, but not all Christians are like that. The current pastor of the elementary school with that crazy ex-math teacher is really cool (I'm friends with him on Facebook) and thinks my Paganism is awesome. Totally got a kick out of the whole Pagan Pride Day event too.
With the whole "He drowned everyone", a lot of other ancient cultures had flood stories (Epic of Gilgamesh) and it's probably a memory of when a part of the ancient world was flooded from a tsunami or other disaster. *shrugs*
Mmm, history. I'm an Egyptian and Celtic geek. Mythology is amazing-Greek mythology is always fun, but I adore Egyptian and Celtic too.
Rottiewoman-aren't PPDs so much fun? This one took place in Battery Park so I'm sure some native NY'ers and some tourists were like BZUH?! We were right by a cruise ship that takes you to the Statue of Liberty, so everyone kept waving at us when we started the circle. It was cute.
I bought so much stuff though, I was like a kid in a candy store haha.
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| RottieWoman |
Posted on November 24 2009 02:16 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 3037
Joined: 2008-12-31
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yeah, Arwen, I get the "candystore" thing
one of the vendors commonly at our PPD is a besommaker, who sells all these original handmade, various sizes....very cool. Lotsa books, candles, statuary/goddess figures - ooh and the athames, probably my favorite because they can so dramatic, or so unassuming!
Not best place for someone allergic to incense, however <not me, although I do have plenty of allergy such that I do carry Benedryl on me>
Interestingly, one time had great conversation regarding LD w/one of the vendors, about her son. My hearing loss hadn't started then, this was about 3-4 years ago. I didn't know them, was waiting to ask her question and she was having discussion w/another vendor whom she seemed to know about her son and how concerned she was about him and his future ability<he was in high school and really struggling as he has/had LD, severe dyslexia and other LD's>. I waited and entered into conversation at what seemed appropriate, explaining myself and therefore why I came into discussion and she seemed very happy and somewhat relieved to speak with me. One of the things she was worried about was college and I said, yes, it is possible, I went to college and there were students w/LD of varying degrees there so it's not just because my LD might not be as severe as her son's, etc......she seemed happy at end and I was pleased to help. |
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| Kestrel6 |
Posted on November 24 2009 04:52 PM
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Member
Location: Houston TX
Posts: 448
Joined: 2009-08-26
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RottieWoman wrote:
"....no Christian baggage" - no offense meant-sorry if stuck foot in mouth-
Heh; none taken. I usually say something like "I was raised Baptist but then I got better"
Blessed are the PURR in heart! |
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| Kestrel6 |
Posted on November 24 2009 04:57 PM
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Member
Location: Houston TX
Posts: 448
Joined: 2009-08-26
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FeatherQuill wrote:
Evenstar,
seriously not trying to offend any christians here! But I always got the idea the Christian god was quite selfish. Brought up in a christian primary school I would hear bible stories and think to myself so he drowned... everyone? When I think about it though something wierd goes down in every walf of life.
Every major story in the Bible is a re-write of an earlier mythos, including the creation, the flood, the crucifixion, the serpent-in-Eden, all that stuff. All religions have the same stories, past and present.
Blessed are the PURR in heart! |
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| RottieWoman |
Posted on November 24 2009 05:54 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 3037
Joined: 2008-12-31
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'kay, thanks, Kestrel and yup, interesting how many if not most of the religions have similar myths, creation or "disaster" stories.
I am happy that, like many Jews, I was allowed to choose, therefore, having no resentment about any previous forced attendance/beliefs or other difficulties, I cam back to Judaism later as well as developing interest in other belief systems. |
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| RottieWoman |
Posted on November 24 2009 07:54 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 3037
Joined: 2008-12-31
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just a curious ques. - anyone ever involved in CUUPS? |
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