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Morven Nemesis from Seattle, WA, USA Since: Jan, 2001
Nemesis
#26: Jan 31st 2011 at 4:16:31 PM

Heh, you're probably right. Romanticization of the past and all that. I guess I just don't ever see it that way. For me, people are people and haven't changed much.

A brighter future for a darker age.
Karalora Manliest Person on Skype from San Fernando Valley, CA Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In another castle
Manliest Person on Skype
#27: Jan 31st 2011 at 6:44:29 PM

On another note, why are you and I the only ones still talking here?

Stuff what I do.
BlackWolfe Viewer Gender Confusion? from Lost in Austin Since: Jun, 2010
#28: Jan 31st 2011 at 6:57:18 PM

Because the covens are like that. Waves of posts from two or three people at a time. At least that's what I've noticed.

But soft! What rock through yonder window breaks? It is a brick! And Juliet is out cold.
Dynamod -Nudge- from Eagle Land Since: Jan, 2011
-Nudge-
#29: Jan 31st 2011 at 7:19:31 PM

ive pretty much contributed all that I have. between my parents church and the music I stole from them, thats about it.

edit: actually, I used to collect sage with my parents. we would go out into a field and collect it in trash back, and my mom would hang it on strings outside to let it dry out. when its dry, she would cut it up into bundles and use it for rituals/ potpouri/ sell it under the counter for 5 dollars a pop.

edited 31st Jan '11 7:22:50 PM by Dynamod

Add me on skype! Dynamod1990
BlackWolfe Viewer Gender Confusion? from Lost in Austin Since: Jun, 2010
#30: Jan 31st 2011 at 7:21:01 PM

I'm still waiting for my ten bucks from Diamonnes.

But soft! What rock through yonder window breaks? It is a brick! And Juliet is out cold.
Morven Nemesis from Seattle, WA, USA Since: Jan, 2001
Nemesis
#31: Feb 1st 2011 at 1:55:47 PM

I've never found many of the threads in this subforum to have much life, actually. Maybe I'm not in the cool ones.

A brighter future for a darker age.
Tzetze DUMB from a converted church in Venice, Italy Since: Jan, 2001
DUMB
#32: Feb 1st 2011 at 1:57:39 PM

NEIGH. But yeah, covens are generally slow. Except around meetups anyway.

[1] This facsimile operated in part by synAC.
BlackWolfe Viewer Gender Confusion? from Lost in Austin Since: Jun, 2010
#33: Feb 1st 2011 at 2:13:11 PM

Whinny? I'm in one of the faster-moving ones. You'll find it in the top ten at any given time, and in the top three more than half the time.

Crap, it actually got bumped down to #11.

edited 1st Feb '11 2:13:47 PM by BlackWolfe

But soft! What rock through yonder window breaks? It is a brick! And Juliet is out cold.
Sharysa Since: Jan, 2001
#34: Feb 1st 2011 at 7:58:22 PM

I don't think the mental process in operation is as simplistic as "Older = better, and that's all there is to it." I think it's more of an assumption that the world itself was more magical/spiritual/supernatural in Ye Oldene Dayes, and things like the gods openly revealing themselves, or faeries stealing your milk, just don't happen anymore. Not to mention, back in those days, people's traditions and lifestyles were solid and taken seriously.

I think it's partly because they needed to be taken seriously; according to psychology, a lot of old beliefs grew from the need for reasons. "Why does this plant kill/sicken you if you eat it?" "Because [Deity] likes/hates that plant, so anyone who eats it gets cursed." "Why do we have to leave the battlefield after a war before all those Ravens and Crows (and wolves) come over?" "Because those are [Deity]'s sacred animals harvesting their crop, and one of them might be her in disguise. It's really creepy anyway, so why would you want to stay?"

Ancient people couldn't afford to spend the time or experimentation on figuring things out scientifically, so they had to make up their own reasons. We, comparatively, have loads of time on our hands; hence we know exactly why everything works. On the other hand, that takes all the romanticism out of things.

edited 1st Feb '11 7:59:49 PM by Sharysa

Karalora Manliest Person on Skype from San Fernando Valley, CA Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In another castle
Manliest Person on Skype
#35: Feb 1st 2011 at 8:24:26 PM

In honor of today's Sabbat and the one to come next month, I just made a pure beeswax candle using an eggshell as the mold.

I just thought I'd mention that.

Actually, handicrafts are probably the most important part of my practice. More important than formal ritual, for sure. My thoughts are, if you accept that some deity(ies) created the universe, any sort of creation is a deific act on a smaller scale. You're doing holy work every time you do something creative.

Then again, maybe that's just self-flattery on the part of a compulsively imaginative person.

edited 1st Feb '11 8:24:53 PM by Karalora

Stuff what I do.
Sharysa Since: Jan, 2001
#36: Feb 1st 2011 at 9:40:08 PM

Oh right, today's Imbolc!

No wonder I very coincidentally had a flash of inspiration in English class for a short story, which I am germinating in my usual way of "listening to the voices in my head and trying desperately to see the pictures more clearly."

Oh, Brighid, you are a sly one. Only you're not, since I just forgot the day and you would have given me inspiration anyway.

That rhymed, holy shit. XDDDD

edited 1st Feb '11 9:45:15 PM by Sharysa

Karalora Manliest Person on Skype from San Fernando Valley, CA Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In another castle
Manliest Person on Skype
#37: Feb 1st 2011 at 9:48:21 PM

Eh, sometimes I celebrate it on the 1st of February and sometimes on the 2nd. The sources I have differ as to which is the "proper" date. This year, I was getting impatient to burn my ice cube candle, so I went with the 1st. Other years, my desire to subvert Groundhog Day back to its roots takes precedence.

Stuff what I do.
Morven Nemesis from Seattle, WA, USA Since: Jan, 2001
Nemesis
#38: Feb 1st 2011 at 11:15:26 PM

I'd say that in many respects, hand crafts are very important indeed. Solo rituals aren't as important as group rituals are, if you're in a group — there, it's bringing everyone together, and that social and binding purpose is the point.

A brighter future for a darker age.
Diamonnes In Riastrad from Ulster Since: Nov, 2009
In Riastrad
#39: Feb 2nd 2011 at 9:32:30 PM

Sorry, I'm back.

Huh, I guess that's why I've been all 'roar' the past few days.

I understand the 'making things is a small act of divinity' thing. Crafting whatever holds a deep spiritual significance.

I spent the last two days in the forest searching for a perfect fallen branch to make into a staff. Found one today; tomorrow I'm going to start carving it. Any suggestions for what sort of glyphs I should cut into it?

So far I'm doing: A crascent moon around where I grip it, a certain symbol I can't describe that I've been drawing since I was two at the top, and a coiled serpent wrapped around the centre.

My name is Cu Chulainn. Beside the raging sea I am left to moan. Sorrow I am, for I brought down my only son.
SpainSun Laugh it off, everybody from Somewhere Beyond Here Since: Jan, 2010
Laugh it off, everybody
#40: Feb 6th 2011 at 2:58:04 PM

So my Grandmother is Pagan (some Wiccan denomination in particular. I think she worships Pan or a God with a similar name, I'm not sure) but I really don't know anything about Paganism.

Would anyone care to fill me in?

I spread my wings and I learn how to fly....
Karalora Manliest Person on Skype from San Fernando Valley, CA Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In another castle
Manliest Person on Skype
#41: Feb 6th 2011 at 3:15:00 PM

The Wiki has some Useful Notes pages on Neopaganism in general and Wicca in particular. That's a good place to start.

Stuff what I do.
snailbait bitchy queen from psych ward Since: Jul, 2010
bitchy queen
#42: Feb 6th 2011 at 7:28:48 PM

I'm an atheist, but Paganism is pretty awesome to me. Seems less critical of others than Christianity anyway. I should read up about it someday.

"Without a fairy, you're not even a real man!" ~ Mido from Ocarina of Time
InverurieJones '80s TV Action Hero from North of the Wall. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
'80s TV Action Hero
#43: Feb 7th 2011 at 5:39:32 AM

That's the great thing about following all the Gods; the only people you have an issue with are the ones who stubbornly insist that only their particular favourite exists.

'All he needs is for somebody to throw handgrenades at him for the rest of his life...'
OrangeSpider Must Keep The Web Intact from Ursalia Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: On the prowl
Must Keep The Web Intact
#44: Feb 7th 2011 at 10:21:29 AM

I am an agnostic, but I still feel more enthralled by Paganism than any other form of religion. I guess Catholicism would come second because it has some beautiful rituals, and that I like the latin language.

Pantheon-wise, I do like the old Roman religion and it's attitude, from what i've read of it.Don't fight the ennemy's gods, try to befriend them. That goes fairly well with my religious attitude: I don't know if God(s) exists, but that's no reason to try to piss him(them) off.

That, and, even though I am a Gaul, I am just much more familiar with the Roman names of the gods and myths than with the Celtic ones. And it's not as if the roman religion is particularly exclusive and restrictive on who and what you worship.

The Great Northern Threadkill.
Karalora Manliest Person on Skype from San Fernando Valley, CA Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In another castle
Manliest Person on Skype
#45: Feb 7th 2011 at 12:09:16 PM

That's all well and good until you run into a god like Yahweh, whose main condition of being friends is that you fight all the other gods. What a dick that guy is. tongue

Stuff what I do.
OrangeSpider Must Keep The Web Intact from Ursalia Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: On the prowl
Must Keep The Web Intact
#46: Feb 7th 2011 at 12:15:48 PM

Well, apparently some Christians of the Empire thought it was ok to worship Jesus/Yaweh along with the traditionnal gods. Probably a case of Did Not Do The Research on their part, though.

The Great Northern Threadkill.
Diamonnes In Riastrad from Ulster Since: Nov, 2009
In Riastrad
#47: Feb 7th 2011 at 8:10:33 PM

Maybe, maybe not. My acquaintance (I won't say friend because she annoys the sweet fuck out of me most of the time) Tina is basically a Christian Pagan. She pretty much believes that there's one big-G-God, and it needed some help running shit so it made a clusterfuck of other gods that are less powerful. I don't know where the Jesus thing comes in, though.

My name is Cu Chulainn. Beside the raging sea I am left to moan. Sorrow I am, for I brought down my only son.
Karalora Manliest Person on Skype from San Fernando Valley, CA Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In another castle
Manliest Person on Skype
Diamonnes In Riastrad from Ulster Since: Nov, 2009
In Riastrad
#49: Feb 8th 2011 at 7:42:15 AM

Honestly to me it seems like some weird proto-Gnosticism. I told her she should look into it, but I don't know if she has.

Also, I've just been reminded of another boon of Paganism: We don't have to be perfect. I've been talking to some Christians lately (in an attempt to get over my general dickery int heir direction) and I've noticed many of them have a guilt complex; their scripture teaches that Failure Is the Only Option, and that human beings are always hateful sociopaths.

With the Pagan faiths, you can. . . I dunno how to put it. Be yourself, I guess. We can accept that we all have shortcomings, and instead of Wangsting about it we can move on and try to improve ourselves. As a bipolar Jerkass, that gives me a lot of comfort.

My name is Cu Chulainn. Beside the raging sea I am left to moan. Sorrow I am, for I brought down my only son.
Karalora Manliest Person on Skype from San Fernando Valley, CA Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: In another castle
Manliest Person on Skype
#50: Feb 8th 2011 at 9:14:56 AM

So Mote It Be to that.

One of the huge things about Christianity that I ultimately could not make sense of was the idea that an omniscient, omnipotent, and perfectly loving God would create humans, knowing that we would not and could not be perfect, and then make perfection a condition of entering the No Torturing section of the afterlife.

Stuff what I do.

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