I was convinced to write this after a couple of different discussions regarding the recent “astrology controversy”. Everyone suddenly had an opinion on astrology. Well, I think astrology is just like Nascar. Here’s why: Mostly everything goes in a circle for a very long time, and when they complete one circuit they do it all again. And again. And again. Mostly nothing happens. Things just go in circles day in and day out. People are just waiting for something exciting... Read more
Every Monday and Friday in January we will be asking people questions about Wicca. Want to weigh in? Find the next question at the bottom of this post! What do you believe the origins of Wicca to be? Does academic research affect your views on its history? Rua Lupa responds: The Origins of Wicca? It really depends on what you mean by this question. What Wicca is based on or who started its traditions? Does academic research affect your views... Read more
I am human, and therefore like so many others I have my personal ticks and pet peeves. Among them are common misperceptions that somehow seem to multiply faster than dirty laundry & dust bunnies, or the spam messages in my inbox. Somehow, once upon a time someone first said that the Goddess Freyja was a Valkyrie, and since then that concept has been reiterated innumerable times across websites, and a plethora of books. While not trying to be disparaging of... Read more
Everyone is hooting and hollering and getting in a huff over Governor Robert Bentley stating in church that he only considers Christians to be his brothers and sisters, although he’d like more people to embrace Christ so he can count them as “family”. I find myself for once standing back and wondering what the hoopla is all about. You see, we’ve been saying for some time now that someone’s religious beliefs shouldn’t be a litmus test for their fitness for... Read more
I crave ritual. I crave grace. I crave water. There is no sin or falleness in Paganism. Those things that drive Christians to seek grace do not exist for us. What we do have is impurity. Pagans of old were obsessed with purification rituals, with bathing and with cleansing. In my tradition we purify ourselves before ritual by taking a ritual bath. With prescribed words, oil, salt, fire and smoke we prepare ourselves to meet the Gods. We will dress... Read more
I’m doing some ancestor work right now, kicking my work with the women of my line up a notch. I decided to use Ancestry.com to see if that gave me any insight or inspiration. Their 2 week free trial has me entranced as I touch a thread of my ancestry and follow it back in time. It’s a magical journey, although fraught with pitfalls. You see, Ancestry.com is like Wikipedia: lots of good info with a liberal sprinkling of BS.... Read more
Every Monday and Friday in January we will be asking people questions about Wicca. Want to weigh in? Find the next question at the bottom of this post! Who are the God and Goddess of Wicca? Are they specific Gods, or the focal point of all Gods and Goddesses? Not a lot of interest in this question. I think partly because for many people the answers are oathbound and I think a lot of folks simply don’t care. Which is... Read more
I have been an utter crank lately. So today I want to be completely positive. I’ve loaded up on chocolate and played some upbeat music (although do you think Britney Spears ripped off the Bellamy Brothers? Difficult to call for me.) I’ve written before that I have always been closer to male Gods than female Goddesses. I’m trying to work on that. I’m housesitting for a nice lesbian lady who’s house is full of Goddess images and feminine energy. I’m... Read more
So, there’s this story, about Inanna. Basically, she goes to the God of Wisdom, Enki, and is all, “Hey there, I’m Ereshkigal’s little sister, I’m the goddess of Lurve and Battles, and I’m smokin’ hot.” Enki says, “Heh heh heh. Yes, honey, you sure are.” Inanna says, “Would you like a beer?” So Enki (who is supposed to be the God of Wisdom, some metaphor there I guess), drinks all of Inanna’s beer. And gives her all his me, the... Read more
I have a cousin who doesn’t understand how I can love C.S. Lewis and still be Pagan. I completely agree with him that Mere Christianity is a fabulous book that everyone should read, but simply because it’s a great example of religious writing and reasoning. I like writing, reasoning and religion. Therefore, I like C.S. Lewis. Something he wrote, I believe it was in The Four Loves, has always stuck with me. He makes some observations on the use of... Read more
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