Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Virtues - A Wiccan Perspective



A virtue is something morally or characteristically good about someone. Virtues set the highest standard for how people should treat each other, themselves, and the world around them. Many religions have virtues even though they’re not all called the same thing. Christians go by Faith, Hope and Love. Judaism has the Ten Commandments which include instructions forbidding adultery, theft, murder, etc. Muslims use the Quran as their guidelines for virtues by requiring morals such as righteousness, generosity, gratitude, contentment, and humility.

As for Wiccans, it’s a little bit harder to pin down and exact set of virtues that can be copied word for word. Doreen Valiente created a poem called The Charge of the Goddess. In it, many Wiccans take the eight virtues of mirth, reverence, honor, humility, strength, beauty, power and compassion and apply them to everyday life. Scott Cunningham also created the 13 Goals of a Witch which he published in his book Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner. These goals can also be considered Wiccan virtues:
  1. Know yourself
  2. Know your Craft (Wicca)
  3. Learn
  4. Apply knowledge with wisdom
  5. Achieve balance
  6. Keep your words in good order
  7. Keep your thoughts in good order
  8. Celebrate life
  9. Attune with the cycles of the Earth
  10. Breathe and eat correctly
  11. Exercise the body
  12. Meditate
  13. Honor the Goddess and God
With these two references, it is apparent that virtues across all faiths are similar. Basically, treat each other, yourself, and the world around you well so that things don’t fall into chaos. Remember the Gods and Goddesses and keep a connection with the divine.

Teaching virtues to children is important. In Bacchus and Hestia’s last weekly lesson, they learned the Wiccan Rede and the 13 Goals of a Witch. We went over each one and I asked them what they thought each one meant and how it applied to their lives. They were also required to transcribe them into their journals.

Bill and Ted sum virtues up best at the end of their adventure. So, in their style, remember:

“Be excellent to each other. And… PARTY ON DUDES!”

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

The Wiccan Rede Broken Down



“An’ it harm none, do what ye will.”

The Wiccan Rede.

By the Oxford dictionary definition, rede means “advice or counsel given by one person to another.” Some Wiccans say that you must follow this rede to the letter, harming none ever. By definition though, rede means advice. No one can truly harm none.

When I taught the Rede to Bacchus and Hestia, their first question was, “Harm none? How can you do that? You kill the ants in the house.” I knew this would be their first question, because it was also mine when I heard the Rede. I was surprised that they didn’t ask about harming animals and plants in order to eat. Yes, by the way, I have been known to go on a rampage or two against the house ants that keep finding various ways to infiltrate my pantry and cupboards.

As Wiccans, we should strive to avoid harming others and ourselves. This is especially true if we are following the “Three-fold Law” or “Law of Return.” If we harm others, then whatever we send out we will get back three-fold. I explained to Hestia and Bacchus that we should try our best to avoid causing harm to all others and ourselves.

Growing up, my teacher told me that she lets the spiders stay in her house, but she warned the spiders that if they come down into her space, she can’t guarantee their safety. That’s kind of how I feel toward our house ants. I did warn them to not get in our food, but they chose to get into many bags of food which I have had to throw away. If I had an effective way to deter them from coming inside, then I would use it. You can’t save everything though and at some point you have to stick up for yourself. As Wiccans we have to make a really good effort to harm none, but if we’ve made our best effort and don’t have results, then we may have to harm some.

It is your greatest intention to do good and that is what really matters.

To explain what I really mean, I made a little poem for the kids. Maybe one day I’ll illustrate it for them to make it more fun.

Child’s Rede

“An’ ye harm none, do what ye will.”
Following this phrase can make you ill.

Harm no others as best you can,
to include no plant, beast, or man.

But to live you can’t ignore,
the food you eat, grown or bought from a store.

If you like to eat veggies only
or you eat beefy, noodly minestrone,

keep in mind the sacrifices that were made
by the plants and animals whose lives they gave.

If you accidentally step on a bug
or break a plant from an accidental tug;

it’s not the end of the world, accidents arise,
but don’t do it on purpose, I advise.

Give your gratitude and remember
thanks-giving should not just be in November.

You will harm some, this is true,
but avoid harm if you can and blessings will come to you.

It's not the best poem I'll admit, but I felt it was really important to explain the Rede in words they would understand. I didn't want them going through life with major anxiety over accidentally stepping on a worm, but I do want them to understand that all life is precious.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Understanding - Love, Peace, and Chicken Grease



Love, peace, and chicken grease.


You can’t have the first two without understanding… and I’ll be having the third one for dinner tonight.

The first words out of my nephew’s mouth when he learned that my husband and I are Wiccan were, “Isn’t that a cult?” He had a lack of understanding which was most likely formed by listening to someone else’s opinion on the religion.

Understanding.

It’s a big word with a lot of meaning. Many people go through life thinking they understand a situation or relying on the “understanding” of others in order to form their own opinions. Unfortunately, this can create misinformation, fear, and hate.

Wicca is a subject that many people do not understand and are frightened of as a result. My nephew calling Wicca a “cult” is a good example of how many people feel; It’s a cult, it’s demon or devil worship, it’s make-believe… but how many people with those opinions have taken the time to really try to understand Wicca? Probably not many.

One of the biggest morals we try to instill in our children is understanding. It doesn’t mean that they have to completely understand a subject, but at least research it and try to see the subject from another’s point of view. Wicca isn’t for everyone, neither is Christianity, nor even chocolate (and no I still don’t understand that one).

Don’t make judgments about another person or their beliefs. Unless you have researched and experienced what they have, then you can never truly understand.

It is ok to not fully understand something. It is not ok to judge or hate someone for something you don’t understand.

Bacchus received a lesson in understanding and is now very interested in Wicca. He and Hestia constantly ask to learn more and Bacchus proved my point when I told him that he should never make a statement unless he has taken the time to learn and understand. *sigh* If only he’d understand that homework is important as well.

For those of you who are new to Wicca or are just trying to understand, please visit my page of what Wicca is all about.

Blessed Be.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Death and Rememberance - Samhain



One of my favorite quotes on life and death is,

"[The Goddess] gives birth to abundance. But as life is Her gift, She lends it with the promise of death. This is not darkness and oblivion, but rest from the toils of physical existence. It is human existence between incarnations."
-Scott Cunningham

Pronounced “Sow-en”, Samhain is the pagan holiday which focuses on death. It marks the witch’s New Year as the cycle of life and death is complete. This is the Sabbat the Sun God dies, to eventually be reborn again to the Goddess at Yule. It is celebrated beginning at sunset on October 31st, the same day as Halloween. Samhain in Wiccan tradition, as well as many others, is the day of the year when the veil between the world of the living and dead is the thinnest. It is this day that spirits roam the Earth and visit loved ones.

Death can be a hard concept to understand for children who’ve never known anyone or anything who has died. Death can be hard to accept for those children who have known a loved one, including pets, to pass away. The reason that Cunningham’s quote is one of my favorites is because it shows that we should not fear death, nor should we be sad for those who have passed on. They are at rest.

This Samhain, we will perform a ritual after trick-or-treating which will allow us to honor our loved ones who’ve passed on.

A few years ago, Adonis’ mother passed away from breast cancer and everyone is still grieving. The children were all very close to her and still make drawings and prayers for her. This ritual can be another way of honoring her memory. My own grandmother is close to moving toward her physical rest. She recently found out that she has stage 4 lung cancer and I hope to be able to honor her life on this Samhain, even if she has not yet passed. Her being in the hospital so suddenly, with relatively no notice and such a short time to live, reminds me how fragile life is and how unexpected death can be.

Many cultures leave offerings of food, toys, or beverages for spirits traveling through this world on Samhain. Our ritual that night will do the same. We still care about the people and animals who have been a part of our lives and so we will feed their spirits. A candle will be placed in the window to help guide them if needed and an extra place at the table will be set if they’d like to join us. Samhain is also a holiday of candy, being Halloween and all. We will have the children leave a piece of collected candy at the altar to share with the spirits and to sweeten the spirits’ journey.  Our ritual will also include a chance to share a person or pet they’d like to remember or honor and to say some things that they remember or enjoyed.

Life is celebrated as a gift and remembered on this special Sabbat.



Next Sabbat: Yule

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Trick-or-Treat Traditions!

This is my first blog post for the Pagan Blog Project 2012. Everyone else is already on T, so that's where I'll start.

Halloween Decorations


T is perfect timing for upcoming Samhain or as my kids know it, Halloween.

Up until now, October 31st has been, for our children, a day filled with transforming yourself (oh, another T!) into someone or something else and collecting as much candy as possible. They have no realization of the traditions our American version of Halloween was derived from.

The American version of Halloween is a combination of traditions from Great Britain, Ireland, and Scotland. "Souling" was a common practice on Hallowmas in Great Britain and Ireland where children would go door to door, saying prayers and singing songs for the dead in exchange for food. Later, Scotland developed their own version in which children went "guising" and disguised themselves, going door-to-door with carved turnips for cakes, fruit, or money. Since pumpkins are more abundant in America, that tradition was also taken but modified to make our Jack-o-Lanterns. Houses are decorated in spooky ways to encourage a fright on Halloween night. We have had our Halloween decorations up since the last weekend of September. We get really excited about this holiday.

Since we live in Southern California, we also see a lot of Mexican influence in the holiday.  El Día de los Muertos is November 1st. This is the Spanish holiday of honoring the dead. Traditionally, toys are bought for children who have passed and alcohol is bought for adults who have died. These offerings are left on altars which are erected throughout the cities. Calaveras, or skulls, are seen everywhere as this is the traditional symbol for the day. Little sugar-candy skulls are given to each other as gifts.

In Wiccan tradition, this is the day that the God dies and we reflect on the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Traditionally, food is left on the doorstep for spirits and a candle in the window to help guide them. The veil between worlds is also the thinnest on this night. This belief, which is not just a Wiccan theme is usually what prompts the stereotypical teenager to hold a "creepy" séance or bust out the Ouija board.

Halloween in France was relatively unknown until about 20 years ago. It was known as an American holiday and thus, rejected by many. As time goes on, the holiday is more widely accepted. People go to costume parties and trick-or-treating is done from store-to-store and not house-to-house. Germans hide the knives on this night so as to prevent returning spirits from harming the living.
 
Learning about traditions around the world can not only open your mind, but also give you interesting new ways to celebrate Samhain with your family. 

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Daily Meditation

Daily meditation is not only relaxing, but it also helps with energy work and visualization. For some people it may seem boring (especially for some younger kids), but it is the most basic and most important exercise that anyone should practice when trying to open yourself up to the spiritual realm.

When I first was drawn to Wicca and everything metaphysical, I had no guide. I bought books and dabbled in a few things. One of the books I bought was called Channeling. I thought it was so cool to think that I could be like one of the mediums on TV. As I sat in a chair, facing a sunny window, alone in our living room I asked that someone make contact with me and use me as a vessel. I felt pressure in my head, shoulders, and arms like someone was diving into my body. At that moment our cat hissed at me and ran away. It creeped  me the heck out and since my concentration was broken, whoever was starting to come in went away again.

I told my mom, who then told our family friend, Corinne. Corinne was into crystals and natural healing through herbs and meditation. Once she heard what had happened, boy did she let me have it. I got a lot of "what were you thinking?" and "that could have ended so badly." After the lecture, she gave me gifts. My younger sister was involved as well so that she wouldn't make the same mistake. The first gift she gave to me was a pendulum that she had made of aventurine and malachite. The second gift was a set of candle holders, one holder for each color of the rainbow. The third gift was a lesson on meditation.

She told me that before any spiritual work, I need to learn how to shield myself. She explained chakras and how they work. This was her method:

Chakra candles
  • Imagine a glowing bubble of light. That glowing bubble surrounds all of your body. Visualize it, make it thick and strong. Eventually you can work to expand or contract it, but for now just see it.
    When you can see your bubble, put out the intention that only beings of light and love, for the best and highest purpose are allowed to enter.
     
  • Imagine a bright beam of light coming from the sky, entering through the top of your head, through your body, and going deep down into the Earth. Then imagine a bright beam of light coming up from the Earth, into your tailbone, through your body, up into the sky. Take a moment and feel centered and grounded. If you feel like you're dizzy or lost, try to strengthen your grounding connection with the Earth.
     
  • To clear any negative energy imagine a sieve lifting up through your bubble and body. Fling all of the negative energy out into the universe, but as it leaves your bubble visualize the black turning into pink or gold. Ask that it be turned into light and love to be used for the best and highest purpose.
     
  • When you are ready, break out the candleholder. Each color represents a chakra. Light each candle and visualize that glowing light spreading through your body. If you have trouble seeing the color spreading all the way through your fingers, toes, and top of your head then vizualize abright light shining through that chakra. I picture a pressure washer of light blasting away all of the black gunky negative tar.
    • Red: The root chakra. Associated with feeling grounded and physical things. Picture red things such as rubies, roses, strawberries. The feeling of a hot fire or spicy hot sauce. 
    • Orange: The sacral chakra. Associated with feelings and sexuality. Picture fresh oranges, a warm glowing fire, amber stones.
    • Yellow: The naval chakra. Associated with self-esteem. Picture dandelions, lemons, the sun.  
    • Green: The heart chakra. Associated with love and kindness. Picture aventurine, cool grass, trees. 
    • Blue: The throat chakra. Associated with communication. Picture lapis lazuli, the sound of the ocean, hyacinth, blue berries.
    • Indigo: The third eye chakra. Associated with visualization and intuition. Picture amethyst and eggplants. 
    • Violet: The crown chakra. Associated with wisdom and a connection with the divine. This is normally represented by a lotus flower opening.
       
  • The more you meditate, the easier and quicker it will be to open your chakras and put your shield up. This should be the basic protections put up before any spiritual work. When you are done meditating, thank any guides that helped you and make sure to close your chakras.

For the past few days, Bacchus and Hestia have been working on meditation. Since they are so interested in Wicca and ritual, I wanted them to have the most basic protection. I wanted them to learn it early on so that they don't make any mistakes like I did.

I gave them my candle holder and the same lesson that was given to me. I also gave them their first pieces to their altar collection, a seashell to represent the Goddess. They have homework to meditate daily. It's not forced, but I reminded them that if they are to do this, it is a daily effort. Wicca is not something they choose to just fool around with every once in a while. They are free to choose whatever religion they'd like, so long as it doesn't harm anyone else or themselves. If they choose Wicca, then it is a commitment to learning and understanding.