Merry Meet merry part
and Merry Meet again
This is a parting message used by Pagans the world over. I am a Pagan, and, since this section of our magazine is targeted to the newcomers and those interested in learning more, I decided to share. I have been following this path for 7 years now seriously, but before that, I read what little I could about it. Yes, I did learn a lot of what I know from books. But I have also studied in a coven with like-minded people who were ready and willing to share their knowledge. I also learned by doing, which in some ways is the best way to learn. But I didn’t force myself to sit and memorize countless spells and potions like some try to do. And I listened to my inner voice that told me this was the right path for me. It is like coming home for me, and most Pagans I have met feel the same.
Let me clear up some misconceptions about Paganism.
First off, we aren't Satanist. We
don't believe in Satan. He is a
Christian concept, one that has no place in our religion.
Second, we do NOT sacrifice animals, babies, or use blood in our rituals.
That is something that only happens in the movies or on TV.
Third, the "spells" you often hear that witches cast are simply
prayers of a different sort, with no eye of newt or tongue of bat, yuck! Most of
us rarely do them anyway. We live
by a strict rule, traditionally written as "An It Harm None, Do As Thou
Wilt" meaning, do as you want, as long as you do NOT harm anyone, including
yourself, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, ect. Fourth, "warlock" is an old Scottish word meaning
traitor or oathbreaker, and isn't used in Paganism. Calling a Pagan that is considered bad form, and quite rude.
Fifth, while a lot of us do wear black, so does the rest of the world.
It just seems that in conjunction with a pentagram (a 5-pointed star, one
point straight up, inside a circle) it is considered strange and evil.
By the way, just to fill you in, the symbolism behind the pentagram is
simply this, the five points of the star are the four elements, with the top
point representing the spirit: the spirit over the elements.
The circle, which binds all together, surrounds it; one cannot exist
without the other. It also
represents infinity.
We are out there; you might know several of us, without knowing our
religious preference. Many of us
are, as we humorously put it, in the Broom Closet.
Many because of the fact that if we are open with it, we could lose our
jobs, our children, be the focus of violence, or shunned by family members and
friends. This is unfair and
illegal, yes, but that doesn't stop it from happening, even today.
We, as a whole, believe in acceptance of all positive focused religions.
Most of us have read the bible a few times, and more than you would think
will "pray" to Mary or Jesus, if they feel that they are the right
ones to call on, but they also will call on Hera, Hecate, the Morrigan, ect too.
Forgive me for being long winded, I could go much longer, but I think that this is a good point to leave. But let me share this with you...It is called Drawing Down the Moon, and is based on an old Italian Witchcraft story about the Goddess Diana's Daughter, Aradia, who was sent down to earth to teach to people the ways of Witchcraft. It was re-worked by Doreen Valiente, who passed into the Summerlands (our version of the Christian Heaven) a few months ago.
We invoke and call upon thee, O mighty Mother of us all.
Bringer of all fruitfulness, by seed and by root we invoke thee; by stem
and by bud we invoke thee; by leaf and by fruit we invoke thee; by life and by
love we invoke thee and call thee to descend into the bodies of these thy
servants gathered here, that our eyes my see with clarity and that our hearts
may be opened to thy wisdom and love.
Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who was of old also called among
men Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Diana, Arrianrhod,
Bride, and by many other names. At
mine altars in Sparta, the youth of Lacadaemon make due sacrifice:
Whenever ye have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be
when the moon is full, then ye shall assemble in some secret place and adore the
spirit of me, who am Queen of all Witcheries.
There ye shall assemble, ye who are feign to learn all sorcery, who have
not yet won its deepest secret; to these will I teach that which is yet unknown.
And ye shall be free from slavery. And
as a sign that ye shall really be free, ye shall be naked in your rites.
And ye shall dance, sing, feast, make music and love, all in my presence.
For mine is the ecstasy of the spirit, and mine is also joy on Earth, for
my law is love unto all beings.
Keep pure your highest ideals. Strive
ever towards them. Let none stop
you or turn you aside. For mine is
the secret that opens the door of youth, and mine is the cup of the wine of
life; and the cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the Holy Grail of Immortality.
I am a gracious Goddess, who gives the gift of joy unto the hearts of
men. Upon Earth I give knowledge of
the spirit eternal, and beyond death I give peace and freedom and reunion with
those that have gone before. Nor do
I demand aught in sacrifice, for behold, I am the Mother of all things, and my
love is poured out upon the Earth.
Hear ye the words of the Star Goddess, in the dust of whose feet are the
host of heaven. Whose body
encircleth the universe:
I am the beauty of the green Earth and the white moon amongst the stars,
and the mystery of the water and the desire of the heart of man.
I call unto thy soul: "Arise and come unto me."
For I am the soul of the universe. From
me all things proceed and unto me all things return.
Before my face, beloved of the gods and men, thine inmost, secret, divine
self shall be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite.
Let my worship be in the hearth that rejoiceth, for behold, all acts of
love and pleasure are mine rituals. And
therefore, let there be Beauty and Strength, Power and Compassion, Honor and
Humility, Mirth and Reverence within you.
And you who thinkest to
seek me, know thy seeking and thy yearning will avail ye not unless you know the
mystery: that if that which thou seek thou findest within thyself, thou wilt
never find it without. For behold!
I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained
at the end of all thy desire. Blessed
Be.
And
with that, I will depart. Anyone
curious about Paganism should check out http://www.witchvox.com
thank you to all that read with an open heart and an open mind.
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