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Tuesday, 23 August 2011

There and Back Again....

Did you ever feel, as if you had been someplace once upon a time. But it was a familiar place, someplace you were actually excited to be at one time. Well i have gone there and back again.Pagan Perspectives is on the Air and doing very well. I am expanding myself BACK into the pagan community. Its a slow process, but its not as frustrating as it was. There will be LOTS more blog postings. I am feeling myself changing. Into what i dont know, but the Gods do and i think that is what matters the most.

Looking ahead brings me new ideas, new challenges, and its going to be tough, but with a little luck, hard work, and MUCH energy, they will get done. Spreading ones wings doesnt mean you will fly, but its a start. I love the Pagan movement, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Now its a matter of finding balance. Balance is very good. And i know im not alone in this. Its mid morning, and it looks like it will rain. Rain washes the air clean, maybe thats what is happening here. a new outlook, a new lease on life.

The power to get things done, is what i see coming down the line. Its time to go deeper into the mysteries of the Gods. Time to honor my ancestors more. Time to foster the love of my Pagan brothers and sisters more. Its not easy, things like this never are. From a small spark can come a roaring fire. I dont know whats happening in your world, but just think, it doesnt have to be a struggle, Burn out can be overcome. Not saying its easy, or will happen overnight. But with determination, any bad situation can be turned around.

Work toward the goals you set, do divinations to see what the landscape is like up ahead. Lean on someone close to you. Friends can be your strongest ally. And NEVER leave the Gods out of the equation, they have set this road before you. And only you can walk upon it. Join me for Pagan Perspectives on Bogtalkradio.com Monday, Wedensday, and Friday 6-8 pm central time. And lets see what its really like to go there and back again

Sunday, 26 June 2011

Finding My Way Back

Its taken me awhile to get to this point, but sometimes you need to write about how you feel regardless. I feel as if im lost, not knowing which way to go, or if i really want to. People have said in the Pagan community that burnout is inevitable. Well this time the burnout seems more palpable, it hangs on, and its very hard to shake. I have been involved in Pagan practice for 20 years, i have been a teacher, a priest, a cheerleader, a counselor, a blogger, a talkshow host, and alot of other things. I have seen my path change over the years, and i guess thats a good thing. BUT, i have seen alot go on in the community that bugs me, Pagans embracing Satanism and satanists. ive seen more toxic groups and toxic people then i care to count. ive seen a decline in pagans participating together, you know, Witch wars. Ive seen good pagan people die, and i have lost friends. And every day i still feel a connection to the Gods, yet i ignore them, its easy that way when you feel jaded. Like you think so many see Paganism as some kind of game.

I just know that i really want to get back to my roots, i want to ENJOY the comraderie of my pagan brothers and sisters. i want to teach again, i want to relaunch my show Pagan Perspectives, i would like to start Order of The Standing Oak back up. And there is much more, yet i dont see the signs that i so desperately seek, the thumbs up from the Gods that say, Come on man, you can do it. I see Nothing.Everyone needs some validation sometimes, i shouldnt want it. Im not one to say , Hey look at me, thats not my motivation. Its that driving force that keeps you moving, i crave it, yet its nowhere near me. Magick seems aloof, unreal, deniable. Does this make me a bad person. I hope not.

Have you ever felt this way, what were your thoughts, did it last long, Did you find yourself.

Or are you still Lost.?

Wednesday, 03 November 2010

Modern Pagan Pioneers # 2 Selena Fox

Hello, and welcome to the second installment of the Modern Pagan Pioneers, here on the Pagan Perspectives official blog. Today we are going to be learning together about well known writer, teacher, priestess, activist, and festival organizer, Selena Fox. Born October 20th,1949 Selena has been a well admired and vital cog in the wheel which is our American, and worldwide Pagan Community. The achievement Selena is most know for outside of her work in the Pagan community, and her work in the psychology field was the formation in 1974 of Circle Sanctuary as a pagan church, then in 1983 the beginnings of Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve on 200 acres in/near Mt Horeb Wisconsin.

But i feel i need to let folks know how Selena became known to me, and her impact on my personal pagan path, and tradition. It was basically on one of my many forrays to our local pagan/new age store that i found my first copy of Circle News, at this time it was in a newspaper type format. Full of articles, poems,lore and other great information, i learned that this was a treasured resource for the Pagan community at large. It was through this publication, and its latter magazine format, that we got to see the devotion and dedication that Selena has for our movement and its communities. Selena has lectured and given speeches around America and around the World, most notably attending the Parliment of World Religions.

Also Selena and Circle Sanctuary, has hosted Americas premier pagan festival, Pagan Spirit Gathering. With humble beginnings on Circle land, then moving to Wisteria in Southern Ohio, and now being hosted outside of Salem, Missouri at Camp Zoe, its thousands of visitors and pagan festival goers of every tradition, have come together to honor the Mother Earth, the Gods, and each other. This is just a small part of the work that Selena puts out so that we as Pagans can , learn, work, and worship together.

In past years Selena has worked to bring about equal treatment for American soldiers, allowing them to have the Pentacle as a symbol of faith placed upon headstones and grave markers.And thru the Lady Liberty League worked for many other causes that affect pagans in our daily lives. A side note , i first came across video of a Selena, when i acquired a copy of H.R. Geiger's The Occult Experience. A very interesting and well done segment i might add. Plus there are various video clips of speeches Selena has made.

Since the early 70s through this current year 2010, Selena has made a tremendous impact. Through Circle Sanctuary, Lady Liberty League, Psg, and her work as a Priestess and teacher. Selena has given many other leaders in our communitys something to strive towards. Lets hope that for years to come Selena Fox continues moving our Pagan people forward, as a true Modern Pagan Pioneer.

Join me December 5th, 2010 on Pagan Perspectives for a thought provoking, and warm Yule season interview with Selena. Hoping to see you all there. Pagan Perspectives Sundays at 2pm cst on Blogtalkradio.com

Friday, 16 April 2010

Pagan Bookshelf Essentials #2 High Magicks Aid

Gerald Brousseau Gardner,under the pen name Scire gave us one of the earliest glimpses of the then budding Gardnerian tradition of witchcraft.This book to me is definately a pagan bookshelf must have.After having read through this book several times you learn alot of what was in Gardners mind, his influences and where he wanted to take wicca in this new world after the repeal of the Witchcraft laws in Britain.In the story itself Gardner shows his connections to ceremonial magick. The thing that fascinated me in this story was that the witch in the story was helper for the rituals and such. Which to me possibly was an illustration of the role of the outer court within a witchcraft tradition.Altho the book was first printed in November 1949 it still has alot of relevance today.No other man like Gardner has caused controversy and thought within the witchcraft community.We can not know all the facts behind the publication of this book, or even the circumstances behind Gardner and his own initiations into the Craft.What we do know is the effect it has had on modern witchcraft,in and out of gardenerian tradition..The story itself is compelling, and i really enjoyed it in a literary sense. Gardners other work, such as ,The Goddess Arrives. and Witchcraft Today each have there place in the scheme of things..but for me this book tells a deeper story. And thats why i consider it a mainstay on my Pagan bookshelf.

Thursday, 15 April 2010

The OtherWorld

There is a journey we all make,many times over.It is a journey from this life to the next. A journey to the Otherworld. It has many names , Mag Mell,Tir-na-mBeo,Tir-na-nog,the Land beyond the Ninth Wave.Many other cultures have different names.It is the place where the spirits of our ancestors dwelt.In the mounds and under the menhirs and dolmens.They were heroes who were led by the Gods. in a boat of glass ,in chariots,and as Niamh riding upon a White Horse.
There are many stories , myths and legends of the Otherworld. Some can be found in the Mabinogion, others found in various other tomes and places. But there are many similarities in these. The Otherworld is a place of rest, beauty, no suffering, a place of preparation for the next journey, the next life.It is the place where 100 years is as a day.It is a place of honor for men , women , and children of the tribes and clans.
Today in this world we see so much pain and hurt,war and destruction.But for those of us who know of the presence and comfort in knowing that we will return, as the Sun rises, as the Moon shines silver upon the seas, we have comfort. The Otherworld is a place, a beginning of knowledge, new knowledge, as we move from existance to existance.Within the Otherworld , we are as a beam of light, growing in radiance and power, thru out the millenia.
There are those who fear this transition, when we lose someone we care about , feelings of despair may come, but know this, our loved ones see us, our ancestors hear our crying, they hear our voice as we call out in the night.And by the very thought of ones who have gone before us,they prepare us all for the journeys we take. We become like the Fey. living in the sidhe mounds, Rejoice Pagan children, for life moves ever onward. For my friends i have lost in these years of my life, i honor you, i let your love and strength add to my own virtue.
And to those who struggle with there loss. Do not cry tears of sadness, but weep for joy, because they are safe, they are watching over you. And they shall return..!!