Just a quick post to let you know that there is now a Speak Of Secrets Facebook Page. Not only is it a good way to stay updated as to when there is fresh content posted here, but it will host little bits and pieces of info, images, and fun stuff that doesn't really fit into this blog format. So feel free to connect over there by "liking" the page at the link above (or click on the "F" icon in the upper right corner) and adding it to your newsfeed!
Just a quick post to let you know that there is now a Speak Of Secrets Facebook Page. Not only is it a good way to stay updated as to when there is fresh content posted here, but it will host little bits and pieces of info, images, and fun stuff that doesn't really fit into this blog format. So feel free to connect over there by "liking" the page at the link above (or click on the "F" icon in the upper right corner) and adding it to your newsfeed!
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When I awoke that moonlit morning and realized that I had experienced a spiritual shift, there also arose the need to be able to define what exactly that was; not only so that I could understand it better, but so that I could find a path towards nurturing and honouring it. Even though this aspect of spirituality has always been with me, I had never explored the language that would be used to describe it... Words hold great power, and while I'm not one to subscribe to labels, understanding what those words represent, and where they come from is paramount to communicating effectively. It was time to do some research. My first experience with folks who self-identified as "Pagan" was a rather pungent one.I first met individuals who described themselves as Pagans twenty years ago, and other than adopting older, more natural practices into one's way of living, I had no futher knowledge as to what a Pagan lifestyle entailed. The majority of that group had a habit of eschewing personal products such as deodorant, and while they were kind, lovely people whose company I enjoyed, our heartfelt manner of greeting and parting with a hug was not always the most pleasant experience. I foolishly assumed that part of being a Pagan entailed forgoing modern-day luxuries such as personal hygiene products in favour of living "au natural," and never looked into it any deeper than that. Fast forward to 2015: as I began explore what my personal take on spirituality is in a more formal manner, I once again encountered the concept of Paganism. Setting aside the silly memory of my first encounter with self-described Pagans, I decided to explore the etymology of the word. "Pagan" derives from the Latin word for country, or rustic. Most often, dictionaries will point their definition towards the word "Heathen" (meaning anyone who practices beliefs outside of widely held religions, especially the Christian, Jewish, or Muslim faiths) or go on to address it as a polytheistic religion, involving the worship of more than one deity. It is also interesting to note that the term "Neo-Pagan" is sometimes used to describe the Pagans of today since so much of the old religion has been lost, erased, or modified to suit the Christian church; while the term "Heathen" is often bandied about in a derogatory fashion. While the above definitions hold a narrow truth, I found I had to move on from the technical aspects of the word, to exploring it's conceptual nature in order to get an idea of what it truly meant, and how that related to a spiritual path. After much research and meditation, I am able to sum it up thusly: Pagan: one who practices an earth-based belief system or spirituality, of which polytheism may or may not be an aspect.Hmmm, so I am a Pagan, after all... And I have lots of Pagan friends, whether or not they identify as such. Now what about these Witchy Ways? A quick cruise around the internet will inevitably link up Wicca in relation to Witchcraft. I had heard of Wicca in conjunction with Pagan and Witchy lifestyles, but didn't know anything about it other than that connection. Is Wicca Witchcraft, and is Witchcraft Wicca? And how do these two terms relate to identifying as a Pagan? Though Wicca and Witchcraft are often closely associated, they are NOT the same thing!Wicca and Witchcraft are understandably linked - many of those who follow the Wiccan religion also practice Witchcraft, but there are Witches of all denominations - you will find Witchcraft in use by those who belong to faiths as diverse as Judaism, Druidry, and Christianity, or those who follow no religion at all! This is why Witchcraft is also referred to as "The Craft" - it can stand alone without any religious connotations, whereas Wicca *is* a religion, which may (or may not) incorporate The Craft. To define these two terms in their most simple format, Wicca is an earth-based (Pagan) religion, while Witchcraft is the manifestation of intent via ritual practices. Whether or not The Craft is practiced within a religious, spiritual, or even Pagan belief system is up to each individual practitioner; although it is uncommon to see it separated from a reverence for and connection to the natural world. Witchcraft is aligned with Shamanism, and the wise healers of the Old World. It's where we get the term "Witch Doctor" from, and it is one of the oldest forms of medicine in human history. The important thing to keep in mind is that while all Wiccans are Pagans, not all Witches are Wiccans... Conversely, not all Wiccans are Witches, not all Witches are Pagans, and not all Pagans are Witches!Confused? It's best to think of it as a series of overlapping circles joined by a common thread, with the Wicca circle held cozily within the Pagan circle. Each individual has access to all three circles, and can mix and match as they see fit. It is for this very reason that much of these practices defy a true definition! Add to this that there are about a million different branches of Witchcraft, and you can see that the pathways of Witchery are as unique and varied as the myriad stars in the sky... Which is fantastic really, because that means there is something for everyone out there who chooses to walk this path! That brings us to the point that begs the final question: What kind of a Witch are YOU?I'd love to hear about your Witchy practice in the comments... In terms of defining my own personal path, I have come to the conclusion that I am a Pagan (earth-based spirituality) Solitary (I practice on my own) Eclectic (I borrow ideas and concepts from varied practices) Witch (manifesting intent via the power of ritual.) It may seem like quite the mouthful, but by employing these terms I can communicate to others clearly and efficiently what my practice encapsulates. Will that description ever change? I certainly hope so! I am on this path to grow, learn and evolve, and remain open and flexible to that process.
As for the Pungent Pagans I met earlier on in life, I certainly don't mean any offense in sharing that story. If anything, I share it as a means to pointing out my own ignorance at the time! I am proud to be able to count myself amongst their legions these days, and chuckle at my youthful assumptions of those 20 years ago... Although, I do still plan to take advantage of modern-day conveniences such as deodorant, since I can be a bit of a Sweaty Betty in hot climates... You'll just have to trust me that it's better this way for all of us. It would seem remiss to be walking a spiritual path whose roots are primarily Pagan without making a post about Hallowe'en. All Hallow's Eve, Samhain, Harvest Home, Shadowfest, Ancestor Night... the Wheel of the Year turns, and the day after Hallowe'en, we celebrate Dia de los Muertos, All Soul's Day, Day of the Dead... It is the time of year where The Wild Hunt races across the sky, and the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is at it's thinnest. In the Wiccan and Celtic religions, November 1st marks New Year's Day. Clearly there are many cultures across the globe who observe this seasonal shift into winter with similar reverence. As most of the northern hemisphere experiences an energetic shift with the drawing-in of resources and life, it makes sense that we reflect back and take time to honour those who have slipped from this realm. While this post won't be delving into the ways and whys of these traditions - there are books and websites aplenty that already do that - I will caution folks that Samhain (which translates as "summer's end") is actually pronounced "Sau-in", since mispronouncing that when conversing with others can sometimes be a little humbling. Personally, I avoid using the word Samhain for the most part, and just stick to Hallowe'en, or All Hallow's Eve.While I admit to using Samhain when corresponding with others in the Pagan community, I don't use it in my spoken vocabulary all that much. Part of this is cultural - I'm not of Celtic descent (altho my Norse heritage pre-dates all of the Celtic tradition) and Hallowe'en and/or All Hallow's Eve has been what the festivities of October 31st has always fallen under in terms of a name amongst my family members and friends. Although Hallowe'en may be one of the more common - and perhaps even commercialized - names for this cross-quarter sabbat, it is as valid a moniker as Samhain, and for my own purposes, rings true. That said, I am reassessing my relationship to this particular sabbat.There are always ways to do things better, and as my spiritual awareness and understanding grows, so my appreciation for what makes this time of year sacred evolves along with it. In the past few years, I have grown tired of the costumed gathering, and have been searching for a deeper connection to the energies of Hallowe'en. It is in my search for how to make this holy day a more meaningful event that I have come to appreciate the idea of honouring our ancestors at this time of year, and remembering those who have already slipped from the path in this realm to travel the next. Although my own form of observing and celebrating in this manner has not yet been fully shaped, I very much appreciate what Z Budapest has to say on the subject: Allow your candles burn down to the stub, open the door slightly after sundown for ten minutes or so. Put your milk and honey on the table and lay out the pictures of your ancestors. Meditate on their faces. Feel their presence. Then eat something they loved, and invite them to taste with your tastebuds, and drink deeply from a chalice of red wine. Mediate and channel. Say aloud thoughts that pop into your mind. After your ritual, pour the rest of the wine out on the holy dirt. Give the food left overs to your animals. Light white candles anew for gratitude. Blessed be the night, and blessed be the new year. May we enjoy our bodies without illness, May we be protected against natural calamities, And against the rage of men. Rest your eyes on this image, The Tree of Life twisting, dancing. Blessed be. -- Z Budapest Although I do not celebrate November 1st as New Year's Day, I am moved by this simple and honourable ritual. While it is a bit late in the day to fully incorporate all of the aspects that resonate with me here into tonight's festivities, I do intend to take inspiration from it, and allow that to help shape next year's celebrations. Don't get me wrong - there will still be room in my life for costumes, pumpkins, hi-jinx, and candy, but I think carving out the space to connect with those who inhabit the spirit world will greatly enhance this holiday that I have grown a little bit jaded on... Like my ever-evolving spiritual journey, I may even end up addressing October 31st by one of its more ancient monikers... Ancestor Night seems has a nice ring to it.
I wish you all the joy and reverence you seek, however you may choose to celebrate this Hallowe'ekend! Earlier this year, I awoke in the early morning hours with the feeling that something had shifted inside of me. I lay with it for a moment, absorbing the sensation of what was clearly a personal paradigm shift, although of what shape and form was not yet certain. Feeling compelled to look out the window situated above my head, I drew back the curtain to find the first full moon of July 2015 coasting it's way towards the horizon; which in this case was a big, jagged Hawaiian mountain range stained pink by the rising sun. I tossed on my housecoat and slippers, and walked out across the dew-covered grass to drink in this celestial event. It was while I was gazing at Sister Moon that it suddenly became clear to me that the shift I felt was the surfacing of my spiritual consciousness which had been lying in wait for the time of it's full awakening. I knew right then and there that my reality had changed... An intrinsic part of myself had come home in it's entirety. Life changed forever the day that I committed to creating meaningful ritual in my life.I took the day to meditate on what this meant for me going forever forwards. Although my spirituality has always been centered on earth-based beliefs and practices, it has never taken on a formalized shape. In my newly awakened state, I realized that I had come to the point in my path where I was prepared to commit towards fostering meaningful ritual in my life. I happily stood up and crossed that threshold, smiling knowingly at the fact that it held as esteemed a station in my life as the rites of passage previously embarked upon; such as birth, coming-of-age, and marriage. Since that morning, I have entered into a cycle of learning. I have reached out to the others I know who travel a similar path, and have been blessed for what they have shared with me. I have started to research a work that will take me a lifetime to build, and which will forever be in-progress, undergoing shifts of change and growth as my practice and my very being evolves. I willingly enter into this expanded reality with the awareness and gratitude that I shall be a perennial student.The fact that my awakening came to me on the morning of the full moon, in a month which was to host 2 full moons - a rare event known as The Blue Moon - is not lost on me. Cosmic coincidence? Maybe, if you choose to look at it that way. Reality is contingent on our perspective, and it is my choice to accept that this was the perfect timing to meet my own self. In the same vein, I feel that the full Hunter's moon of October is the right timing in which to launch this site, where I will explore and investigate my own spirituality, while cultivating the sharing of information, knowledge, and resources.
It is my hope that you will join me in the discussion. |
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